Writer. Teacher. Designer.
Hello! I am Rhia Shah Mehta.
I grew up in Mumbai, in a big and normally easy-going family with one strict rule: to eat dinner at a fixed time, together. Over my Mother’s elaborate home-cooked meals we shared stories, played word games and had super serious debates about super unimportant topics. Everyone participated in some way or the other, and even as a young girl I learnt that my opinion could be important, and was taught to form and express it unapologetically.
These noisy, happy dinner time discussions, combined with my innate love for books have become a large part of what I do. The essence, quirks and different points of view in those conversations and made-up games fuels the stuff I create, and the stories I tell. I read at least one book a week, if not more, and I will happily lend you anything from my cherished library (unless you forget to give it back, or dog-ear your pages to bookmark them).
I have a degree in Law from Mumbai, and an MS in Packaging, Identities and Systems Design from Pratt Institute in New York. I worked as an Arbitration lawyer and an Art Director before I combined my love for words, pictures and kids into creating books that (I hope) children will love.
I focus on storytelling through design. All my products, whether they are books, games or toys stem from one important question — Is it bringing joy into the world? Working 1:1 with kids is the highlight of what I do. I get to teach some things, learn many things, and answer the best questions like “what is your third favourite animal”, or “why is the moon round”, that no adult would ever care to ask!