Meaning in the Making: Industrial Designer Gabriel Rapoport on Designing a More Beautiful World
Gabriel Rapoport’s journey into industrial design began long before he knew the field had a name. From a young age, he was curious about how everyday objects were designed, constructed and refined to improve life.
That childhood fascination evolved into a drive to become one of the creators shaping that world. Now, as he prepares to graduate from NJIT’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design, Rapoport reflects on a college experience marked by resilience, creativity and growth.
At NJIT, Gabriel discovered not just his technical capabilities, but his emotional strength. No matter the challenges, he constantly pushed through, delivering excellent work. His favorite projects, such as his third-year furniture final and his thesis capstone "Shift" and "Metamorphosis," reveal a designer drawn to meaning, narrative and playfulness. Inspired by intricate design and maximalist beauty, Rapoport hopes to counter today’s minimalist trends with bold, expressive forms.
With a deep appreciation for his professors and a clear vision for the future, Rapoport is ready to leave his mark. “The world is malleable,” he says. “And I’m here to shape it beautifully.”
How did your interest in industrial design start, what sparked it?
Rapoport: My interest in industrial design started without a name to it, just a passion since I was young to build, create and design the world around me once I learned how many things in life are made by humans to make life easier to live. It fascinated me that regular people made all that is around me, and how I could be one of those people that leaves my mark through amazing one-of-a-kind inventions. Now I have the skillset to become who I set out to be, and I’m looking to leave my mark on the world with my design style.
What stood out from your time at NJIT?
Rapoport: What stood out the most to me during my time at NJIT was how capable and talented I was as an individual regardless of my mental state or negative expectations of others. No matter how hard it got, or how hurt I was, I always managed to pull through and submit professional quality work that made me smile at myself a bit or give myself a nod of approval because I was proud of my output.
Favorite projects, memories?
Rapoport: My favorite projects were my furniture pieces that I designed and created for my 3rd year furniture final and my capstone for thesis studio: “Shift” and “Metamorphosis.” “Shift,” stretched and expanded on what I thought was the “meaning and reasoning” behind why something looks and is made the way it is. I loved how that project opened up how playful I thought about furniture, and how I started looking at “normal objects” differently by trying to see shapes or patterns hidden beneath the surface glances.
image6.jpg
Favorite professors and why?
Rapoport: Very thankful to all my professors along my journey that helped me to complete my college degree. Jose Alcala, Kiel Mead, Gretchen Von Kreig, Raafi Rivera, Hannah Berkin-Harper, and a special thanks to Martin Short for being a kind, caring and patient soul who saw my potential, strength to succeed and willingness to see it through to the end no matter the circumstances, even when I couldn’t from a clouded mind. I am a collage of everyone I’ve ever learned from, and I'm grateful to have a piece of each person I’ve grown with during my time at NJIT because that’s made me a more colorful and beautiful human.
What advice would you give to incoming industrial design students?
Rapoport: My message for the next industrial designers is this: The world around us is malleable and you have the opportunity to add your piece to the puzzle. Things have gotten to be more minimalist and muted in color to be more cost efficient, but in going down that path, ornamentation and maximalism have decreased dramatically. I’m a big fan of intricate-cared for details, so I would love to see more beautiful things in life because it makes everyone feel better and inspired to achieve greater things in life.
AI and the changes added to your preparation as an industrial designer?
Rapoport: AI has been a growing tool that has seen beneficial use in my preparations as an industrial designer. Ways that I’ve used AI to speed up my decision-making process when trying to create a color palette using a specific hex code for presentation fluidity, calculating price per board foot at the lumber yard and configuring cut sheet layout for minimal wastage of raw materials. The biggest benefit that AI brings to designers is filling in the gaps for the places where we get stuck trying to make a decision, having a correct decision made for you saves brain power to do the part we are good at, putting things together in a beautiful manner.
Past internships and what stood out from them?
Rapoport: Over this last semester, I was able to intern as a toolmaker at Exothermic in Kenilworth, NJ. I learned the process of how injection molding works in a manufacturing facility, how a company works on acquiring customers and what is required for making products from start to end. The biggest gain was understanding how to run a company, so when I am ready to make my own, I can hit the ground running.
What are your short- and long-term goals?
Rapoport: Short-term goals are to make enough capital to make my own company where I design and create my own products. Make designs ready to go for the grand opening. Fully functional website and developed point of sale methods. Marketing and advertising methods for getting my name out there, then starting my next journey of changing the world with my style of design. Long-term goal is to see the positive change in the world through the beauty I’ve added to the world around me.
