Lilianna Manahan finished her Foundation Studies in Art and Design at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in 2004 and completed her BFA Industrial design degree at the University of the Philippines. She later on worked with Kenneth Cobonpue as part of his research and Design team. In 2012, Lilianna began her own design practice under her own name, Lilianna Manahan and in 2014 was awarded as one of the six Rising Asian Talents at the first Maison et Objets Asia.

Her work has been described as alternately whimsical or industrial, depending on the objects she designs, utilizing materials that range from natural materials to ceramics, resins and metals, sometimes doing finishes herself. The size of her works and installations run from the minuscule to large-scale. Her work has been described as pieces that pay attention to details, whether in their functional or artistic elements.

Her recent project was a collaboration with glass blowers from the Czech Republic where she designed an array of sculptures and glass vessels. She continues to exhibit, create and express herself through products, objets d’art and site specific art installations.