RITE GUY provides interior design and custom fabrication services as well as fine art commissions. While the beginning of all projects are similar, we will take a moment to focus on Neon since it is not as widely understood.

One of RITE GUY’s passions and specialties is hand blown glass NEON. All of the light installations and feature design work you see on this site is made of glass: the same signage tubing as traditional neon signs, but for art : ) While LEDs are appropriate for some projects (like this, this one, and this one too) they are not a substitute for Neon. It’s important to know that LED does not provide the same light quality, is not more energy efficient, has a much shorter lifespan, and is not recyleable. RITE GUY is comfortable designing systems and working with both Neon and LED, and is happy to discuss the pros and cons for your project. However, RITE GUY is very sensitive to light quality, cares deeply about the environment and labor standards, believes in supporting local artisans, and wants her clients to have the best product for their investment … so more often then not, Neon will be the recommendation.

RITE GUY starts projects by studying the site, observing how it’s used, and interviewing you, the client, about what your hopes and goals are. There is a period of marinating, dreaming, sketching, and finally making scale models of the space and concept. These physical models are presented during a studio visit, along with real Neon samples where applicable, lit up in the colors being proposed. Once the concept is approved, RITE GUY builds a CAD model in Rhino3D using precise measurements of your space, exports patterns for Neon bending and any other custom fabrication, and finishes drafting in Adobe Illustrator. For Neon projects, full scale patterns are printed on giant rolls of paper, and delivered to the Tube Bender - the trade name for someone who makes neon. They bend the glass by hand over specialized torches, add electrodes to each end, pump out the air, and ‘Bombard’ each tube with high voltage to clear out any contaminants. A small amount of pure Noble Gas is added; and the tube is ‘burned in’ and tested for up to 24 hrs before it leaves the shop. The tube is then picked up, assembled into the rest of the custom fabricated elements for the project, and/or readied for on-site install. For custom fabrication, the process depends on what we’re building - RITE GUY is versed in a broad range of materials and processes, and the specifics of your project will be discussed in detail.

As you will notice in the gallery, Neon can be combined with other materials because while it gets warm, it doesn’t get hot. It should also be noted that buzzing and flickering are cries for maintenance, not default features of Neon. It’s a testament to the stability of Neon that signs 20, 30, 40 and 50 years old just keep going, through all manner of neglect! That said, if you are looking for a little flicker to create a specific atmosphere, that can be arranged- we have some very interesting special effects available.

Custom Neon projects start around 5k; if you’re looking for something special at a lower price point, check out the gallery! ‍

Please don’t hesitate to reach out either way, we love to hear from you!