Bryan Canniff has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Minneapolis College of Art Design where he majored in graphic design. His instructors included Rudy De Harak, Ivan Chermayeff, and Massimo Vignelli. They instilled in him a love for the clean Swiss style of layout and Typography that is the foundation of good design. His other subjects included photography and printmaking

After graduation Bryan moved on to New York City. His strong portfolio earned him the position of Art Director of The Museum of the City of New York. He was put in charge of the museum’s large staff of carpenters, art restorers and electricians. At MCNY Bryan pioneered the use of multi-media automated exhibits with Cityrama, a 360° display of real objects, video, sound, and lights on the history of New York City, which was later adapted into The New York Experience. Other shows he produced included Zeigfeld, New York Dolls (the band copied the name), Stone Faces, and Currier and Ives. He also directed a modernization of the Museum's permanent exhibits.