Kauffer studied at evening classes in San Francisco, went to Chicago Art Institute and attended the controversial Armory Show. He added ‘McKnight’ to his name in gratitude to Professor McKnight, who gave him $12,000 to study painting in Paris (1913). He moved to London at the outbreak of WW1 and was commissioned to design the first of more than 140 posters by Frank Pick of the London Underground. He switched from painter to commercial artist, associated with the Cumberland Market Group and the Vorticists. His figurative style changed to embrace Cubism, Art Deco and Futurism (the Daily Herald poster ‘Flight of Birds’, 1919). Shell, BP, Eastman & Sons were among his clients. Edward was also a book designer, and produced set designs, murals and textiles. He returned to the US and worked in New York. American Airlines and Subway advertising became his clients after the war. In 1937, NY MoMA gave him a one-man show; the Victoria & Albert Museum followed in 1955.