Nicholas Volpe grew up in rural northeastern Pennsylvania, studied Sculpture at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts. After moving to Pittsburgh in 2014, he started Temper and Grit: an industrial design studio that focuses on its clients’ aesthetic development utilizing a wide range of materials. Volpe designs with a responsible consideration for the longevity and sustainability of his products, with knowledge derived from his experience with detail orientated craft, architectural metalwork, fine woodworking, and contemporary fabrication methods.