Otis Extension Helped Rupali Bhardwaj Transition from MBA Grad to Textile Designer

The Surface Design Certificate enabled Bhardwaj to explore her creative curiosity in a “structured, meaningful way.”

Like many successful Otis Extension alumni, Rupali Bhardwaj hadn’t planned to have a creative career. With a BA in economics and an MBA in marketing, she was on a corporate trajectory when she “felt a strong pull towards my artistic side,” she says. In 2017, she enrolled in Otis Extension’s Surface Design Certificate Program, where she learned how to design the repeating patterns used in fashion, interior design, stationery, and other consumer products. 

The field of surface design spans multiple industries, including textiles and fabric, fashion apparel, home furnishings, wall and floor coverings, decorative papers, and a broad spectrum of products that people use daily. At Otis Extension, Surface Design certificate graduates are prepared for careers as designers, colorists, repeat artists, and stylists, among other occupations. 

For Bhardwaj, learning Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator—as well as color theory, traditional and digital design methods, and production techniques—helped her line up her first design job. She now works as a senior designer at Idea Nuova Inc., a home decor company based in New York. She has expertise in fabric sourcing, print development, and working with CAD software, as well as trend forecasting and sustainable design practices.

Below, Bhardwaj shares more about her experience as an Otis Extension student and how the Surface Design Certificate Program’s real-world focus prepared her for a life in design. 

Some of Rupali Bhardwaj’s textile designs.

Real-World Design Thinking

“I was working full-time in a different industry when I felt this strong pull towards my artistic side, but I needed a space where I could explore that curiosity in a structured, meaningful way. Otis College stood out because of its Extension courses, which I could take during weekends and wouldn’t interrupt my regular job schedule. Being based in L.A. at the time, I already knew Otis had such a strong reputation in the art and design community.

The Surface Design program gives students real-world context while also encouraging play and experimentation. We weren’t just designing for the sake of creating. We were encouraged to think about how those designs would live on actual products, in stores, or in digital spaces. It really bridged that gap between imagination and market reality, which helped me think more strategically about my work.

My surface design courses completely shifted the way I saw pattern and color. I had always loved prints, but the program made me realize that print storytelling was something I wanted to focus on long-term. It sparked my journey deeper into textile design, which has since become such a core part of my career path.

All of my instructors were encouraging and grounded. Instructor Debra Valencia would not only push us to refine our technique, but she also talked about licensing, freelancing, and pitching to companies. It wasn’t just theory. It was real advice that helped me take the next step professionally.

Even though the Surface Design Certificate Program was part time, the environment felt super collaborative. I met other artists who were navigating similar transitions in their creative journeys as I was. It was comforting and empowering to feel that sense of shared growth.

Some of Rupali Bhardwaj’s textile designs.

For anyone even slightly curious about exploring a certificate program at Otis Extension, I say just do it. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you start. The courses are designed to meet you where you are, whether you’re just exploring or trying to sharpen your career path. And honestly, the creative momentum you’ll get from being around like-minded people is priceless.” 

More Information about Otis Extension Certificate Programs 

More Information about the Surface Design Certificate Program

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