On Michael Manwaring and Environmental Design

The reading for this week, chapter 22, discusses postmodern graphic design. One of the designers that Meggs briefly touches upon in this chapter is Michael Manwaring. Meggs briefly talks about his use of color, form, and texture in his environmental designs, but doesn’t give any further information about his life, work, or what environmental design is (Meggs, 473). I wanted to know more about this, and after further research, I found that Michael Manwaring has made many significant accomplishments throughout his life in the field of graphic design, especially related to environmental design. I also researched exactly what environmental design is. This blog post will discuss both of these topics.

Fig. 1: Photograph of Michael Manwaring

(Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2009/08/portland_opens_artist_  michael.html)

            Michael Manwaring was born in Palo Alto California. He was educated at the San Francisco Art Institute, and stayed in San Francisco for the next forty years working as a graphic designer (Manwaring). He completed many well-known projects during this time, one of which includes the interpretive signage project for the San Francisco Art Commission. This work “combines poetry, cultural and natural history on The Embarcadero Promende” which was a two-and-a-half mile long section of San Francisco waterfront (Manwaring). Another accomplishment was the environmental design graphics, color and retail work he completed for the HP Pavilion. He was recognized for his work when he was profiled in Time Magazine, as well as having his work featured in the “first exhibition of graphic design at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art” (Manwaring). The exhibition was called, In the Public Eye: the work of four graphic designers. In 1997 the Society for Environmental Graphic Design elected Manwaring as a fellow, as well as named him one of the most important people in the field of graphic design (Manwaring). In 2000, Manwaring received the Allied Professionals Award of excellence from the California Council of the American Institute of Architects. Manwaring also worked as a professor during his professional career. He taught at the College of Environmental Design UC Berkeley, as well as Kent State University, and worked as an adjunct Professor of Design at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco from 1976-2001. From 1991-1993 Manwaring co-developed and taught an interdisciplinary course for artists, architects, and graphic designers called “City as Surface” with Suzanne Lazy, Dean of Fine Arts (Manwaring). Early in 2006, he relocated to Portland, Oregon to focus on his painting and sculpture.

Fig. 2: The Stanford Design Conference Poster by Michael Manwaring

(Source: http://designarchives.aiga.org/)

Fig. 3: Poster by Michael Manwaring

(Source: http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/cardshowall.php?title=test-3-graphic-design-test-3)

            Manwaring’s work with environmental design got me wondering what exactly environmental design is. Upon doing some research, I found that environmental design is, “concerned with the visual aspects of way-finding, communicating identity and information, and shaping the idea of creating experiences that connect people to place” (SEGD). It embraces many disciplines such as graphic design, architecture, interior design, landscape design, and industrial design. Common examples of work by environmental design practitioners such as Manwaring include “way-finding systems, architectural graphics, signage, exhibit design, identity graphics, dynamic environments, civic design, pictogram design, retail and store design, mapping, and themed/branded environments” (SEGD). It becomes clear, and then, that environmental design is an important, and heavily used aspect of our everyday lives.

References:

Manwaring, Michael. "About." michael Manwaring. N.p.. Web. 6 Apr 2014.        <http://www.manwaring.com>.

Manwaring, Michael. N.d. Photograph. ProProfs FlashcardsWeb. 6 Apr 2014. <http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/cardshowall.php?title=test-3-graphic-design-test-3>.

Manwaring , Micheael. The Stanford Design Conference Poster. N.d. Graphic. AIGA Design ArchivesWeb. 6 Apr 2014. <http://designarchives.aiga.org/

Megg, Philip B. Megg's History of Graphic Design. 5th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2012. 200-202. Print.

Metty, Abbey. The Oregonian Michael Manwaring. N.d. Photograph. OregonLiveWeb. 6 Apr 2014.             <http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2009/08/portland_opens_artist_  michael.html>.

"What is Environmental Graphic Design (EGD)?." SEGD. N.p.. Web. 6 Apr 2014.          <http://segd.org/article/what-environmental-graphic-design-egd>.