Black History Month: Lifting Creative Voices

In honor of Black History Month, we're sharing work from creatives who inspire us along with a list of resources that uplift Black creative voices. These organizations are committed to building a creative community that is diverse and representative. Their focus on inclusivity and education stretches throughout all months of the year.

Keep reading to learn more and be inspired.

Creatives Who Inspire Us

Tré Seals, founder of Vocal Type, is a graphic designer who is finding ways “to increase diversity and empathy in the design industry” through his work. He creates custom typefaces that highlight diverse perspectives and stories.

Portfolio: https://www.vocaltype.co/founder
Instagram: @vocaltype.co

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Cymone Wilder designs and creates custom lettering at her studio, Simon and Moose. Wilder and her company have helped build experiences for and tell the stories of brands like Netflix, Wired, and Oatly. In the words of our team, “their work is p r e m i u m.”

Portfolio: https://www.simonandmoose.com/
‍Instagram: @simonandmoose
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Joshua Kissi is a director, photographer, and co-founder of TONL and more. Kissi excels at capturing emotions in his work and has collaborated with brands like Nike, Adobe, and Apple.

Portfolio: https://www.joshuakissi.com/
‍Instagram: @joshuakissi
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Jade Purple Brown is a graphic designer who infuses all her work with vibrant blocks of color. Her creativity shines through in her work with Clinique, TikTok, Meta, Haagen-Dazs, and more.

Portfolio: https://jadepurplebrown.com/
‍Instagram: @jadepurplebrown

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Qualeasha Wood is an American artist known for thought-provoking textile and print work that explores representation of Black women in digital culture. Her practice weaves text, image, and identity into compelling contemporary art.

Instagram: @qualeasha

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Darryl Richardson is a documentary portrait photographer and experimental filmmaker exploring race, identity, and belonging across the Black diaspora. His work extends beyond the lens through Fábrica, a creative hub built for community and collaboration.

Portfolio: https://www.darryl-richardson.com/
Instagram: @darrylrichardson_

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Temi Coker is an artist whose bold, layered compositions celebrate Black identity through color, pattern, and texture inspired by his Nigerian heritage. It's no wonder today's top brands have partnered with Coker to bring his instantly recognizable style to their products and campaigns.

Portfolio: https://temicoker.co/
Instagram: @temi.coker

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Sophia Yeshi is the illustrator behind Yeshi Designs, where vibrant artistry meets rich cultural storytelling. Her work is packed with intricate details, bold expression, and unmistakable personality. Through dynamic, expressive visuals, she explores identity and creativity in ways that leave a lasting impression.

Portfolio: https://www.yeshidesigns.com/
Instagram: @yeshidesigns

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Resources for Black Creatives

• Diversify Photo connects editors and brands with visual storytellers from underrepresented communities. In addition to its searchable database, the nonprofit offers grants, mentorship, and career development programming.
• The Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) is a curated global platform of independent Black artists, designers, and makers. The guild creates space for collaboration, cultural storytelling, and economic empowerment.
• Black Women Photographers is a community and database amplifying Black women and non-binary photographers. They provide grants, brand partnerships, and educational resources to support career growth.
• The Marcus Graham Project’s mission is to identify, expose, mentor and train ethnically diverse men and women in all aspects of the media industry, including advertising, entertainment and marketing.
• BLAC Internship (Blacks in Advertising & Communications) is a paid internship program connecting Black talent with leading agencies and communications firms, creating tangible entry points into the industry.
• One School provides Black creatives access to mentorship and resources to help them build a best-in-class portfolio to help them land jobs in advertising. Apply on their website.
• This public Google sheet of BIPOC Studios contains a list of over 400 studios worldwide that are Black and POC-led. Contact information and job opportunities are also listed there. 
• TONL is a stock photography company that tells the diverse stories of Black and Brown people visually. They bring the spotlight to underrepresented groups by displaying a variety of ethnic backgrounds in their large collection of photos. 
• Rememory, a growing creative directory inspired by Toni Morrison, highlights the talents of Black women and non-binary people of the African Diaspora. Visit their site to get connected and read more about their mission.
• Nappy was created in response to the lack of representation in stock images as a collection of free, hi-res photos featuring Black and Brown individuals. Learn about their goal to “tackle diversity one stock photo at a time,” and check out their collection.
• The Ghetto Film School is a nonprofit education program that has prepared thousands of students for creative careers through 100% free, intensive courses. Read more about how they’re developing and celebrating the next generation of great storytellers on their site.
• The Boom List is a monthly newsletter dedicated to giving diverse creatives the celebration and credit they deserve. Subscribe to stay up on impressive creative happenings.
• People of Craft is a dynamic space for creatives of color to share their talents in design, advertising, tech, illustration, lettering, art, and more. Their goal is to accomplish what’s long overdue–redefining what a creative looks like.