History of Rapt Studio
Founded in 2011 in San Francisco, Rapt Studio quickly rose to prominence as a multidisciplinary design firm integrating architecture, interior design, branding, and strategy into cohesive, human-centered environments. From its beginnings as a small, ambitious practice, the studio has expanded its presence to Los Angeles and New York, serving a diverse range of national and international clients.
Led by CEO and Chief Creative Officer David Galullo, Rapt has become known for translating an organization’s brand, culture, and values into spatial experiences that go beyond aesthetics. Their work has earned them recognition from leading industry publications and awards programs, including being named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.
Over the years, Rapt has collaborated with high-profile brands such as Google, Dropbox, Adobe, Vans, LinkedIn, HBO, and goop—delivering projects that not only meet functional needs but also capture the identity and spirit of each client. Whether revitalizing corporate headquarters, designing immersive creative campuses, or reimagining community-driven workspaces, Rapt’s portfolio reflects a consistent dedication to storytelling through design.
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Company Culture at Rapt Studio
At the heart of Rapt Studio’s success is a collaborative and interdisciplinary culture that values curiosity, creativity, and deep engagement with both clients and the broader community. The team works across disciplines—architecture, interiors, branding, strategy, and graphic design—to create environments that are as strategically intelligent as they are visually inspiring.
Rapt fosters a studio environment where ideas flow freely and every project is approached as a collective exploration. Their process emphasizes listening—both to the client and to the culture of the organizations they design for—ensuring that every space is authentic, purposeful, and people‑centered. This approach encourages strong relationships with clients, often resulting in long-term partnerships.
By designing brands from the inside out, our work radiates the heart of an organization outward—from employees, to customers, partners, and the entire market.
The studio is known for its human‑centric design philosophy, where the experience of a space is shaped as much by storytelling and emotional connection as by materials and form. This people-first mindset extends to their own team: Rapt is employee‑owned, giving each member a vested interest in the success of the work and the studio as a whole.
With offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, Rapt cultivates a creative culture that thrives on diversity of thought and a shared passion for design that inspires and transforms.
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Architect‑US has enjoyed a strong professional relationship with Rapt Studio, built on a shared commitment to fostering global design talent and creating opportunities for architects to thrive in dynamic, world-class environments. Through our Job + J1 Visa Program, we had the privilege of helping bring Jonathan Lucas Pais to the Rapt Studio team, enabling him to contribute his skills and fresh perspectives to their multidisciplinary projects.
This collaboration exemplifies our mission to connect innovative U.S. architecture firms with talented international designers, enriching studio culture and broadening creative horizons. By facilitating both the career development of emerging architects and the cross‑pollination of ideas across cultures, our partnership with Rapt Studio demonstrates how international exchange strengthens the architectural profession as a whole.
Jonathan Lucas Pais
Jonathan Lucas Pais is a RIBA-recognized Part II Architectural Assistant with a specialization in Urban Design. His architectural journey began over nine years ago, and during his master’s studies, he worked as a freelance designer while co‑founding an architectural visualization studio. Through this venture, he provided 3D CGI imagery for a diverse range of clients within the design industry.
Jonathan’s profile blends technical expertise with creative vision. His personality traits—intuitive, empathetic, an excellent communicator, socially cohesive, highly creative, service‑driven, a natural leader, rational thinker, and idea generator—make him an asset to any collaborative design environment.
He earned his MArchD in Applied Design in Architecture (Hons) from the Oxford School of Architecture in 2019, achieving a Merit with a specialization in Urban Design. Prior to that, he completed his BA in Architecture (Hons) at Oxford in 2015, graduating with Upper Second-Class Honors.
Rapt Studio’s Selected Projects
Google Schoolhouse – Mountainview, CA
Rapt Studio collaborated with Google’s School for Leaders to create a personalized learning framework aimed at nurturing each leader’s growth. This initiative led to the creation of The Schoolhouse — an experimental learning environment designed to transform teaching methods, participant interaction, and how programs are experienced. Situated at Google’s main campus in Mountain View, California, The Schoolhouse serves as a global hub where Googlers come together for educational sessions, hands-on workshops, and leadership training.
Goop Headquarters – Santa Monica, CA
Rapt created Goop’s airy new headquarters in Santa Monica to unify their expanding team, which had been spread across multiple buildings. The design keeps the vibrant, collaborative spirit of their previous setup, while offering ample space to foster creativity and bold thinking.
Fender – Los Angeles, CA
Fender, a globally recognized force in music and a cultural icon, had operated its corporate offices from Scottsdale, Arizona for many years, despite its Southern California roots. Planning a return to its birthplace, the company teamed up with Rapt Studio to design a new space on Los Angeles’ iconic Sunset Boulevard — a headquarters that honors Fender’s heritage while paving the way for its continued evolution.
We will be posting more projects by Rapt Studio in the upcoming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!
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