In an industry where every project is unique and failure can be costly, how can glass studios build businesses that are both creative and scalable?

In Thinking Vertical, Matthew Day Perez explores Shiny Sparkle Studio's pursuit of vertical integration as a strategy for increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and creating long-term sustainability. Drawing on the philosophy of "more Ford, less Ferrari," Perez will discuss practical approaches to standardizing production where possible without sacrificing creativity.

The session examines how integrating fabrication, education, material sales, and community can strengthen a studio's resilience. Perez will share how Shiny Sparkle Studio uses its educational programs to absorb excess material, cultivate emerging artists and designers, and transform waste into opportunity, creating a more sustainable and economically viable ecosystem.

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About Matthew Day Perez

Matthew Day Perez received his BFA from Illinois State University and his MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has received many awards, including the Fulbright, and the John Rena National Endowments for the Arts Scholarship, as well as residencies at The Corning Museum of Glass, The Creative Glass Center of America, and Pilchuck Glass School. Most recently, he cofounded Shiny Sparkle Studio/Labs, the premier casting and fusing facility in New York City.