Brenden is a Graduate student at Stanford University, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Product Design engineering and a minor in Computer Science in June of 2023. Brenden’s course of study is an intersection between his background in the fine visual arts and his developing interest in technology and engineering. Growing up in the Bay Area, he was surrounded by burgeoning tech companies, with Apple next door and Google and Facebook down the street. Although initially apprehensive about pursuing a career in the technological industry out of fear of losing his creativity, he has since realized that engineering heavily relies on creativity in problem-solving.

More specifically, Brenden’s goal is to harness the power of visual storytelling, creating artwork that effectively tells a story and has a purpose within the scope of the rest of the world. He uses art to bridge communication gaps, whether they be language barriers or neurodiversity. Brenden also uses his art for his activism, as he strives to use his skills for good. One of his ultimate goals as a designer and artist is to determine a means to allow those with hearing and visual impairments to engage with music and color in the same ways that he does.

An avid lover of the arts, Brenden spends all of his free time drawing inspiration from the creative minds around him. He enjoys traveling the world to visit art museums, two of his favorites being the Museo Nacional del Prado and Musée de l’Orangerie. His favorite artists are Norman Rockwell, Eugène Delacroix, Sandro Botticelli, and Piet Mondrian. As he loves to travel and immerse himself in other cultures around the world, he is fluent in French and is currently learning Spanish and Italian. He hopes to someday be able to learn American Sign Language.

In addition to the fine arts, Brenden draws a lot of inspiration from fashion. Growing up watching Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model, one of his favorite pastimes as a child was sketching elaborate gowns and outfits, imagining his work to be someday brought to life on the Red Carpet or runway. Because he views fashion to be one of the quintessential forms of self-expression, he especially draws inspiration from designers like Iris Van Herpen and Guo Pei. He can always be seen dressing to the 9’s, but sources much of his wardrobe from sustainable practices, thrifting, and upcycling a lot of the clothes he wears.