Ryan Swanson is the founder / creative director of The Urban Conga, an award-winning multidisciplinary design studio based in Brooklyn, NY. His practice is focused on sparking community activity and social interaction through open-ended play. The studio explores the idea of creating more “Playable Cities” as an ecosystem of multiscale playable opportunities for all demographics intertwined within our existing urban infrastructure to spark more healthy, social, and equitable spaces and places within our city fabric. To achieve this, his practice utilizes play methodologies as a critical component both within the functions of their physical work and community design processes. Ryan received his M. Arch from the University of South Florida, where he later taught as a visiting professor. Through his work, Ryan has collaborated with communities, organizations, businesses, governments, and universities worldwide, delivering permanent spatial interventions, temporary installations, workshops, lectures, development plans, and public policy recommendations.