We recently had the chance to connect with Allan Manzano and have shared our conversation below.
Allan, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
My world moves fast—home, work, and school all happening at once. Schedules overlap, and days blur together so quickly I sometimes forget the date, even the time. That’s when I hit pause. I grab my cruiser bike, roll through the neighborhood, and ride. It takes just ten minutes to clear my head, reset my focus, and come back ready to go.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Allan Manzano—a designer, educator, and founder of Dynamo Design Group in the South Bay, San Diego. My work sits at the intersection of design, culture, and community, and I’m driven by using design to make a positive impact right here at home.
DDG is all about collaboration—bringing together creatives, strategists, and specialists to craft work that’s thoughtful, relevant, and socially meaningful. From branding local nonprofits to mentoring the next generation of designers or creating campaigns that spark conversation, I focus on connecting people through design.
Currently, we’re transforming DDG into a creative hub—a space where thinkers and doers can come together. We’re building open-access education centered on entrepreneurship, business, and placemaking, reaching aspiring and underrepresented designers in communities that often lack access to these opportunities.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My kids have shaped how I see myself. They see me as a parent, a teacher, and someone using art to serve the community. Through them, I’ve learned to set high expectations and show that they’re capable—they can do what I do too.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been a couple of times when I wanted to give up. One was in grad school—I was struggling financially to buy art supplies and pay my share of rent, working two jobs just to keep going. The other was about five years ago, right before the pandemic. I was stuck in a terrible in-house design job for a sales team—nothing creative at all. I hated it, and I’d come home frustrated and drained in front of my family. At my lowest, I even thought about ending my life.
Looking back, those moments taught me a lot about resilience. They reminded me why I do what I do and motivated me to build a life and career that truly align with my passion for design, creativity, and making a positive impact in my community.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
People usually see about 40% of me. The other 60% stays internal—partly for them to discover, partly because not everyone needs to know. But the 40% I show? That’s all me. I’m intentional, upfront, and authentic in my work.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I only had 10 years left, I’d step away from the business and focus on what matters—being home, raising my family, and traveling together. Seeing the world through their eyes, making memories, and sharing those experiences—that’s what I’d want my time to be about.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dynamodesigngroup.com
- Instagram: @dynamodesigngroup
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/allan-manzano-a03058316
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dynamodesigngroup
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djshadow
