Zivit Etzioni (B.F.A. ’00)
Position: Owner and operator of Istruttiva Design, an interior design firm based in Manhattan.
Favorite Projects: Decorating a luxury, three-bedroom condominium in Trump World Tower at the United Nations Plaza for the owner of one of the largest jewelry chains in the Caribbean; renovating a 14,000-square-foot office on Fifth Avenue; overseeing the interior design of homes in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands, and Florida.
All in a Name: Her ability to connect with clients is evident throughout her business, even in its name. “One of my clients complimented me by saying, ‘You’ve enlightened me about design, colors and light, why not find a word that means enlighten?’” Delighted by his suggestion, she named her firm Isttrutiva (Italian for “enlighten”) Design.
Making a Connection to NYIT and Design: Etzioni says didn’t find her true calling until she met the man who would be her husband, Moshe Etzioni (B.S. ’97). “He was a student at NYIT, where he convinced me to take a few classes,” she says. “This was my first introduction to interior design. I instantly knew I had found my passion.”
NYIT’s Impact: The designer says her professors were an inspiration and continue to influence her work. “With most of my family overseas, my professors became my extended family. I can still hear Professor Martha Siegel saying: ‘Zivit, whatever you put your mind to, you can achieve. There is a bright future ahead of you.’ I am so grateful for their support.”