Michael Manwaring (born 1942) is an American designer and artist who helped shape the postmodern graphic design movement in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1980s. Born in Palo Alto, California, he founded the design firm The Office of Michael Manwaring and became one of the leading figures in what became known as the Pacific Wave.
Key facts
- Born
- 1942, American
Biography
During the 1980s, Manwaring was part of a group of San Francisco designers known as The Michaels (alongside Mabry, Cronan, Vanderbyl, and Schwab) who brought a distinctly West Coast sensibility to American graphic design. His practice extended beyond print into environmental graphics, integrating typography and design into architectural and public spaces.
He received the Allied Professions Award from the California Council of the American Institute of Architects and is a Fellow of both AIGA San Francisco and the Society for Environmental Graphic Design. He taught at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design, Kent State University, and the California College of the Arts, where he served as Adjunct Professor of Design from 1976 to 2001.
His work is held by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He lived in San Francisco for over 40 years before moving to Portland, Oregon, in 2006.
Timeline
- 1942Born in Palo Alto, California
- 1976Adjunct Professor of Design at California College of the Arts
- 1980Part of 'The Michaels' group of San Francisco designers
- 1980Helped shape the postmodern graphic design movement
- 2001Ended tenure as Adjunct Professor of Design
- 2006Moved from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon
Notable Works
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Related Artists
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Michael Manwaring known for?
Michael Manwaring is known for his role in the postmodern graphic design movement in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was part of a group known as The Michaels, who brought a West Coast sensibility to American graphic design; his work extended into environmental graphics, integrating typography and design into architectural spaces.Who was Michael Manwaring?
Michael Manwaring is an American designer and artist who helped shape the postmodern graphic design movement in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1980s. He founded the design firm The Office of Michael Manwaring and became a leading figure in the Pacific Wave movement.When was Michael Manwaring born?
Michael Manwaring was born in 1942 in United States.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Michael Manwaring.
- [1] museum Harvard Art Museums Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Victoria and Albert Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] book Art, the ape of nature : studies in honor of H. W. Janson Used for: biography.
- [4] book guggenheim-australianvision00wald Used for: biography.
- [5] book guggenheim-britishartnowame00wald Used for: biography.
- [6] book guggenheim-emergingartists100wald Used for: biography.
- [7] book Peter Robb, M: The Man Who Became Caravaggio Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-05-31. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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