Kean University Graduate Uses Kickstarter To Launch Line of Fine Watches

By Danielle Ford

Recent Kean University Graduate Dominick Cullari is using Kickstarter to turn his design dreams into a reality. Since graduating from Kean in May, Dominick has completed the design, engineering, and sourcing for DOMENICO, an elegant line of unisex watches.

While most kids doodle cars and action heroes, even as a child Cullari doodled watches. In June of 2013 he gathered his old doodles and started his design process from there.

“Designing a product is one thing, bringing it into production is a whole other animal,” he wryly observed. Cullari credit’s Kean University’s Ronald Elowitz with providing a strong foundation with that aspect of the process. “He teaches designers the steps needed to bring a product to market. It is a class like this that teaches students almost how to be an entrepreneur,” said Cullari.

Touted as “A watch for him and her,” Domenico watches offer the novelty of unisex luxury. “It’s a versatile aesthetic,” said Cullari. “To me, luxury is about evoking emotion. If a product or an object makes you feel good about yourself, that is a luxury. Luxury shouldn’t be defined by a price point.”

“The name DOMENICO is a play on words to pay homage to my grandfather, Domenico,” said Dominick. “At a young age I was given a vintage zenith “Victorious” that was passed down by my grandfather who I’ve never had the chance to meet.”

The gift sparked a love for watches and passion for design as well. It’s a passion Cullari nurtured at Kean University’s Robert Busch School of Design. Cullari credits two Kean professors with shaping both his aesthetic and his technique.

“There are two people who really helped shape me into the designer I am. One being David Farrage. He teaches at a developmental level where he introduces students to what industrial design really is,” said Cullari. “The second person being Fadi Riscala who is actually an interior design professor.”

“Stephen Simantiras teaches a very important modeling class. It is easy to design in 2d form but it is really important to bring your idea to 3d where you can get a sense of scale and learn how a product my actually look,” said Cullari.

Prior to fabrication, Cullari created dozens of foam models to get a sense of size and scale. After he completed CAD renderings he made 3D prints, to ensure the sizing and proportions were correct. “It is easy to design in 2d form but it is really important to bring your idea to 3d where you can get a sense of scale and learn how a product will actually look,” Cullari observes. Domenico more than doubled its Kickstarter funding goal. To learn more visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1185067616/domenico-a-watch-for-him-and-her