Artwork featuring sparklers lighting a night sky with rainbow colors is the winner of the LGBT Debit Card Design Contest by U.S. Bank, getting more than 3,600 votes in public voting in February.
More than 400 artists nationally submitted original designs to the bank’s card contest, which launched in December and ended Jan. 31. The LGBT card design contest was a part of U.S. Bank’s ongoing efforts to show support for different communities and highlight the bank’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion.
The winning artist, Olivia Ogba, 23, of Atlanta, created her design after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2015 that same-sex marriage was legal nationwide. The photograph with painting effects is purposefully patriotic, featuring rainbow colors shooting from sparklers on the Fourth of July.
“That’s what America stands for the ability for everyone to go after the American dream without any sort of discrimination,” Ogba said.
Ogba’s art will become one of U.S. Bank’s 10 permanent card designs, and she will receive $7,500 for her winning artwork. Customers can choose Ogba’s debit card art beginning May 15.
Nancy Faulhaber of Lakewood, Ohio, outside Cleveland, will receive $5,000 for second place for her design of heart-shaped hands holding a rainbow; and Joseph Escobar of Los Angeles will get $2,500 for third place for his rainbow-striped depiction of diverse people. A profile of the three finalists can be found here.
“U.S. Bank asked artists to submit art in any medium that celebrated the LGBT community. We were happily surprised by the large response, which made it a challenge to narrow it down to three finalists,” said Ann Dyste, assistant vice president, LGBT strategy manager, U.S. Bank. “We believe the three winning designs all honored equality, progress and unity, and we wanted to leave the final decision up to the public, so their voices could be heard.”
U.S. Bank is increasing its outreach to the LGBT community in a variety of ways this year, including sponsoring Pride festivities in 30 cities, the largest number in the bank’s history. In addition, U.S. Bank sponsors many LGBT organizations across its 25-state footprint, including the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN and the LGBT Center in Los Angeles. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has named the bank a “Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality” for 10 years in a row.
“We have a strong tradition of supporting our LGBT employees at U.S. Bank, with six chapters of LGBT business resource groups and more on the way. We want employees and prospective hires to know that U.S. Bank is an open and inclusive workplace where all are welcome,” said Eduardo Sayan, U.S. Bank vice president, director of multicultural strategy.
