Still Designing the Way Forward: Lance Wyman on Curiosity, Culture, and a Lasting Legacy

July 30, 2025

Cybelle Jones

Episode 6: Voices of Experience with Lance Wyman of Lance Wyman, Ltd.

For more than six decades, SEGD Fellow Lance Wyman has shaped the visual language of cities, institutions, and cultural moments. Best known for his groundbreaking work on the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and the Mexico City Metro, Wyman has influenced generations of designers through his clarity of vision, deep respect for culture, and systems thinking—long before it became a buzzword.

But what we love most about Lance is that he still has the spirit of a young designer. Curious, joyful, and relentlessly passionate about experience design, he brings energy, wit, and generosity to everything he touches. Whether designing in his NYC studio, traveling to Mexico City for ongoing transit work, or showing up at SEGD events, Lance radiates enthusiasm with a twinkle in his eye.

Defining a Movement—and Still Moving

An early champion of SEGD, Lance was named an SEGD Fellow in 1992 for his pioneering contributions to experiential graphic design. He has remained an active and valued member of our community ever since—continually inspiring us with his creativity, generosity, and forward-thinking approach. This month, he celebrated his 88th birthday and released a new series of limited-edition signed “W” prints, a nod to his iconic typographic legacy.

After graduating from Pratt Institute with a degree in industrial design, Lance began his career at General Motors and soon joined the George Nelson office, where he contributed to the graphic program for the Chrysler Pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Just a few years later, at 29, he was selected to lead the graphic design system for the 1968 Mexico City Olympics—a defining opportunity that would launch his international career.

Designing with Empathy, Identity, and Impact

Drawn to Mexico’s vibrant colors, bold patterns, and symbolic richness, Lance immersed himself in the region’s visual language. He was especially inspired by indigenous geometry, ancient symbols, and the exuberant spirit of the city itself. The result was a timeless Olympic identity that merged modernist clarity with cultural specificity, setting a new benchmark for how graphic design could unify large-scale events and celebrate place.

Decades later, riding in a cab through New York City, Lance caught a glimpse of a billboard filled with silhouetted figures dancing against vibrant backgrounds. For a split second, he thought it was a revival of his 1968 Olympic stamp designs. But it was something else: Apple’s iconic iPod campaign. Rather than feeling imitated, he was thrilled—a sign that the visual language he helped pioneer still resonates in contemporary culture.

Ongoing Influence from Metro Systems to Mentorship

His success in Mexico led to the development of the Mexico City Metro identity system, a project he continues to work on today. His influence also spans the U.S., including his celebrated Washington Metro map, wayfinding for the National Zoo, and numerous other systems that shape how people move through and understand public space.

As the founder of Lance Wyman Ltd. and a longtime educator at Parsons School of Design, Lance has mentored generations of young designers while continuing to push the boundaries of his own work. While his accolades are many—including an AIGA Medal—it is his role as an SEGD Fellow and his unwavering presence in our community that we hold most dear.

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Episode 6: SEGD’s Voices of Experience with Lance Wyman

Filmed and produced by Abigail Honor of Lorem Ipsum, this episode captures Lance Wyman’s reflections on a life dedicated to work that connects people to place with clarity and beauty, and whose enduring spirit reminds us that great design always begins with curiosity, empathy, and the courage to think big.

Watch the sixth episode of Voices of Experience featuring Lance Wyman, FSEGD.

Join us every two weeks as we continue honoring SEGD Fellows whose work has shaped the environments—and experiences—that define our world.

Because experience design isn’t just about systems—it’s about storytelling, cultural connection, and the courage to keep creating.