At 10 years old, Tom Cappelletti was an optimistic child.

“I always felt the promise of my life ahead, and believed that I could do anything I set out to do,” Cappelletti says.

Now Cappelletti is an energetic, graphic communication professor at City College.
He has been inspiring students for three years with his passion for design. He has had 20 years in a career that included every part of graphic design, from branding to consulting. Students might recognize Cappelletti’s designs in the home décor section of Target, or maybe on their Joe Boxer undies.

In design you have to be optimistic. You have to be able to see the whole picture beyond the intricate layers that are incomplete on their own, but help to create the carefully planned one-of-a-kind work of art.

People usually have many layers, too. Charm and energy are some of the layers students, as well as staff, say add to the 48-year-old Cappelletti. These layers are paired with a cool tone of voice and colorful humorous language.

“He is a fabulous guy and a great friend,” says graphic communication professor Missy Anapolski.

Cappelletti’s energy even engages busy students, like India Curry, in hybrid courses, which combine in-person and online instruction.

Curry, a graphic design major and tutor in the Mac/CAD lab, took Cappelletti’s hybrid Beginning Illustrator class in the fall.

She watched his class on a computer screen, where Cappelletti stood about 1.5 inches tall. Still, his short blond hair, small wire-frame glasses and trademark blue jeans could be seen.

“His teaching style made the concepts easier to understand,” Curry says.

Mac/CAD coordinator and graphic communication professor Chris Seddon is familiar with hearing student comments like Curry’s. Seddon’s students have told him how much they learn in Cappelletti’s classes and how they enjoy his chatty personality.

“His positive, friendly and knowledgeable personality adds to his teaching style, along with his enthusiasm,” Seddon says. “He is a people person.”

Cappelletti also has layers of life experience. He has been an officer in the Coast Guard and an entrepreneur. He started Cappelletti Designs, a holiday design company with his sister, designed logos for auto shows, and acted as a consultant
for various Web designers.

“It’s great to see that what I’ve done has an effect on people,” Cappelletti
says.