Brooklyn Tech Seniors Illuminate the UrbanGlass Gallery with Stunning Neon Designs
Brooklyn Tech’s dedicated seniors in the Industrial Design (ID) major recently completed their enriching experience in the Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Initiative Senior Neon Design Program, culminating in a spectacular exhibition at the UrbanGlass gallery on December 19, 2024. Situated just a short distance from the Tech campus, the event showcased the students' vibrant neon art creations.
Educators at UrbanGlass congratulated the students on an incredible show, noting their impressive 3D patterns and the custom mounting fixtures they designed and painted. This cohort’s tenacity and creativity really shine through in their work. Neon is one of the most complex glass design techniques to master, and despite the challenges of this tricky medium, each student demonstrated perseverance in bringing their original concepts to life. Their success was a testament to their dedication and creativity.
Through this program, Tech's ID students annually explore the intricate world of neon art and engineering, a key component of the Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Initiative. The collaboration allows students to gain insight into the science of noble gases and electrical currents that bring neon designs to life, as well as practice the delicate art of welding and bending glass tubes. The curriculum extends beyond neon, giving students a chance to engage in various glass fabrication techniques such as kilnforming, coldworking, and moldblowing.
The partnership with UrbanGlass is a unique program, allowing a fusion of students' creative brilliance with hands-on, real-world experience. It also fosters valuable connections with professional artists and designers.
Brooklyn Tech’s ID major bridges artistic innovation with engineering design, equipping students with a wide array of technical skills, from materials science and quality control to 3D modeling, rapid prototyping, and intellectual property research.
Launched in 2020, the Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Initiative represents a collaboration between Brooklyn Tech, UrbanGlass, and St. Francis College. This partnership merges the creative energy of UrbanGlass, the technical expertise of Brooklyn Tech’s ID program, and the entrepreneurial focus of SFC. All ID students engage with UrbanGlass presentations, with juniors participating in workshops and seniors completing the Senior Project Course in neon design. Now in its fourth year, the Initiative continues to inspire and elevate Brooklyn Tech’s students to new creative and technical heights.
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