Lisa Smith has been named the new President of D&AD for 2025/2026, bringing one of the world’s most respected design leaders to the helm of the global non-profit.
Based in New York, Lisa takes on the role at a pivotal time for the creative industries, succeeding Kwame Taylor-Hayford and signalling D&AD’s commitment to both its international growth and its mission to celebrate outstanding creative work and nurture emerging talent.
A long-time D&AD award winner, advisory board member and trustee, Lisa is already deeply connected to the organisation and its Shift programme – the free night school that helps self-made creatives break into the industry.
Her appointment reflects D&AD’s belief in the power of design to drive change at a moment when creativity is being reshaped by technology, culture and the collapse of traditional boundaries between disciplines.
Alongside her new role, Lisa recently joined Uncommon Creative Studio as Global Chief Design Officer, where she is helping embed design at the heart of the agency’s culture and output. Even in this short time, she has already influenced major projects, drawing on a career built on bold, high-profile work.
Before joining Uncommon, she held senior creative leadership roles at Jones Knowles Ritchie, where she drove global rebrands for notable clients such as Walmart, Burger King, Paramount, and Uber – work that earned her numerous awards and a spot on Fast Company’s Most Creative People list in 2021.
In taking on the presidency, Lisa acknowledges the scale of change facing the industry. “There’s a fundamental transformation happening – driven by emerging technologies, shifting cultural dynamics, and a redefinition of what ‘creativity’ even means,” she says. “The industry must embrace adaptability over tradition, invest in continuous learning, champion non-linear talent pathways, and foster more inclusive, cross-functional collaboration.”
D&AD Chairman Tim Lindsay describes her as “an exceptional blend of experience, creativity, and leadership,” praising her ability to bridge the worlds of design, advertising and brand. With Lisa at the helm, D&AD enters its next chapter with a leader whose career proves that design can drive business growth, spark culture and remain unmistakably human.”
