Cassetti, Robert, 1957

<p>Rob Cassetti joined The Corning Museum of Glass in 1999 as manager of education and creative services. He became a director of the Museum in 2001, and was named senior director in 2007 until his retirement in 2020. He was responsible for developing the creative strategy for the Museum in addition to the operation of the Museum’s live glass demonstrations.</p>

<p>During his tenure at the Museum, Cassetti developed and championed a series of signature programs—including the popular 2300° events, live hot glass demonstrations and the Hot Glass Show, mobile glassblowing initiatives, and GlassLab—that have transformed the public profile of the institution. He also helped plan a major expansion of the Museum, and led an exhibit development team composed of writers, designers, and scientists to plan the Museum's Glass Innovation Center.</p>

<p>Since 2001, Cassetti championed and further developed the Museum's hot glass outreach initiatives. Under his leadership, the Museum has become a global leader in mobile glassblowing technology and hot glass programming. These outreach initiatives have been seen each year by more than 400,000 people around the world.</p>

<p>In 2005, Cassetti was asked to explore the next phase of expansion for the Museum—this time to better accommodate guests and the Museum's expanding collection of contemporary glass. The new Contemporary Art + Design Wing of the Museum, based on Cassetti's master plan, opened in 2015.</p>

<p>Cassetti holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Architectural Record, and Architecture. He has spoken widely on museum planning and glass technology, including broadcast appearances on Discovery, National Public Radio, Martha Stewart, The History Channel, and PBS.</p>

<p>Prior to joining the Museum, Cassetti worked for more than 10 years as a glass designer with Steuben Glass. He was named design director in 1992. From 2002 to 2004 he consulted with Steuben to help lead the planning and execution of the company’s 100th anniversary.</p>

<p>Cassetti is the former President of the Board of Trustees of The Museum Association of New York, and a member of the Corning Incorporated architectural advisory committee. He lives in Trumansburg, N.Y. and continues to serve as a creative strategist for the Museum.</p>

Robert Cassetti, who became a designer for Steuben in 1987, was born in Pittsburgh and graduated from the Carnegie-Mellon College of Fine Arts with honors. Known for his designs that exploit crystal’s ability to magnify and reflect an image, Cassetti also served for a time as Steuben’s associate director of design. Currently he is director of marketing and guest services for The Corning Museum of Glass, and serves as design and marketing director for Steuben. Among many other works created for Steuben, he designed several one-of-a-kind special commissions. His work has been published in such magazines as Elle Décor, Print, Graphis, International Design, HG, and New York, and exhibited at the American Institute of Graphic Arts and at the Art Directors Clubs in New York and Los Angeles.