Design Engagements

It was a privilege to host Prof. Ravi Poovaiah , Professor and Emeritus fellow at IDC , IIT Bombay and Dr. Ajanta Sen , visiting Faculty and former Research Scientist at NTU Singapore , at the School of Design Innovation , Mahindra University. As a part of “Research in Design Innovation Pedagogy” course Prof. Ravi delivered a thought-provoking session on Design Pedagogy in the Indian context, offering a fresh perspective on evolution and future of design education. One-on-one feedback session with Prof.Ravi and Dr. Ajanta provided invaluable guidance and resources – an inspiring experience that will shape our approach to teaching , research and inquiry in design.

During their three-day visit to School Of Design Innovation , Mahindra University Prof. Ravi Poovaiah and Dr. Ajanta Sen led an insightful session on global design collaboration , student exchanges, and international conference initiatives. Drawing from their work on SOLAR and COSMIC projects and global forums such as CUMULUS and ICOGRADA , they shared a valuable perspective on building lasting academic partnership grounded in trust , vision and cross-cultural understanding. Their reflection on collaboration mindsets deeply inspired participants to explore fresh direction for international engagement in design education

The B.Des 2nd-year Interaction Design students at Mahindra University recently completed their User Interface (Cognitive Ergonomics) module facilitated by Dr.

Herold PC. The module focused on applying design heuristics and cognitive ergonomics to create interfaces that map onto users’ mental models, helping students think systematically about attention, memory, and perception in interaction design.​

In keeping with SDI’s early-industry immersion approach, each student worked with an ALEAP-incubated startup user group to observe real user behaviors and build nuanced personas. They then experimented with layout patterns, navigation models, and content structuring, culminating in Figma-based interface prototypes built from their own basic design systems. These authentic collaborations exposed students to practical constraints in requirement scoping while motivating them to carry forward and deepen their explorations in ongoing semester projects.

As part of the Design Thinking module, first-year B.Des students at the School of Design Innovation, Mahindra University, engaged deeply with Chakku’s 7Cs Framework to understand design thinking as a structured yet creative process. Working individually and in teams, they immersed themselves in real causes across the campus and developed context-specific value propositions rooted in empathy and observation. This experience helped students bridge theory and practice, aligning with SDI’s vision of nurturing design-led problem solvers grounded in human-centered thinking and innovation by design.

Recently, SDI faculty member Sanya Donald led a one-day hands-on workshop at Government ITI, Sirsila, where Aleap India is training women in nightwear stitching. The session introduced a new nightwear design along with pattern-making, precise cutting methods, and step-by-step stitching, enabling participants to experience the full journey from concept to finished garment. This initiative reflects the School of Design Innovation at Mahindra University’s mission to support community-led skill development, expand livelihood opportunities, and nurture creativity through practical design education

B.Des and M.Des students at Mahindra University recently engaged in an immersive learning experience with Prof. Uday Athavankar and Prof. Mandar Kale, who emphasized sketching as a core language of design. Prof. Athavankar’s interactive talk highlighted why sketching must become an autopilot skill, freeing designers to focus on visualization and problem-solving. Prof. Mandar’s hands-on session led students through exercises like sketching to music, drawing while maintaining eye contact, and sketching with eyes closed, revealing how sketching can evolve into a fluent, embodied practice. This visit reinforced for SDI students that mastering sketching is essential to thinking, seeing, and communicating as designers

The Design Tinkering module at the School of Design Innovation, Mahindra University, introduced first-semester B.Des students to hands-on, curiosity-driven learning in design. Guided by Assistant Prof. santosh kocherlakota and Prof. Sanjay Guria, students designed paper wallets for peers to understand users, then dismantled mechanical toys to study mechanisms through orthographic, isometric, and exploded drawings. The module also included case studies using Prof. B.K. Chakravarthy’s 7Cs framework, in-house guest lectures, and a toy ideation sprint for Ramoji Film City, helping students connect observation, making, and reflection as core habits of design innovation

Thrilled to host the Board of Studies for the School of Design Innovation’s M.Des program at Mahindra University, bringing together an exceptional panel of educators and practitioners to shape a future-ready Design Innovation curriculum. With deep tech and entrepreneurship at its core, the program will leverage on-campus research labs to enable AI-integrated, industry-linked projects, ensuring graduates can lead in innovation-driven sectors.​

The Board comprised: Prof Lalit Kumar Das, Prof Delwyn Jude Remedios, Trivikram Annamalai, Amit Krishn Gulati, Pranav Prasun, Prof. Srikar, and Prof Bishnu Pal.​

Alankriti 2025 – Real & Live, the semester-end exhibition at the School of Design Innovation, Mahindra University, showcased 110 real-world student projects held on November 29–30, 2025.  B.Des first-year students designed exclusive merchandise inspired by Ramoji Film City, while B.Des second-year students created tools and communication support for women entrepreneurs at ALEAP. M.Des teams worked with Mahindra University research labs, developing applications across domains like biosciences and robotics, demonstrating how design thrives in authentic, collaborative contexts.​

Design and sports align in spirit—and our faculty just proved it. At SDI,

Mahindra University, faculty and students are encouraged to embrace sports as an extension of the design mindset, where discipline, strategy, creativity under pressure, teamwork, and resilience all come together.

🏅 Chaitanya Solanki (Ph.D.) clinched Gold in Cricket, Gold in Tennis, and another Gold in Tennis Doubles—showcasing remarkable versatility and competitive spirit.​
🥈Herold PC secured Silver in Table Tennis Doubles, reflecting focus, coordination, and consistency.​

When faculty lead by example beyond the classroom, it inspires students to pursue holistic excellence—where creativity, physical well-being, and teamwork coexist in a culture of all-round achievement.