Yellow Flower
Yellow Flower

As a Senior Designer within Edelman's New Business Design Studio, I partnered with account leaders, strategists, and creative directors to transform complex business challenges into persuasive visual narratives.

As a Senior Designer within Edelman's New Business Design Studio, I partnered with account leaders, strategists, and creative directors to transform complex business challenges into persuasive visual narratives.

As a Senior Designer within Edelman's New Business Design Studio, I partnered with account leaders, strategists, and creative directors to transform complex business challenges into persuasive visual narratives.

Working across industries including healthcare, technology, consumer goods, automotive, and hospitality, I helped shape high-stakes pitch presentations, thought leadership reports, and executive communications designed to win new business and strengthen client relationships.

Unlike traditional marketing design, this work required balancing strategic storytelling, information design, and brand expression under extremely tight deadlines.
Working across industries including healthcare, technology, consumer goods, automotive, and hospitality, I helped shape high-stakes pitch presentations, thought leadership reports, and executive communications designed to win new business and strengthen client relationships.

Unlike traditional marketing design, this work required balancing strategic storytelling, information design, and brand expression under extremely tight deadlines.
Every presentation needed to communicate a clear point of view while remaining flexible enough to support evolving client needs and stakeholder feedback.

Over three years, I collaborated with teams across New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles to deliver polished presentation experiences that helped contribute to a 20–22% increase in new business acquisition.
Every presentation needed to communicate a clear point of view while remaining flexible enough to support evolving client needs and stakeholder feedback.

Over three years, I collaborated with teams across New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles to deliver polished presentation experiences that helped contribute to a 20–22% increase in new business acquisition.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Every pitch required synthesizing strategy, research, and brand direction into a presentation executives could deliver with confidence — often in under a week. The design had to be clear, credible, and flexible enough to hold up under last-minute stakeholder changes.

Led visual design for competitive RFP and business development presentations

Developed presentation systems that balanced consistency with client-specific branding

Transformed research, strategy, and data into executive-level storytelling assets

Designed infographics, diagrams, and visual frameworks to simplify complex information

Produced supporting collateral including books, reports, brochures, and leave-behind materials

Partnered with account teams and creative leadership to refine narratives and presentation flow

Managed multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously while meeting aggressive deadlines

Business Impact

Business Impact

As one of the inaugural members of the New Business Design Studio, I helped establish design processes and presentation standards that enabled teams across multiple offices to deliver more consistent, strategic, and visually compelling pitch experiences.

By translating complex ideas into clear, engaging narratives, our team helped account leaders communicate value more effectively, contributing to a 20–22% increase in new business acquisition opportunities.

My work supported presentations viewed by executive stakeholders across industries, helping Edelman compete for high-value accounts through stronger storytelling, clearer communication, and polished visual execution.

Scaling a Global Thought Leadership Report Under Tight Deadlines

Scaling a Global Thought Leadership Report Under Tight Deadlines

When a teammate was reassigned to a major new business opportunity, I stepped in to lead the visual design of the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Food & Beverage.

When a teammate was reassigned to a major new business opportunity, I stepped in to lead the visual design of the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Food & Beverage.
Working within a compressed two-week timeline, I collaborated with stakeholders to transform a large volume of research findings into a cohesive report experience across presentation, web, and social formats. The challenge required balancing clarity, accessibility, and visual engagement while maintaining the credibility expected from one of Edelman's flagship research initiatives.

I designed custom infographics, data visualizations, and presentation layouts that helped audiences quickly understand key findings while preserving the integrity of the research. The project was successfully delivered on schedule and recognized internally by leadership for its quality and execution during a particularly demanding period.
Working within a compressed two-week timeline, I collaborated with stakeholders to transform a large volume of research findings into a cohesive report experience across presentation, web, and social formats. The challenge required balancing clarity, accessibility, and visual engagement while maintaining the credibility expected from one of Edelman's flagship research initiatives.

I designed custom infographics, data visualizations, and presentation layouts that helped audiences quickly understand key findings while preserving the integrity of the research. The project was successfully delivered on schedule and recognized internally by leadership for its quality and execution during a particularly demanding period.

Contributions

Contributions

Lead visual designer

Data visualization and infographic design

Brand-aligned creative direction

Presentation system development

Cross-channel asset creation

Stakeholder collaboration and delivery management

Designing for Trust During a Brand Challenge

Designing for Trust During a Brand Challenge

When developing Edelman's response to Foursquare's RFP, the challenge extended beyond creating a visually appealing deck. The presentation needed to demonstrate a deep understanding of the brand while positioning Edelman as a strategic partner capable of navigating complex communication challenges.
I worked closely with the account team to organize research, develop visual storytelling frameworks, and create presentation materials that balanced business objectives with brand authenticity.

The final pitch transformed a large volume of information into a focused narrative that clearly communicated our strategic recommendations and approach.
I worked closely with the account team to organize research, develop visual storytelling frameworks, and create presentation materials that balanced business objectives with brand authenticity.

The final pitch transformed a large volume of information into a focused narrative that clearly communicated our strategic recommendations and approach.

Contributions

Contributions

Information architecture and content organization

Presentation design and visual storytelling

Brand-aligned creative direction

Executive-ready pitch materials

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

What this work taught me most was that clarity under pressure is a skill, not a circumstance. When the deadline is two weeks and the stakeholders are in four cities, good design isn't about perfection — it's about knowing which decisions matter and making them fast. That instinct has carried into every product and system I've designed since.
Every pitch required balancing competing stakeholder perspectives, evolving business strategies, and tight deadlines. Success depended not only on strong visual design but also on the ability to quickly absorb information, identify the core narrative, and translate it into a presentation that executives could confidently deliver.
Every pitch required balancing competing stakeholder perspectives, evolving business strategies, and tight deadlines. Success depended not only on strong visual design but also on the ability to quickly absorb information, identify the core narrative, and translate it into a presentation that executives could confidently deliver.
This experience strengthened my ability to simplify complexity, collaborate across disciplines, and design communications that drive business outcomes rather than simply looking polished.
This experience strengthened my ability to simplify complexity, collaborate across disciplines, and design communications that drive business outcomes rather than simply looking polished.

O'Nysha Thomas

Want to collaborate or strategize with me? 

Let’s make something dope together.

Contact Me

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Pure O'Nyx © 2026

O'Nysha Thomas

Want to collaborate or strategize with me? 

Let’s make something dope together.

Contact Me

Email

LinkedIn

Pure O'Nyx © 2026

O'Nysha Thomas

Want to collaborate or strategize with me? 

Let’s make something dope together.

Contact Me

Email

LinkedIn

Pure O'Nyx © 2026