Storm Smith, an independent creative director and consultant as well as a storytelling director for Gallaudet University, is advancing intersectional disability inclusion in advertising.
As the first deaf woman recruited by Omnicom agency BBDO and the first deaf juror at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, Storm Smith, 39, is an acclaimed creative and advocate for advancing intersectional disability inclusion in advertising.
Her many accomplishments include being recognized by former President Barack Obama for shining a positive light on critical societal issues and underrepresented communities through her storytelling.
Since her first advertising job with BBDO, where she worked from 2017 to 2022, Smith said she “just rolled up my sleeves and got to work,” connecting with various leaders to improve the inclusion of people with disabilities, as well as other marginalized groups.
Smith is now an independent creative director and consultant, but she is also making an impact on future marketing leaders; in 2023, she was named storytelling director for Gallaudet University, one of the world’s leading universities for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Smith said she’s “committed” to bringing her experience and industry knowledge to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. “When we meet, show up and tell our stories, it goes a long way. I’ve had the privilege of having experience and I want to give back and let [those students] know it is possible to be in this space,” Smith said.
Smith has worked with major brands including Apple, Meta and Amazon Studios, as well as A-list celebrities and influencers including basketball player and influencer Crissa Jackson—as well as Academy Award-winning actor Marlee Matlin and actor Natasha Ofili, who are both deaf. Smith was a marketing consultant for Amazon Studios’ “Sound of Metal,” the 2019 film about a drummer who loses his hearing. She also directed “The Multi,” the 2022 short film written and produced by and starring Ofili that spotlighted a deaf woman’s journey confronting past trauma.
On the brand side, Smith directed and was a creative consultant for Condé Nast Entertainment’s “Vanity Fair x Starbucks: Bridging the Gap” campaign that explored the importance of inclusion through the perspectives of deaf Starbucks barista Samin Liddick and University of Washington professor Sarah Coppola.
As part of a 2023 national PSA, “Stand With the Deaf Community,” Storm also appeared in an advocacy film on CBS calling for federal action to ensure the deaf community has equal communications access.
Either Ava DuVernay or Issa Rae. Either one of those. They are the most powerful black female storytellers. I would love to have dinner with them and absorb their energy, their wisdom, their experience and just their fun, authentic selves. I want to learn so much from them. What's their favorite food? What's their favorite color? What do they do in their downtime? How do they do self-care? Their stories have transformed how we watch film and TV. They are breaking through the barriers. I want to continue to break through the barriers just like them.
I would say primarily LinkedIn, although I'm not really active on social media. I rarely am on because of my mental health and anxiety. I have a high-function anxiety. But LinkedIn is my primary one because I see the community, the industry; they share their work, I share my work. I see more truth coming up with our well-being and the culture; how we can promote ourselves and be vulnerable about what we value. I love that. Instagram is the second one. I have Instagram but I rarely use it. I need to eventually get back to it.
The book I literally just finished is a life-changing book called “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing” by Dr. Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey. This book focuses on healing trauma and how our body responds and operates when we shut down, when we’re triggered. So, understanding our brain functionality and that, when we shut down, we don’t receive information because our frontal cortex is blocked. It really helped me to understand my well-being, my mental health and other people’s, as well. That also helped me in the work that I’m doing or [in] engaging with people. So, how can I be more mindful of that and still be engaging with a person when they shut down?
“Sex and the City” [the reboot] “And Just Like That ...”. It’s my guilty pleasure.
In my 40s. I don’t want to wait until I’m 60 or 70. I want to do more giving back. I’ll always continue the work. I’ll find time to teach, or volunteer, or serve on a board; make some kind of influential change.
