A Creative Force in Entertainment
When you think of entertainment industry stars, you might picture actors on red carpets or singers performing sold-out concerts. But Suni Mayo-Simpson represents a different kind of star – one whose creative brilliance shines behind the scenes. This Brooklyn-based multi-talented artist has quietly built an impressive career that seamlessly blends visual storytelling through production design with the vocal artistry of professional voice acting.
What makes Mayo-Simpson particularly fascinating is her refusal to stick to just one creative lane. While most entertainment professionals specialize in a single area, she’s proven that true artistic vision knows no boundaries. Her work showcases how today’s most innovative creatives are breaking traditional molds, bringing fresh perspectives that only come from mastering multiple disciplines.
Over the years, Mayo-Simpson has become something of a secret weapon for independent filmmakers. Her unique combination of production design expertise and voice acting skills makes her the kind of collaborator that directors dream about – someone who can enhance both the visual and auditory elements of their projects with equal finesse.
Early Career and Background
Suni Mayo-Simpson’s path into entertainment wasn’t exactly conventional. Back in 2002, she got her first real taste of the film industry working on “X-Patriots” in the props department. It might not sound glamorous, but this hands-on experience taught her something invaluable – that every single detail matters when you’re trying to tell a story visually.
Those early days in the art department were like film school, but better. Instead of just learning theory, Mayo-Simpson was getting her hands dirty with the actual nuts and bolts of moviemaking. She learned how a carefully chosen prop could reveal character depth, how the right set decoration could transport audiences to different worlds, and most importantly, how all these elements needed to work together seamlessly.
Brooklyn turned out to be the perfect launching pad for her career. The borough has always been a magnet for creative types who aren’t afraid to experiment and push boundaries. For someone like Mayo-Simpson, who was already showing signs of wanting to do more than just one thing, Brooklyn’s diverse arts scene provided endless inspiration and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded artists.
What’s really impressive is how she used those early experiences as stepping stones rather than stopping points. Many people might have been content to stay in the art department, but Mayo-Simpson had bigger creative ambitions brewing.
Production Design Excellence
The Big Break: Notable Film Projects
2009 marked a turning point for Mayo-Simpson when she landed the production designer role for “Rivers Wash Over Me,” directed by John G. Young. This wasn’t just another gig – it was her chance to prove she could handle the creative responsibility of shaping an entire film’s visual identity.
Working on a film that featured rising star Sonequa Martin-Green (who would later become famous for her roles in “The Walking Dead” and “Star Trek: Discovery”) gave Mayo-Simpson the opportunity to work alongside serious talent. The project demanded more than just pretty sets; it required creating authentic environments that could support complex emotional storytelling.
What made her work on “Rivers Wash Over Me” stand out was her attention to the psychological aspects of space. She understood that the environments needed to feel lived-in and real, not like movie sets. Every room, every corner had to contribute to the audience’s understanding of the characters and their relationships.
The success of that project opened doors for her next challenge: “Game Time” in 2011. This film required a completely different aesthetic approach, and Mayo-Simpson proved she wasn’t a one-trick pony. She adapted her creative vision to match the project’s unique needs, showing the kind of versatility that makes production designers invaluable to directors.
Her most recent confirmed work, “One Bedroom” from 2018, demonstrates that she’s kept pace with changing industry trends. Working on contemporary settings requires a different skill set than period pieces, and Mayo-Simpson has shown she can handle both with equal skill.
Her Creative Philosophy
What sets Mayo-Simpson apart from other production designers is her collaborative spirit. She doesn’t just create beautiful spaces – she creates spaces that serve the story. Her approach involves deep conversations with directors about their vision, careful study of the script to understand character motivations, and constant communication with other department heads to ensure everything works together harmoniously.
She’s developed a reputation for being the kind of production designer who makes everyone else’s job easier. Cinematographers love working with her because she understands how spaces will look on camera. Actors appreciate her attention to detail because it helps them inhabit their characters more fully.
Voice Acting Career
Discovering Her Voice
While many people might see production design and voice acting as completely different worlds, Mayo-Simpson found they actually complement each other beautifully. Both require an understanding of character, mood, and storytelling – just through different mediums.
Her venture into voice acting wasn’t exactly planned. Like many of her career moves, it evolved naturally from her existing skills and interests. Through her Voices.com profile, she’s built a reputation for having what clients describe as a “smooth texture, deep and soulful” voice that can also shift to “airy, sunny and cheery” when the project calls for it.
What’s particularly impressive about her voice work is the range she’s developed. She’s not just another voice actor trying to do everything – she’s genuinely skilled at adapting her delivery for different age groups and character types. Whether a project needs the voice of a child, teenager, young adult, middle-aged character, or senior, Mayo-Simpson can deliver authentic performances that serve the story.
Her accent work is equally impressive. She’s mastered British General, Caribbean General, North American General, North American US South, and Spanish Latino accents. This isn’t just about putting on different voices – it’s about understanding the cultural nuances and emotional undertones that make each accent authentic and respectful.
The Business Side of Voice Acting
Mayo-Simpson approaches voice acting with the same professionalism she brings to production design. Her home studio setup includes high-end equipment like AKG and Scarlet Studio microphones, plus a C3000 for specialized work. She uses Apple systems and professional audio interfaces because she understands that in voice acting, technical quality isn’t optional – it’s essential.
Her service offerings span audiobooks, radio ads, telephone systems, music projects, datasets, and internal videos. This diversity keeps her work interesting and ensures she’s not dependent on just one type of client or project.
What clients particularly appreciate is her reliable 24-48 hour turnaround time. In an industry where deadlines are everything, Mayo-Simpson has built her reputation on being someone you can count on to deliver quality work on schedule.
The Professional Edge
What really sets Mayo-Simpson apart in both her fields is her commitment to professional standards. She’s not someone who cuts corners or settles for “good enough.” Whether she’s designing a film set or recording a voiceover, she brings the same level of technical expertise and attention to detail.
Her voice acting studio is a testament to this commitment. The combination of professional-grade microphones, Apple systems, and audio interfaces ensures that every recording meets broadcast standards. But more importantly, she understands that having great equipment is only half the battle – knowing how to use it effectively is what separates professionals from amateurs.
This technical knowledge gained from voice acting has actually enhanced her production design work. Understanding audio requirements and acoustics has made her more thoughtful about how spaces will sound, not just how they’ll look. It’s another example of how her diverse skill set creates unexpected synergies.
Building Industry Relationships
Throughout her career, Mayo-Simpson has worked with some notable names in independent cinema. Her collaboration with director John G. Young on “Rivers Wash Over Me” stands out as a particularly successful partnership. The film also connected her with producers like Darien Sills-Evans, Jay J. Milla, and Jason Garlock – relationships that have continued to benefit her career.
What’s interesting about Mayo-Simpson’s approach to networking is that it’s never felt forced or calculated. She’s built genuine professional relationships based on mutual respect and shared creative goals. This authentic approach has served her well in an industry where reputation and word-of-mouth recommendations can make or break careers.
The independent film community has embraced Mayo-Simpson because she brings both reliability and creativity to every project. Directors know they can count on her to solve problems, meet deadlines, and contribute ideas that make their films better.
Looking Forward
Mayo-Simpson’s career trajectory suggests someone who’s just getting started, despite already having nearly two decades of experience. Her progression from props assistant to production designer to voice actor shows a pattern of continuous growth and learning.
The entertainment industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and platforms creating fresh opportunities for creative professionals. Mayo-Simpson’s diverse skill set positions her perfectly for this changing landscape. Whether it’s virtual reality projects that need both visual design and voice work, or streaming content that requires quick turnarounds and professional quality, she’s ready.
Her Brooklyn base continues to be an asset. The borough remains a hotbed of creative activity, with new filmmakers and content creators constantly emerging. For someone like Mayo-Simpson, who thrives on collaboration and creative challenges, it’s the perfect place to be.
A Different Kind of Star
In an industry often obsessed with celebrity and fame, Suni Mayo-Simpson represents something refreshing – a creative professional who’s built her reputation on craft, reliability, and genuine artistic contribution. She may not walk red carpets or give acceptance speeches, but her work has enhanced countless projects and supported the visions of numerous filmmakers.
Her story is particularly inspiring for other creative professionals who refuse to be pigeonholed into a single specialty. Mayo-Simpson has proven that it’s possible to excel in multiple areas without sacrificing quality or professional reputation. If anything, her diverse skills have made her more valuable, not less focused.
The future looks bright for Mayo-Simpson as she continues to evolve both as a production designer and voice actor. Her unique combination of visual and vocal creative abilities makes her exactly the kind of collaborator that today’s content creators need – someone who can contribute across multiple aspects of a project while maintaining the highest professional standards.
Whether she’s creating the perfect environment for a dramatic scene or bringing a character to life through voice alone, Suni Mayo-Simpson continues to prove that the best kind of star is one whose brilliance elevates everyone around them.
