Systems and methods are provided for electroluminescent display elements which are glass supported. These electroluminescent display elements include an EL element or nixel structure that makes use of two rear or substantially same-sided electrodes that are electrically separated by a small gap or other non-conductive (e.g., insulating) material, but that generally cover the rear area of the EL element or nixel laminate. This EL element has a glass plate applied on the other side of the EL element. These EL elements may be made by growing the layers one on top of the other on one side on the glass plate, or a free standing EL element may be made using a ceramic substrate having a front surface onto which the layers are deposited. The back surface of the ceramic substrate may then be ground down to be thinner and the two back electrodes applied to this back surface, after which a glass plate is applied to the other side of the element.