Rashmi Bhatia and her talent to foster community from creativity
Staff Writer
“An organization’s merchandise is very important and personal to them,” Rashmi Bhatia (12) said. “So I always try to get their input.” In the last few years, she has harnessed her knack for drawing and graphic design to serve school student organizations, working closely with members to perfect designs that showcase their missions. Her designs are recognizable from the AHS Tufaan hoodies, this year’s senior Spirit Week shirts, and the upcoming AHS DECA hoodies.
Bhatia’s journey into graphic design began in her sophomore year. “I’ve always wanted to do digital art,” Bhatia said. “When I got an iPad, a friend was working on a video game to help people with ADHD, and he asked me to work on the designs. That experience, along with helping him advertise his podcast, sparked my interest in creating for others.”
Her first big project—for AHS Tufaan—was a turning point for Bhatia, with students and organizations beginning to recognize her work. “Making the hoodie designs for Tufaan [a school-based dance team] is what skyrocketed my interest in merchandise design,” she said. “It was also the most memorable design for me. There was a lot of pressure to get it right because Tufaan is so popular, but after I made it, so many people appreciated my work. I even got to incorporate Hindi into the design.”
Liya Abil (12), a Tufaan captain, emphasized the impact of Bhatia’s contributions. “It feels amazing to wear Rashmi’s designs because it’s nice to see an American student’s talent shown through our team,” said Abil. “The Tufaan design reflects the strength and passion of our club.”
From there, a multitude of student organizations began approaching her. She started creating for SURFBoardE, AHS DECA, and even the senior class. “The senior class executives wanted to combine my design with those of Nikhita Kadam (12) and Syrine Ben Ayed (12) for the senior Spirit Week merch,” Bhatia explained. “It was a great opportunity to learn how to meld different ideas together. The final design even became the senior class logo.”
Keeping a balance between personal expression and client expectations has been a valuable learning experience for Bhatia. “I was told once that in any artistic field, once you start doing art for other people, you stop doing it for yourself. That’s something I’ve learned to navigate,” she explained. Working closely with clients has allowed her to understand their mission and utilize her creativity to showcase both through their merchandise. “For me, working with others is appealing, so it lessens that fear. I’ve had to learn to adjust from my bubbly, fun designs to ones that look more professional, because that’s just what looks better.”
Her efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by her peers. “Our senior class designs fostered a sense of pride,” said Kadam, who worked alongside Bhatia. “During Spirit Week, there were nearly a hundred of us wearing the shirts Rashmi, Syrine, and I made. She’s incredibly talented and dynamic in how she incorporates her own art into each design.”
Beyond graphic design, Bhatia sees her artistry as a stepping stone to a career in architecture. “Art is what sparked my interest in pursuing architecture,” she shared. “I’ve seen the impact architecture has on communities, and I want to create spaces that bring people together.”
Kadam believes that Bhatia would bring a unique approach to the art. “To be successful in architecture, you have to think outside of the box and I think that Rashmi would bring life to buildings.”
For Bhatia, this journey has been a way to give back to her community. “This has not only been a creative outlet, but also a way to make a meaningful impact,” she said.
Bhatia posing with AHS Tufaan members Nethra Kalva (12) and Ishan Gandhi (12) in merchandise designed by her after the 2024 Dil Se show (Photo Credit: Daksha Jain (12)).
Eagle Era 
Leave a comment