Lance Wyman (b. 1937) is an American graphic designer best known for creating some of the most iconic visual identity systems of the 20th century. Renowned for his bold use of color, geometry, and modular forms, Wyman helped define the language of modern wayfinding and urban graphic design through projects that merge clarity, symbolism, and cultural research.Born in Newark, New Jersey, Wyman studied industrial design at Pratt Institute in New York. His early career included work with architect William Schmidt and designer George Nelson, where he developed a strong foundation in modernist principles and large-scale visual systems. He gained international recognition in the late 1960s as a lead designer for the graphic program of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, where he created a groundbreaking identity that fused Op Art geometry with Mexican folk motifs. The project is widely regarded as a milestone in environmental and event branding.Building on that success, Wyman went on to design the enduring wayfinding system for the Mexico City Metro, producing a comprehensive set of pictogram-based icons that allow millions of riders — including non-Spanish speakers and illiterate users — to navigate the system visually. This project remains one of the most celebrated examples of public information design.Through his studio practice and teaching career, including decades as a professor at Parsons School of Design, Wyman has influenced generations of designers. His work spans maps, urban signage, institutional identities, exhibitions, and publications, always emphasizing function, legibility, and cultural resonance. Today, he is recognized as a pioneer of graphic systems and environmental design, whose visual languages continue to shape how people move through and understand complex spaces.

Lance Wyman

American

Main

Artist

Printer

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Obama 08