Johmary Adames Discovers a New Side of Art & Design at NJIT

Johmary Adames, an industrial design major at New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design, is excited for the new semester. After participating in the Highlander Foundry program over the summer where she experienced entrepreneurship first-hand, she feels empowered to one day use her design knowledge in a company of her own.

“I think it opened the doors to more options for me because there I was able to see a different future than what I was thinking about before, like just designing, making designs and working for someone,” said Adames about her recent experience in the Highlander Foundry program, which focuses on helping NJIT students and alumni to learn techniques and strategies to launch their startup.

“This experience opened the doors to what I can actually do with my career, how I can have my own company and my own business,” said Adames. "Showcase my own designs in my own company."

Adames was born in the Dominican Republic and came to this country at the age of nine. She is the first person in her family to go to college

Before coming to NJIT, Adames studied for three years at the County College of Morris, where she began studying interior design, but over time, she switched to industrial design.

“With industrial design, I can apply it to car design, furniture design, design of everything. I really like aesthetics, and all that cosmetic stuff,” she explained. “Around all these options, I begin to see little by little what I’m applying myself into.”

NJIT’s faculty such as assistant professor at HCAD Mathew Schwartz and director of commercialization and co-director of VentureLink @ NJIT William Lutz have helped her nurture her growth, providing mentorship in both the business and design fronts.

"Professor Schwartz helped me a lot, he's pushed me out of my comfort zone," Adames said of Schwartz.

Professor Schwartz highlighted Adames’ openness to her education. “I think many students that face a new challenge will fall back to something more familiar, even if it isn't the right approach to the given problem,” he noted. “Johmary has a great attitude when it comes to school, and I think her success can largely be attributed to her recognition that school is for learning, so takes every opportunity to further that goal.”

For Adames, her best inspiration has been her country, the Dominican Republic. From an early age the Dominican colors and culture inspired her to have an interest in art and design. “I love my country, so since I was little I’ve seen vibrant colors, Dominican design. The culture lit something up in me,” she said.

Adames will continue her entrepreneurial studies to help determine her career path of design, business or both.  

Making the decision to come to NJIT has provided Adames with new experiences and options.  She has seen a change in her since she started taking classes in the Fall of 2021.

I wouldn't have thought I would have gotten this far before starting NJIT

“It's amazing how far I've gotten, and I wouldn't have thought I would have gotten this far before starting NJIT,” she said. “So it's a school that definitely aids you in that, and there's no limits on what you can do. My professors have made sure to show me that.”

The road here hasn't been easy for Adames, who still remembers turning to YouTube and Google to learn things. Since she came to the United States, she has been in charge of doing all her school paperwork. Growing up she didn’t count with a lot of people that could show her the way in how to do certain processes. She has had to mature quickly and become an independent person.

“Hard work — working hard and making something for myself,” she replied when asked how she wants to be remembered. 

“It's been tough, but I've always known from my gut that I'm going to be something in life, I'm going to have something to call my own. Growing up, my mom didn't have all this, especially for Hispanic women, I want to show that.”