Rice University junior Jolina Zhao has added her creative touch to a cherished campus tradition: designing President Reginald DesRoches’ official 2025 holiday card. The cognitive science and psychology major from Los Angeles, who also serves as the graphic design lead for Rice Design, says the project offered a unique opportunity to improve her skills.
“It sounded like something I was super excited about because I really wanted to find a project that could push my skills in graphic design,” Zhao said. “This seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. … I had to take it.”
With Rice Design, the university’s only digital design club, Zhao helps oversee the group’s work, social media and event sponsorships. The club’s mission — bringing professional design projects to students — resonated with Zhao, who has long been drawn to artistic work, from music and photography to digital art.
When Zhao first met with the President’s Office, she realized the scale of the project as the card goes to more than a thousand recipients.
“I was like, wow, this is so cool,” she said. “I wanted to produce something that was really special.”
Instead of following the hand-drawn style of previous cards, Zhao opted for a modern, textured look. Her final design features an aerial map of the university with an owl stringing holiday lights across campus, blending festive spirit with Rice’s evolving landscape. “I wanted to highlight the owl and the lights and bring that holiday spirit while telling the story subtly in the background,” she said.
The project reflects more than just Zhao’s artistic vision. It also embodies her connection to Rice’s community.
“Everyone you interact with wholeheartedly wants the best for you. It really feels like a family atmosphere,” she said.