From Empty Glass Tubes To Extreme High Voltage, Here's How a Neon Sign Is Made

It’s a little bit like Frankenstein — an idea dreamed up by a chemist who succeeded in electrifying a brand new creation. That’s neon. In essence, it's a weird science that involves trapping a noble gas inside an artfully shaped glass tube and then bringing it to life with high voltage. For decades, businesses all around the globe have relied upon the fiery glow of a handcrafted neon sign to attract prospective patrons. Here’s how the in-house artists, designers, glass benders and metal fabricators of Seattle's Western Neon work to keep the nostalgic art form alive.

Known for its gloomy, gray days and misty rain, Seattle is the perfect city by design for neon signage. Originally founded as a neon art gallery in 1985, custom sign shop Western Neon has been transforming the city's skyline for decades, from the warm glow of a hotel vacancy sign to a complex, mixed media storefront beacon that combines modern tech with retro mechanics.

That’s not all. In an effort to power the next wave of neon artists, the iconic shop opened an educational non-profit, Western Neon School of Art, in 2017. Attendees explore the use of light, space and interactive technologies, along with the art of glass bending inside the shop’s working classroom.

Long before glass tubes are bent, the foundation is set with a solid design concept. Surrounded by a collection of low-buzzing neon signs, Marc Lawrence, Western Neon's senior designer says, “The sign process starts here. We meet with clients, look at logo samples, talk ideation and create messaging — from non-lit signs to public artwork, we really do it all.” A Seattle food scene staple, Pie Bar, is a new project for the local shop, and Marc's design sheet playbook will kick off activities for the rest of the Western Neon team. This storefront display will be made using acrylic and vinyl push-out lettering, bubblegum pink neon tubes, LED lights and metal fabrication.