Creative Black Excellence Celebrated
For Black History Month, creative innovators share key moments in their careers
Image courtesy of Outfront Media. Published on February 1, 2023
Creative Black Excellence Celebrated
For Black History Month, creative innovators share key moments in their careers
Image courtesy of Outfront Media. Published on February 1, 2023
Once again for Black History Month, Ad Age will celebrate Black creative excellence every weekday throughout the month. Now in its third year, the project is designed to shine a light on key moments in the careers of inspiring and influential creators from across the industry. We have selected four change-makers to serve as guest editors. They will kick things off with a pivotal project from their own careers, and then give the stage to other talents who are shaping the industry in impactful ways.
New this year, we are partnering with Outfront to showcase some of the industry’s most creative talent on their digital out-of-home media across the U.S. 
Also, read about more moments of creative excellence in last year’s series.
Black Heart OOH campaign creator on storytelling in unsettling times
Tim Wasicki
East Coast Regional Creative Director, Outfront
Billy Porter on how his iconic tuxedo ball gown changed everything
Guest Editor: Billy Porter
Actor, singer, director, producer, composer, playwright
Ron Kellum on creating safe spaces for creatives
Ron Kellum
Producer, director, artist, choreographer
Vivian Scott Chew on the power of music—and the making of ‘Night of Inspiration’ at Carnegie Hall
Vivian Scott Chew
Founder, TimeZone International and founding partner, Chew Entertainment
Beyoncé’s longtime stylist Ty Hunter on preparing for disruption
Ty Hunter
Celebrity stylist and author
Charles Randolph-Wright on the heroes who gave him permission to dream
Charles Randolph-Wright
Director, television producer, screenwriter and playwright
Kwame Taylor-Hayford on learning from mistakes and missteps
Guest Editor: Kwame Taylor-Hayford
Co-Founder, Kin
Tyler Hicks on the launch campaign for Kinlò, Naomi Osaka’s suncare line
Tyler Hicks
Senior art director, Kin
Sylvia Zakhary on building an agency as a woman of color
Sylvia Zakhary
Founder & CEO of Mamag Group
Oriel Davis-Lyons on offering Black creatives the chance to build a world-class portfolio
Oriel Davis-Lyons
CCO, Mother; Founder, One School
Birk Creative’s JinJa Birkenbeuel on working with helpers—and being a helper yourself
Guest Editor: JinJa Birkenbeuel
CEO, Birk Creative and Songwriter, Utah Carol
Envisioning Equity’s Kara Wright on incorporating diverse perspectives into the creative process
Kara Wright
Managing Director, Envisioning Equity
Dr. Eric Whitaker on how Black creativity can change lives
Dr. Eric E. Whitaker
Founder & Executive Chairman, Zing Health
Plant Salon’s Nika Vaughan on creating a space ‘where community grows’
Nika Vaughan
Founder, Plant Salon
Filmmaker Garrett Bradley on creating work for ‘a more transparent, loving and just world’
Garrett Bradley
Artist and filmmaker
Steve Stoute on the making of a legendary Reebok commercial
Guest Editor: Steve Stoute
Founder and CEO, Translation and UnitedMasters
Director X on making the moving film ‘Seven Mothers’ for fashion label Pyer Moss
Julien Christian Lutz, aka Director X
Film director and co-founder, Fela
Week 2
Vivian Scott Chew on the power of music—and the making of ‘Night of Inspiration’ at Carnegie Hall
Vivian Scott Chew
Founder, TimeZone International and founding partner, Chew Entertainment
Week 3
Docuseries 'Other Boys NYC' gives 50 LGBTQ New Yorkers of color space to tell their stories
Guest Editor: Abdool Corlette
Creative Director, GLAAD; Co-founder, NEON
Midwestern trans women of color share their stories in Vice series 'Transnational'
Eva Reign
Actress and Journalist
These films explore the subtleties of sex, mental health and more in the Black LGBTQ+ community
LaQuann Dawson
Creative director and photographer
Week 4
A production leader puts diversity at the forefront
Guest Editor: Sophie Gold
Founder, executive producer, Eleanor
This CMO opened an agency in Ghana with sights set on reclaiming Africa's creative birthright
Kofi Amoo-Gottfried
CMO, Doordash
An iconic beauty brand steps into modern day with this new Black-led agency
Gabrielle Shirdan
Founder, Chief Creative Officer, Kitchen Table
