Matthew Manos

Matthew Manos: Academic & Social Innovator

Matthew Manos serves as Associate Dean for Academic Planning and Associate Professor of Practice in Design Strategy at the University of Southern California. He is the founder of verynice, a design strategy firm that provides free services to nonprofits, working with clients like Apple, UNICEF, and NASA. He previously chaired the Los Angeles Creative Advisory Board under Mayor Garcetti and designed curricula for the IYC high school initiative. His research focuses on creative facilitation tools in healthcare, education, and social entrepreneurship.

Education

• Master of Fine Arts in Media Design Practices, ArtCenter College of Design
• Bachelor of Arts in Design Media Arts, UCLA

Research & Impact

Manos pioneers frameworks for equitable collaboration and strategic foresight. His work includes Models of Impact (a toolkit for social enterprises) and Comix from the Heart (healthcare storytelling via comics). His articles in Forbes, HOW Magazine, and academic journals address CSR, education reform, and design ethics.

Awards & Recognition

• Golden Root Award (2013) for pro-bono leadership
• Forbes 30 Under 30 nomination
• LA Mayor’s Pro Bono Service Award (2014, 2018)

Leadership & Outreach

At USC, he oversees admissions, curriculum, and industry partnerships. He has lectured globally at institutions like Singularity University and Google, advocating for design-driven social change. Prior roles include adjunct professorships at CCA and ArtCenter, and teaching at Moscow’s Strelka Institute.

Projects & Labs

• verynice: Pro-bono design services ($50M+ impact)
• Models of Impact: Used by 100,000+ practitioners
• Comix from the Heart: Patient-art collaboration in healthcare