Paul Manno loves all the little children of the world. OK, we’re exaggerating a little. For certain he loves his own kids like the Super Dad he is, but he honestly does concern himself with those in the up-and-coming generation who are about to enter the design industry work force. How do we know” If he didn’t, would he be taking time out of his frantic schedule as Design Director with Gensler to be the Keynote Speaker on Student Day at NeoCon® this year (next Wednesday, June 15th to be exact)” We think not. Who is this mysterious man, and what makes him tick” Read on to find out – you just might want to drop in on his gig…
Although originally a Californian, Paul has loved Texas ever since he moved to the Lone Star State to attend Texas A&M University in College Station. In fact, he loved the college town so much that he stuck around to complete a Masters of Architecture after first earning his Bachelor degree in Environmental Design.
But maybe it was the learning atmosphere – rather than the city – that inspired Paul to stay, for it was there when his desire to teach was ignited: “I was fortunate enough to have a professor who let me be a professors aid in a senior design studio. Through a set of very unusual circumstances, in my first year of grad school I taught a third year design studio on my own. This was [my] beginning into the academic world, and I taught the following year as well.”
Bursting at the seams with knowledge and graduating from a respected architecture program, Paul didn’t have any trouble first landing a job at HKS, though “it was a very short lived employment – a long story.” After getting his feet wet there, Paul headed over to Benson Hlavaty, where he learned a great deal about the “practical and technical workings of the business.” Scott Strasser of CRS soon came courting, and he emphasized to Paul that “great design never ends… just keep pushing it.” Another valuable lesson from Strasser’s brilliant design mind” “Always use real chocolate ice cream in a chocolate shake.” Words of wisdom if we’ve ever heard them.
Ever expanding his horizons, journeyman Paul then took on a position with RYA, a retail design studio. There he learned about “the inner workings of a retail firm, and the importance of merchandising and placement.” From there it was on to Hermanovski Lauck, which morphed into the lauckgroup. “Within this firm I gained my greatest exposure to all the aspects of a successful design studio. Alan Lauck taught me the importance of a design firm as a business, but more importantly, that a firm is nothing without a great cultural leader, which he will always be to me.”
Despite (or maybe because of) all of his intense work experience, Paul took on the added responsibility of becoming an adjunct professor at UTA while he was working with lauckgroup. There he instructed a wide variety of design-related courses to eager-to-learn students, satisfying the teaching jones that had never really subsided.
Paul has a philosophy: “I believe I have learned one thing through all my various jobs. I have learned that design and change travel on the same road.” Now that road has led him to Gensler’s Dallas office, where he acts as a Design Director. We asked what comprises a typical Day In The Gensler Life of Paul Manno, and with it we received some sage advice:
My typical day is extremely varied. As much as I would enjoy focusing a 100% of my time on design, it never really happens that way. I usually spend the mornings organizing others, setting out design tasks and reviewing work. The afternoons are working on marketing stuff, office issues and reviewing deadlines. I still find time to sketch, which is one my real passions that I will always find time for. I’m not very CAD literate, but I share an interest in looking for CAD-based sketching programs. I still believe the hand / pen will never be replaced, and the ability to sketch will always be a necessity.
Paul is definitely relishing his time with Gensler. With the design giant’s amazing access to information, he is taking full advantage, reading and researching even more than he did in school and staying abreast with all that’s going on in the design world. Plus, he uses his membership in IIDA to network and learn about new products and trends. According to Paul, “There should be no reason not to stay informed or expand your mind.”
OK, sure – after all those cool jobs, he’s uber experienced now, but has he ever made a mistake” Yes. And did he learn from it” Most definitely. So what was it””” (We were nosily compelled to ask”)
That a 36” wide refrigerator won’t fit into a 36” wide opening in a wall. After finding out from the contractor that the refrigerator didn’t fit, it was a very humbling experience to me in many ways. First, I spent so many years in school being preached the importance of design and that all roads lead to design, that I completely missed the boat on the just the practicality / technical aspects of design. It’s something that you just don’t get enough in school. Second lesson learned was to be honest with the problem and let your boss know. Using his experience, which he obviously had more of, he quickly found a solution. Although the solution cost the firm money, the most valuable I lessoned was more about doing the right thing.
Amen! [PLiNTH & CHiNTZ has been preaching this kind of philosophy from its inception. See September 2004’s DON’T EMBARRASS YOURSELF article, Building Blocks, for more.]
So is this the kind of wisdom he will be imparting to his student audience in his NeoCon® Keynote speech, “Creating a Culture of Design”” All this and more. He’s going to preach the importance of “the intangible: collaboration, culture and values,” as well as what will be expected of students and how they should apply what they’ve learned in school. Perfect. We’ll be there to cheer him on.
Paul’s parting thoughts are certainly influenced by the relationship he has had with his father, an international marketing manager who took Paul overseas with him every chance he had: “I enjoy sharing what I know, and I believe we all have a responsibility to pass on what we know.”
We knew there was a reason Paul was so popular, and now we all know.
The personal side of Paul…
P&C: Are you planning any vacations for the summer”
PM: My boys and I are big water bums, and enjoy spending time at any warm beach. Were not big vacation planners, we just pick a spot and go.
P&C: What’s on the top of your home improvement “to do” list at the moment”
PM: To finish my koi pond. It’s been a slow progress. I never knew placing rocks could take this long. They all have such distinct personalities…
P&C: What’s the most delicious meal that you can cook”
PM: Ginger teriyaki salmon on the grill.
P&C: What do you wish you knew more about”
PM: How to lead a more balanced life.
P&C: Do you mind if we list your email address so that readers can contact you with questions”
PM: Sure. paul_manno@gensler.com
