Melbourne Design Week 202 Blown Glass & Neon Workshop

Workshop Overview

This immersive four-day workshop invites participants to explore the dynamic intersection of molten glassblowing and neon illumination. Perfect for designers, artists, and makers, the course focuses on creating luminous sculptural works that combine vibrant colors, bold forms, and atmospheric light.

On the first day, participants will work in the glassblowing studio, designing and crafting sculptural forms with an emphasis on shape, scale, and color. These creations will then be transformed in the neon bending studio over the following three days, where participants will learn the fundamentals of single-electrode plasma techniques. The course will highlight both kinetic and atmospheric lighting effects, showcasing how light interacts with form to produce unique outcomes.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with the tools, layouts, and processes of both workshops while receiving expert guidance from skilled instructors. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have created two or more illuminated sculptures and developed the skills to combine glass and light in innovative ways.

This workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore both mediums in a collaborative and inspiring environment, bridging craftsmanship and contemporary design. It is perfect for those from fields using material knowledge who want to expand their practice, as well as intermediate-level makers eager to experiment with illuminated art.

Key Details:

Duration: 4 days (1 day glassblowing, 3 days neon bending)
Outcome: Two or more illuminated glass sculptures
Level:
Transform molten glass into glowing works of art and discover the boundless possibilities of light and form in this innovative workshop.

‍Program objective:‍

Proposed Program Outcomes
The Neon & Blown Glass workshop aligns with the Melbourne Design Week 2025 theme by exploring how material practices can act as a force for repair, transformation, and ecological mindfulness in design. The outcomes of this program include:

Promoting Sustainable Practices: Participants will engage with materials and techniques that prioritize sustainability. Studio Dokola incorporates clean energy systems in its operations and emphasizes glass recycling as a core practice, demonstrating how material reuse and thoughtful resource management can address ecological challenges.

Highlighting Energy Efficiency: By focusing on cold cathode lighting (neon), the workshop introduces participants to energy-efficient illumination systems. These technologies, known for their longevity and lower environmental impact, serve as an alternative to more energy-intensive lighting solutions, offering participants tools for sustainable design thinking.

Encouraging Repair and Reuse: Participants will explore how neon is a repairable light source. This approach not only hinges on local craft practices to reduce waste but also reframes repair and transformation as central tenets of contemporary design.

Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: By bridging traditional crafts with modern neon technology, the program offers a model for how diverse disciplines can come together to address complex challenges and inspire innovative solutions.

Empowering Creative Agency: Participants will leave the workshop with the skills and confidence to apply sustainable glass and lighting practices in their own work, whether in interior design, product development, or sculptural art, further propagating positive ecological and social change.

Reimagining the Role of Light and Material: This workshop encourages designers to think critically about how illuminated objects can transform spaces, moods, and narratives, contributing to better living environments and more thoughtful material consumption.

By combining Studio Dokola’s commitment to clean energy and circular design with the inherent sustainability of cold cathode technology, this program empowers participants to reimagine design as a transformative act of healing, replenishment, and renewal.

‍Venue:

Studio Dokola, 1 Cromwell Parade, West Footscray and

Coles Neon Shop Unit 1 Brunsdon St, Bayswater

‍Proposed program dates: 16 May 2025, 17 May 2025, 18 May 2025, 19 May 2025.