Thinking Big and Chasing Dreams in Design
Ed O’Sullivan
Design Lead
Pronouns: He/Him
Riverwoods, IL
A career with impact
I am a Design Lead for the Brand Creative Group at Discover, responsible for all things plastics. This includes working with the business and coming up with our card designs, developing production methods, and working with our plastics manufacturers to produce and innovate our cards. [I work with] Processing Services on proofing, art release, and overall quality, as well as print and digital art creation and management for marketing purposes and physical card specifications. I am also a member of our UX team, helping with digital mobile and web development, to ensure the best possible user experience for our customers.
Pursuing passions
Art and Design has been a lifelong passion of mine; I started designing comic books in third grade [which] continued through college, where I attained a degree in Graphic Communications and Design [then] interned at a design agency.
Innovating and thinking big
I like to look at what has already been done and try to find new and unique ways to take it to the next level. In regards to plastics, I consider the materials we are printing on, the color of the PVC core, foils, metallics, etc., as well as what is being printed, the design itself, the types of inks, pearlescence, hot stamps and tactile varnishes that will help our product stand out from competitors. Listening to industry experts like our plastics manufacturers [along with] ink and foil suppliers to see what they have created and are developing, helps trigger ideas on new ways to incorporate into our card designs. Partnering and collaborating with these vendors has resulted in some of the most successful outcomes I’ve experienced. Bouncing ideas off them and challenging them to find new ways to solve for various scenarios has been not only fun and engaging, but very fulfilling. A simple idea, like printing our cards on orange core PVC, changed how credit cards appear in cardholder’s wallets and has been mimicked by almost all credit card issuers.
Seeing the result of hard work
By far my favorite and most fulfilling part of my job is seeing the end result of my work in the real world—whether it’s a cashier or a waitstaff commenting on how much they love my Discover card, overhearing a complete stranger bragging about how cool their card looks, or just seeing the cards I designed in the wild (other cardmembers, in print, or on TV).
Making time for what matters
My son being born is by far the accomplishment I’m most proud of. Life is precious and time is fleeting. Having to say goodbye to friends and family has opened my eyes to the harsh reality that I need to make the most of life, cherish and build quality relationships, work hard, and spend as much time possible instilling quality life values in my son.
That “oh, wow!” moment
[When I realized] a company our size requires so many specialized skillsets and positions to function. Knowing how I fit in to the organization and the value I bring to the table helped give me a more holistic view of the working components and the importance of being a strong contributor.
Showing up and being a forever learner
Being given the opportunity to learn and grow from experienced designers and industry professionals early on in my career was extremely helpful in developing my acumen.
A strong work ethic, adaptability, and dedication have gotten me to where I am today—a 23+ year career as a Designer at Discover. Attention to detail is a value of mine I am able to utilize almost on a daily basis at work.
Never stop learning and growing. Constantly pushing myself to learn new skills and be innovative has contributed to where I am today. From implementing new production techniques to helping our plastics stand out (orange core, foils, inks, and varnishes), to recently learning new skills like UX design has helped me evolve as a professional and increased my value as an employee.