diff --git a/modules/setup/setup_dev.py b/modules/setup/setup_dev.py
index ee69f111..bf8bc2b9 100644
--- a/modules/setup/setup_dev.py
+++ b/modules/setup/setup_dev.py
@@ -204,6 +204,15 @@ class DeveloperProfile:
     Default to course instructor but allow students to personalize.
     """
     
+    @staticmethod
+    def _load_default_flame():
+        """
+        Load the default TinyTorch flame ASCII art from file.
+        
+        TODO: Implement file loading for tinytorch_flame.txt with fallback.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("Student implementation required")
+    
     def __init__(self, name="Vijay Janapa Reddi", affiliation="Harvard University", 
                  email="vj@eecs.harvard.edu", github_username="profvjreddi", ascii_art=None):
         """
@@ -234,7 +243,7 @@ class DeveloperProfile:
         """
         Get ASCII art for the profile.
         
-        TODO: Return custom ASCII art or default flame.
+        TODO: Return custom ASCII art or default flame loaded from file.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError("Student implementation required")
 
@@ -244,8 +253,27 @@ class DeveloperProfile:
 class DeveloperProfile:
     """Developer profile for personalizing TinyTorch experience."""
     
-    # Default TinyTorch flame ASCII art
-    DEFAULT_FLAME = """
+    @staticmethod
+    def _load_default_flame():
+        """Load the default TinyTorch flame ASCII art from file."""
+        try:
+            # Try to load from the same directory as this module
+            import os
+            current_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+            flame_path = os.path.join(current_dir, 'tinytorch_flame.txt')
+            
+            with open(flame_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
+                flame_art = f.read()
+            
+            # Add the Tiny🔥Torch text below the flame
+            return f"""{flame_art}
+                    
+                    Tiny🔥Torch
+            Build ML Systems from Scratch!
+            """
+        except (FileNotFoundError, IOError):
+            # Fallback to simple flame if file not found
+            return """
     🔥 TinyTorch Developer 🔥
          .  .  .  .  .  .
         .    .  .  .  .   .
@@ -262,7 +290,7 @@ class DeveloperProfile:
    \\  \\  \\  \\  \\  \\  \\  /  /  /  /  /  /
     \\  \\  \\  \\  \\  \\  /  /  /  /  /  /
      \\  \\  \\  \\  \\  /  /  /  /  /  /
-      \\  \\  \\  \\  /  /  /  /  /
+      \\  \\  \\  \\  /  /  /  /  /  /
        \\  \\  \\  /  /  /  /  /  /
         \\  \\  /  /  /  /  /  /
          \\  /  /  /  /  /  /
@@ -272,7 +300,10 @@ class DeveloperProfile:
              \\/  /  /
               \\/  /
                \\/
-    """
+                    
+                    Tiny🔥Torch
+            Build ML Systems from Scratch!
+            """
     
     def __init__(self, name="Vijay Janapa Reddi", affiliation="Harvard University", 
                  email="vj@eecs.harvard.edu", github_username="profvjreddi", ascii_art=None):
@@ -280,7 +311,7 @@ class DeveloperProfile:
         self.affiliation = affiliation
         self.email = email
         self.github_username = github_username
-        self.ascii_art = ascii_art or self.DEFAULT_FLAME
+        self.ascii_art = ascii_art or self._load_default_flame()
     
     def __str__(self):
         return f"👨‍💻 {self.name} | {self.affiliation} | @{self.github_username}"
@@ -358,11 +389,30 @@ except NotImplementedError as e:
 
 1. **Update your profile** in the cell above with your real information
 2. **Create custom ASCII art** - your initials, a simple logo, or something that represents you
-3. **Add your signature** to code you write throughout the course
-4. **Show off your full profile** with the `get_full_profile()` method
+3. **Customize the flame file** - edit `tinytorch_flame.txt` to create your own default art
+4. **Add your signature** to code you write throughout the course
+5. **Show off your full profile** with the `get_full_profile()` method
 
 This isn't just about customization - it's about taking ownership of your learning journey in ML systems!
 
+**ASCII Art Customization Options:**
+
+**Option 1: Custom ASCII Art Parameter**
+```python
+my_profile = DeveloperProfile(
+    name="Your Name",
+    ascii_art='''
+    Your Custom ASCII Art Here!
+    Maybe your initials, a logo, or something fun!
+    '''
+)
+```
+
+**Option 2: Edit the Default Flame File**
+- Edit `tinytorch_flame.txt` in this directory
+- Replace with your own ASCII art design
+- All students using defaults will see your custom art!
+
 **ASCII Art Ideas:**
 - Your initials in block letters
 - A simple logo or symbol that represents you
@@ -379,6 +429,11 @@ This isn't just about customization - it's about taking ownership of your learni
 /      \\|_|/      \\
 ```
 
+**Pro Tip**: The `tinytorch_flame.txt` file contains the beautiful default flame art. You can:
+- Edit it directly for a personalized default
+- Create your own `.txt` file and modify the code to load it
+- Use online ASCII art generators for inspiration
+
 **Example personalized hello:**
 ```python
 def my_hello_tinytorch():
diff --git a/modules/setup/tests/test_setup.py b/modules/setup/tests/test_setup.py
index df7b5fa5..68ba7520 100644
--- a/modules/setup/tests/test_setup.py
+++ b/modules/setup/tests/test_setup.py
@@ -188,8 +188,9 @@ class TestDeveloperProfile:
         ascii_art = profile.get_ascii_art()
         
         assert isinstance(ascii_art, str)
-        assert "🔥 TinyTorch Developer 🔥" in ascii_art
-        assert len(ascii_art) > 50  # Should be substantial ASCII art
+        assert "Tiny🔥Torch" in ascii_art
+        assert "Build ML Systems from Scratch!" in ascii_art
+        assert len(ascii_art) > 100  # Should be substantial ASCII art from file
         
         # Test custom ASCII art
         custom_art = "My Custom Art!"
@@ -202,7 +203,8 @@ class TestDeveloperProfile:
         full_profile = profile.get_full_profile()
         
         assert isinstance(full_profile, str)
-        assert "🔥 TinyTorch Developer 🔥" in full_profile
+        assert "Tiny🔥Torch" in full_profile
+        assert "Build ML Systems from Scratch!" in full_profile
         assert "👨‍💻 Developer: Vijay Janapa Reddi" in full_profile
         assert "🏛️  Affiliation: Harvard University" in full_profile
         assert "📧 Email: vj@eecs.harvard.edu" in full_profile
@@ -224,8 +226,9 @@ class TestDeveloperProfile:
         assert profile.affiliation == "Harvard University"
         assert profile.email == "vj@eecs.harvard.edu"
         
-        # Should still have default ASCII art
-        assert "🔥 TinyTorch Developer 🔥" in profile.get_ascii_art()
+        # Should still have default ASCII art from file
+        assert "Tiny🔥Torch" in profile.get_ascii_art()
+        assert "Build ML Systems from Scratch!" in profile.get_ascii_art()
 
 
 class TestModuleIntegration:
diff --git a/modules/setup/tinytorch_flame.txt b/modules/setup/tinytorch_flame.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e200993d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/setup/tinytorch_flame.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+. .    ... .......  ....    ...      .   .   ..  ....   .        ..   .   .     .   . . ....        
+.   . ..     .++.     ..           .     . . ..  ...            .     .         .   ..  ...    ..   
+ .    .    . .=++=..   .     .   .             ..         . .   ..  .         ...       ..  .   .   
+.    ..  ... .++++=.  .      .             .  .             ..                .      ..            .
+. . .  . ....-+++++.... ... ..   .        ....  .. . .  . .  .    . .  .       .       .  .      .  
+  .   .. ...-++++++-...... ..  .    ..... ..-:..  ..  .      .... ..      . .     ..   . ..   . . . 
+ ..  ..  ..++++++++-..       .   . ..##... -%#.          .  .                 .           .      .  
+.   ..  .:+++++++++.... ... .    ...:%%:............:-:. ..... ......    . .   .......    ..    . . 
+      ..+++++++++++. ...     . .. .=#%%##+.-##..#%####%%=.=%%.  .*%+..   .      .  .          ...   
+  . ..++++++++++++...-++.....   .   .%%... -##..##=...=%#..*%*..=%#.. . ..   ... . . .  . ..  .  ...
+  ..-+++++++++++++..=++++...    .....%#..  -##..#%-.. -##. .%%=.%%.. .             .  .  .  .  ... .
+. .=++++++++++++++-+++++++.... .  ...%%:...-##..#%-. .-%#. ..#%#%=..     .  ..   ...       . .   . .
+..=+++++++++++++++++++++++-.  .    ..=%%%+.-%#..##-. .-%#....-%%*..   .         ..  .     .. ..  .. 
+.:+++++++++++=+++++++++++++. .      ................  .......-%%...     .          ..   .  .  .. .  
+.++++++++++===+++++++++++++: .   .................... . ...%%%#:........ .  .. .....  ......... ....
+:+++++++++====+++++++++++++=..  ...-----------.....-+#*=:.....-------:.......:=*#+-.. ..--:.....--=.
+:++++++++======++++++++++++=..  ...#%%%%%%%%%#..-#%%###%%#=...#%####%%%=...+%%%###%%#...#%+.. ..#%%.
+.+++++++========+++++++++++-       .. .#%%.. ..-%%+.. ..-%%+..#%*.. .*%%..*%%:.  ..#%*..#%+... .#%%.
+.=++++++==========+++++++++:  .       .#%%.....#%#....  .*%#..#%*...-%%*..#%+.  ... . ..##%#####%%%.
+..++++++===========+++++++-.    .   ...#%%. . .#%#.   . .*%#..#%%%%%%#-. .#%+.  .   ....#%*-----#%%.
+...+++++===========++++++=.   .  .  . .#%%...  -%%+.....=%%+..#%*..+%%-. .*%%-.....#%*..%%+.. ..%%%.
+. ..-+++===========+++++..   . ..    ..#%%.    .:%%%###%%%=...#%*...+%%=...+%%####%%#...%%+.. ..%%%.
+ . ...-++==========+++:....  ...  .   .===.  ... ..-+++=..  ..-=-....-==:  ..:=+++-.. ..==-... .===.
+     ....-+=======+-...... .. .  .   ... .  . ..  ...  . . ....   .   . .  . .....   .  ... .....  .
+ .... . ......:.....  ... . ..    .   ... . .  ... .  . .     ... .  .  . ...      ..   .....   . .