Get to
Great Design.
Mance Creative is a San Diego-based creative team helping businesses and organizations solve visual problems, build stronger brands, and communicate more effectively.
We’ve been doing it since 1999, which means we’ve seen a lot change in the design world.
What hasn’t changed is how we like to work: listen closely, think things through, do excellent work, and be the kind of creative partner people actually enjoy working with.
A Strong Team
Behind every project is a group of designers, developers, and creative problem-solvers who bring different skills and perspectives to the table.
That means clients get more than one point of view and more than one area of expertise without having to manage a collection of separate freelancers and vendors.
We collaborate with each other. We collaborate with you.
And we try to make the process as enjoyable as the finished product.
Michael Mance
President &
Creative Director
Michael founded Mance Creative in 1999 and has spent more than 25 years helping businesses and organizations turn ideas into clear, memorable visual brands. With a background that combines analytical problem-solving and creative direction, he brings a practical, strategic perspective to every project. Michael works closely with clients to understand the bigger picture, guide the creative direction, and make sure the final work does more than simply look good – it needs to work.
Mitch Wilson
Senior Graphic Designer & Website Developer
Mitch Wilson has been part of the Mance Creative team since 2007 and brings a rare mix of graphic design and website development experience to the studio. He works across print, digital, branding, and web projects, helping turn creative concepts into polished, practical solutions. His ability to move comfortably between design and technology makes him especially valuable on projects where the visual idea and the user experience need to work hand in hand.
Edgar Guerrero
Graphic & Multimedia
Designer
Edgar Guerrero graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Web and Multimedia Design in Spring 2016. He joined Mance Creative in 2019 as a graphic designer right after moving to San Diego from Imperial Valley, CA. Edgar assists in the production of digital and print materials for Mance Creative’s clients and provides expertise in many other areas which includes photography, film production, motion animation and more.
Mark Johansson
Graphic & Website
Designer
Mark Johansson is a highly experienced Senior Multimedia Designer with a proven track record in the design industry spanning over 15 years. Mark graduated with honors from the University of Portsmouth with a Bachelors Degree of Arts in Multimedia Design, with specialization in film, graphic, web, and video game design. In 2023, he joined Mance Creative, where he creates a wide variety of creative design solutions for a diverse range of clients. In his spare time, he likes to spend time with his wife, go surfing and hiking, and runs his small family business with his dad.
Audrey Hill
Production
Artist
Audrey Hill graduated from the University of San Diego in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts, with an emphasis in Graphic Design, and a minor in Art History. Her experience working for fine art galleries in San Diego informs her knowledge of composition, color, and materiality, which she brings to her branding and digital design work. Audrey is our newest hire, joining the Mance Creative team as a Production Artist in August 2026. Her past work spans digital and print graphic design, illustration, social strategy, and branding. In her free time, she enjoys painting, hiking, camping, traveling, and being outdoors.
Rick Annino
Office Manager &
Technology Director
Rick Annino brings over 30 years of experience in web development and programming to Mance Creative. While he isn’t a graphic designer himself, he plays an essential role in supporting the team through technical research, project management, webhosting setup and support as well as many of the office tasks which helps keep our projects on track and working smoothly. Rick also dedicates his time and expertise to supporting Mance Creative’s nonprofit clients, helping build strong customer relationships and make a positive impact in the community.
We’ve been doing this for a while and...
We Still
Mance Creative began in San Diego in 1999 with a simple idea: create great work, take care of clients, and build relationships that last longer than a single project.
More than 25 years later, that idea still works pretty well.
The studio has grown, technology has changed, and the kinds of projects we work on have expanded considerably. What began primarily as a graphic design business has evolved into a creative partner providing visual branding, graphic design, website development, and ongoing marketing support.
Along the way, we’ve worked with startups, established businesses, nonprofits, cultural organizations, professional firms, and some pretty recognizable names.
Some clients come to us because they need one great project.
Others stay because it’s useful having a creative team that already understands their business.
We’re happy with either.
Mance Creative began in San Diego in 1999 with a simple idea: create great work, take care of clients, and build relationships that last longer than a single project.
More than 25 years later, that idea still works pretty well.
The studio has grown, technology has changed, and the kinds of projects we work on have expanded considerably. What began primarily as a graphic design business has evolved into a creative partner providing visual branding, graphic design, website development, and ongoing marketing support.
Along the way, we’ve worked with startups, established businesses, nonprofits, cultural organizations, professional firms, and some pretty recognizable names.
Some clients come to us because they need one great project.
Others stay because it’s useful having a creative team that already understands their business.
We’re happy with either.
Mance Creative began in San Diego in 1999 with a simple idea: create great work, take care of clients, and build relationships that last longer than a single project.
More than 25 years later, that idea still works pretty well.
The studio has grown, technology has changed, and the kinds of projects we work on have expanded considerably. What began primarily as a graphic design business has evolved into a creative partner providing visual branding, graphic design, website development, and ongoing marketing support.
Along the way, we’ve worked with startups, established businesses, nonprofits, cultural organizations, professional firms, and some pretty recognizable names.
Some clients come to us because they need one great project.
Others stay because it’s useful having a creative team that already understands their business.
We’re happy with either.
We believe...
Design Should
Good design has a job to do.
It may need to make information clearer. Get someone’s attention. Build trust. Simplify a complicated idea. Help a business look more established. Or inspire someone to take the next step. That’s why every project begins with understanding the real challenge.
Once that’s clear, the creative part gets a lot more interesting.
And a lot more effective.
Our Values.
A few things that matter around here
Our values aren’t meant to sound impressive.
They’re simply the things that guide how we work, how we treat people, and the kind of creative relationships we want to build.
Magic
Every great project has
a
little of it.
There’s a moment when the strategy, words, visuals, and ideas finally click together. Suddenly the thing you were trying to communicate feels clear. It feels right. Maybe there’s a perfectly logical explanation for that. We still like calling it magic.
Partnership
We create with you,
not just for you.
The strongest work comes from collaboration. You know your business. We know design. Bring those two things together and good things tend to happen. Our job is to listen, contribute, challenge when it helps, and become a creative extension of your team.
Excellence
The details aren’t little.
A great idea can fall apart in the execution. So we pay attention to the typography, imagery, spacing, user experience, production details, file preparation, and all the other things that turn a good concept into a polished final product. Because your business deserves to look its best.
Trust
Good partnerships
need straight talk.
You’re hiring us for our experience and point of view, so we’ll share both. We’ll explain our recommendations, tell you when we see a potential issue, and listen when you see things differently. No creative ego required. The goal is simply to get to the best solution.
Innovation
Experience is useful.
Curiosity keeps it useful.
More than 25 years of design experience gives us perspective. It doesn’t give us permission to stop learning. Technology changes. Audiences change. Businesses change. We stay curious, try new things, and keep looking for smarter ways to solve the problem in front of us.
Fun
Great work doesn’t require
a miserable process.
Creativity is better when people feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and enjoying the process. We take deadlines and quality seriously. Ourselves? A little less so.
Let’s
Create
Together
Let’s Create Together
Tell us a bit about your project. We’ll take it from there.
Tell us a bit about your project.
We’ll take it from there.
