A space of matrices of constant rank is a vector subspace V, say of dimension n+1, of the set of matrices of size axb over a field k, such that any nonzero element of V has fixed rank r. It is a classical problem to look for different ways to construct such spaces of matrices. In this talk I will give an introduction up to the state of the art of the topic, and report on my latest joint project with D. Faenzi and D. Fratila, where we give a classification of all spaces of matrices of constant co-rank 1 associated to irreducible representation of a given reductive group.