How a flat panel display is bent by external forces is controlled. A display panel 40 has display elements, formed corresponding to the arrangement of pixels, on a first principal surface of a flexible display panel substrate 46. The display panel substrate 46 has a linear groove 48 on at least part of a second principal surface of the display panel substrate 46. A resin is stacked on a support substrate having a linear ridge on at least part of the surface of the support substrate. The surface shape of the support substrate is transferred to the resin so that the groove 48 is molded. Thus, the display panel substrate 46 made of the resin is formed on the support substrate. After the display elements are formed on the display panel substrate 46, the support substrate is removed from the display panel substrate 46.