Danielle Domingue Sumi (she/her) is an award-winning visual artist and costume designer whose work is inspired by culture, spirituality, humility, and the transformative power of storytelling. A New Orleanian currently residing in the Greater Boston area, Danielle is committed to promoting social well-being through costume design and expressive arts, creating work that honors heritage, identity, and the lived experiences of diverse communities.

In 2026, Danielle received the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Costume Design, Midsize or Small for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding with SpeakEasy Stage, recognizing her commitment to innovative storytelling, cultural authenticity, and collaborative design.

Danielle’s creative practice is grounded in multicultural perspectives, humanism, and social justice principles. A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), and Loyola Marymount University, Danielle holds degrees in design and art psychotherapy. She is recognized for her ingenuity, leadership, and artistry across theatrical, fashion, dance, and opera costume production.

Her creative collaborations include working with directors such as Peter Sellars, Alison De La Cruz, Christopher Alden, Yuval Sharon, Kumu Nani Aiu-Quezada, Summer L. Williams, and Fenlon Lamb, as well as scholar Monica White Ndounou and designers Azzedine Alaïa, Hussein Chalayan, Dunya Ramicova, and Helene Siebrits.

Danielle’s costume work has been featured with organizations including SpeakEasy Stage, Company One Theatre, Umbrella Arts, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Halau Hula Moani’a’ala Anuhea, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, East West Players, Los Angeles Master Chorale, English National Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, Perm Opera and Ballet Company, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Music Academy of the West, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Los Angeles Opera, Theatre Forty, and The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Danielle served as Resident Costume Designer with Nobles Theatre Collective at Noble and Greenough School (2020–2022) and as Costume Director with New Orleans Opera Association (2022–2023). She is currently the Resident Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, continuing to develop immersive costume worlds for theater, opera, and dance.