This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Utica, NY is a city in transition. Built on family owned businesses like local restaurants and bakeries making fresh bread, it has survived decades of economic hardship to become a city filled with cultural diversity and most recently a nanotech hub. Michelle takes us through our city's transition and shows us how to embrace chance while holding onto tradition.

Michelle Sammon has been a practicing designer and design educator for the past fifteen years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Design Studies from the School of Architecture and Design, University of Buffalo, and her Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the School of Design, Rochester Institute of Technology.

She has continued as part-time faculty in the undergraduate visual communication and graduate information design curriculum at SUNY IT. Her latest special topics course “Visualizing Nanotechnology” is the first course offered by SUNY IT that incorporates work reflecting the future merger of Albany’s CNSE and SUNY IT’s Nanocenter.


About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)