About Us
O'Connor Design Works is an award-winning communications design firm whose principals have provided design, planning and consulting services to a wide variety of corporate clients, associations, not-for-profit organizations and individuals over several decades.
Our goal is to assist our clients in creating the unique print and online materials that are required to communicate clearly and distinctively in today's marketplace. As graphic designers, we provide design services, art direction and project planning. Depending on the scope and requirements of a project, we will assemble other talent including writing/editing services, photography, illustration, printing and Web programming.
At O'Connor Design Works we approach your communications project ready to:
- Listen carefully so we learn how to complete your project to your satisfaction
- Organize information into an understandable and logical format that clearly defines your message
- Focus our experience and professionalism to manage the delivery of your project on time, on target and at reasonable cost
This process enables us to develop creative visual solutions that motivate your target audience and register your message with impact.
Joseph W. O'Connor
Principal
Joe has practiced graphic design in the Chicago area for over twenty years. As senior designer and vice president at David Hirsch Design Group and its predecessor Forkert-Blome and Associates, he pioneered in using computer technology in the design process. In 1996, Joe became a partner in the Hirsch O'Connor Design studio. His duties involved all aspects of running a ten-person design firm.
In 2003, he established O'Connor Design Works in LaGrange, Illinois. Beside his studio experience, he has held design positions at the American Bar Association and the University of Illinois. A member of the Society of Typographic Arts, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago and the American Center for Design, Joe earned a B.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois and took graduate courses in Design Management at Northern Illinois University.
Mary Lynn Van Dyken
Principal
Mary Lynn attained a Bachelor of Science degree from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has taught art in public and private schools. In addition to studio experience at Forkert-Blome and Associates, she held design positions at Mercy Hospital and Columbia Advertising in Chicago. Mary Lynn joined Joe in 2003 to form O’Connor Design Works.
Mary Lynn is a member of the Art Institute of Chicago, Empowering Women Network, LaGrange Business Association, Oak Brook Area Association of Commerce and Industry, West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs.
Chris Mulligan
Senior Designer
Chris has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana State University. He specializes in original concept creations and photo illustrations using his expertise in manipulating state-of-the-art software to produce graphic solutions.
Chris has over 20 years experience as a designer. Prior to his association with O’Connor Design Works, he was Senior Designer at Hirsch O’Connor Design from 1997 through 2002. He co-owned Mulligan+Mulligan Design, a firm focused primarily on technology-oriented clients such as Andersen Consulting.