NYC design professor, 58, found dead in Brooklyn apartment; neck bruising prompts suspicious-death probe

Claudia Brandenburg, a 58-year-old graphic designer and college professor, was found dead inside her Prospect Park West co-op in Brooklyn on Tuesday, and investigators are treating the death as suspicious after noting bruising to her neck, police and sources said.

Brandenburg was discovered lying in bed and unresponsive by her husband, who called 911 at about 7:45 a.m., authorities said. First responders pronounced her dead at the scene. The city medical examiner’s office will determine an official cause of death, police said.

A law-enforcement source said Brandenburg had “markings” on her neck and bloodshot eyes, details that led investigators to explore the possibility of foul play. Police canvassed the four-story mixed residential and commercial building and questioned neighbors after responding to the call, a resident said.

Brandenburg taught part time at the New School’s Parsons School of Design since 2002 and was an adjunct professor at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Art and Art Professions since 2015, according to her LinkedIn profile. She founded a graphic design studio called Language Arts and previously worked for publications including The New York Times Magazine and Architecture magazine. She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Erin Johnson, undergraduate director of studio art at NYU Steinhardt, said Brandenburg was cherished by students and colleagues for bringing “warmth, rigor, and excitement to the possibilities of the relationship between design and fine art.” Johnson said Brandenburg was “a true inspiration to her students.”

Neighbors described Brandenburg as a long-standing and active member of the co-op community. A resident who spoke to local media said the building’s occupants were surprised by the news and that police had been knocking on doors while canvassing for information. "She was a very nice lady," the neighbor said. "She was a force of nature. She was the president of our co-op. Everyone is just hoping that it’s natural causes."

Investigators have not released further details about possible suspects, a motive, or signs of forced entry. Police described the death as suspicious pending the medical examiner’s findings and continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding Brandenburg’s death.

Brandenburg’s death was first reported by local outlets, prompting expressions of concern from the academic communities at Parsons and NYU, where colleagues and students noted her long tenure and contributions to design education. The investigation is being handled by local authorities, and officials urged anyone with information to contact the police.

The city medical examiner’s office typically issues its determination after completing an autopsy and any required laboratory testing; no timetable for those results was released. Police did not immediately disclose whether there was any ongoing risk to the public related to the inquiry.