Brendan Byrne 


is a designer and makerspace specialist from Brooklyn. He currently manages StudioLab at Princeton University.

Community Organizing
Workshops & Talks
Destiny Clock
Theseus
Kiwi Electronics
Games & Controllers
Performance Tools
Graphic Design

Workshops & Talks


are an essential part of the creative process. Presenting forces a designer to distill their ideas, methods, and intentions. Sharing ideas publicly strengthens a creator’s connection with their audience and exposes them to new insights and perspectives that can later inform their practice.


Binary Fluency

The complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic family contains an array of integrated circuits that perform all the tasks necessary for rudimentary computation. These chips were designed for applications that require raw electronic processing power, but the speed at which they operate can be slowed, and their binary processes can be repurposed for creative applications. This workshop covers the functions of several chips from the CMOS family including gates, oscillators, frequency dividers, shift registers, and multiplexers. Participants learn how connecting the inputs and outputs of these chips together can be used to generate interesting musical patterns.

Electronics Enclosures

This workshop covers the range of techniques utilized for creating laser cut enclosures for electronic devices. Participants are introduced to the basic principles of laser cutting and the ways that materials like plywood and acrylic can be used to great aesthetic and structural effect.

Kit-Based Education

The Raspberry Pi is a small and affordable single-board computer. It's an excellent platform for learning Linux operating systems, computer networking, electronics, and programming. Its popularity has lead to a massive online community and a wealth of resources for self-guided learning. However, it’s common to find vendors promoting overpriced kits, publishing misleading tutorials, and selling last year’s model. Buyer beware.

Fabricating Games

The Fabricating Non-Digital Games workshop is given to the Game Design I classes at NYU. The workshop introduces new students to basic cutting, adhering, and documentation techniques. The presentation also covers resources available within the university and around New York City.

Exhibiting Your Game

This workshop is given annually to the thesis and capstone classes of the NYU Game Center in preparation for their culminating exhibition. For many of the students, this is their first time exhibiting to a general public. The presentation considers this by focusing on the practicalities of lighting, cable management, and confidently speaking with guests. The students are encouraged to decorate their spaces to reinforce the overall aesthetic of their project.

Designing Destiny

At the end of my residency at Eyebeam, I had the opportunity to present my research to an attentive and curious audience. The talk covered how Destiny Clock operates and many of the practical steps taken in the design process. The presentation was followed by an exhibition of several Destiny Clock systems, prototypes, and related interactive devices.

Demolition Man

Demolition Man (1993) is not considered to be a great film. However, a deeper look reveals a complex criticism of ‘90s culture, politics, and institutions through its portrayal of a dystopic near-future Los Angeles. These critiques are easily overlooked given the action-packed and sometimes silly nature of the film. This presentation explores some of these criticisms through its characters, dialogue, and use of symbols.