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Alden Copley

Alden Copley

Brooklyn, NY, US

 
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About 

At some point in High School it became apparent to me I belong in a city. A few years later, New York City became my home, and while my relationship with cities has become more complex, my appreciation for them has only grown. My first years in NYC were spent as a freelance graphic designer, riding waves of tech start ups and branding whatever came my way. I became disenchanted with this environment and took a part-time studio assistant job — intended as a brief detour before returning to school for Urban Design — that became a seven year crash course in growing a small business, fabrication, 3D modeling, employee care, client care, navigating COVID-19 and every other challenge faced by small businesses. During this period I spent time as a visiting teacher with Citizen Schools, a volunteer for organizations like Van Alen Institute, Arch League and Center for Urban Pedagogy and pursued personal projects related to architecture and urbanism. In the fall of 2020, I began the Urban Design program at City College, CUNY and was plunged into the inaugural year of an experimental studio which explored policy, zoning, and collaborative work in the still-novel world of Zoom. There, the relevance of graphic presentation was reintroduced to me by disenchanted architects and planners who felt that even their best work came to naught if it was poorly communicated. Since completing my degree with a refreshed appreciation for both graphic and urban design (and affiliated fields), I have been working with a range of entities on issues as specific as describing the type of weld required in a public art installation and as broad as zoning reform in NYC. 

Elsewhere:

Employment 

Urban Conga, Design Consultant

- Engineering consulting for large scale installations in public spaces
- Conduct research to develop new fabrication techniques and material sources
- Generate studies, models, and fabrication level 3D models and prints of assemblies and components

Nov 2021 - current
 

J. Max Bond Center for Urban Futures, Lead Researcher

- Conduct research and coordinate with stakeholders to progress Bond Center projects
- Responsibilities range from urban planning studies, white paper development, and policy
proposals on behalf of community partners

May 2021 - current
 

NYCxDESIGN, Project Coordinator

Coordinate and develop NYCxDESIGN programming

Jul 2021 - Sep 2022
 

Lisbon Architecture Triennale, Assistant Curator

- Research exhibition materials and participants
- Generate project descriptions and other written assets for Triennale publication
- Edit and select works and material for use in exhibition

May 2021 - Sep 2022
 

Ludwig and Larsen, Studio Manager

Manufacture and design of light fixtures
Managing $2 million/year supply chain
Oversaw rapid, sustainable growth of small studio from two to twelve employees

Aug 2014 - Jun 2021
 

Education 

Sep 2020 - May 2021
 
Sep 2011 - May 2014
 

Studio Arts Center International - SACI, Firenze, IT, Graphic Design

Aug 2012 - Dec 2012
 

Awards 

MAS Livable Neighborhoods Fellow, Other

2022
 

Museum of Capitalism, 1st Place

Competition Winner

2016
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills