Unleashing Brilliance: Brooklyn Tech Industrial Design Majors Shine in Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Technology Initiative Neon Exhibition
Brooklyn Tech's industrious seniors in the Industrial Design (ID) major recently wrapped up their immersive journey in the Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Technology Initiative Senior Neon Design Program. The culmination? A dazzling exhibition that lit up the UrbanGlass gallery space on December 19, 2023, just a stone's throw away from the Tech campus.
Through the Neon Program, students this semester delved into the enchanting world of neon art and engineering — just one component of the Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Technology Initiative, administered by Mathew Mandery ’61, Chief Educational Officer of the Alumni Foundation, in partnership with Tech’s ID teachers, Mike Fisher and Sid Izakson, and UrbanGlass educators. Dr. Mandery expressed his excitement, emphasizing how “the Senior Neon Program not only unveils the meticulous artistry behind the handcrafted glass tubing of all neon signs but empowers students to forge their own luminous masterpieces.”


From understanding the alchemy of noble gases mingling with electrical currents to illuminate a neon design, to wielding torches for welding and bending glass tubes, each student transformed their creative visions into radiant reality. The Thomas Volpe ‘53 UrbanGlass Initiative program's innovative curriculum extends far beyond neon, allowing Tech's ID students to explore a diverse spectrum of glass fabrication techniques, from kilnforming and coldworking to moldblowing.
Dr. Mandery highlighted the uniqueness of the UrbanGlass partnership, describing it as “a fusion of students' imaginative brilliance with hands-on, real-world experience. The program not only nurtures creativity but also forges invaluable connections with professional artists and designers.”
Tech’s ID major, at the intersection of artistic vision and engineering design, equips students with a myriad of skills. From materials science, testing, and quality control to technical drawing, 3D modeling, computer-integrated manufacturing, and rapid prototyping (3D printing and laser cutting), students gain a holistic understanding of the design process. Intellectual property and patent research are also woven into this rich tapestry of learning.
Founded in 2020, the Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Technology Initiative is a partnership between Brooklyn Tech, UrbanGlass and St. Francis College to combine the creativity of the arts center, Brooklyn Tech’s Industrial Design major program and SFC entrepreneurship program. All students in the major experience Urban Glass presentations; a cohort of juniors take a Junior Survey – Kilnforming, Coldworking and Moldblowing Workshop at Urban Glass; and a group of seniors complete the Senior Project Course in neon design. Now in its third year, the Initiative continues to be a beacon of inspiration, propelling Brooklyn Tech’s Industrial Design students to new creative and technical heights.
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The program is a fusion of students' imaginative brilliance with hands-on, real-world experience. It not only nurtures creativity but also forges invaluable connections with professional artists and designers.”
Mathew Mandery '61
Thomas Volpe ’53 UrbanGlass Technology Initiative
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