Design Thinking Methodology

Design thinking is the core of Avantika University, the first design-centric university of India. This thinking is effective in tackling unknown or ill-defined problems. In general, it is a non-linear iterative process that is used to comprehend the needs of the users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and find out the most innovative solutions. Design thinking includes a bundle of mindsets and philosophies.

In general, the method of design thinking consists of 5 phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.

Design thinking: A 5-stage process

Stage 1: Empathize- Research user’s needs,

At this stage, designers need to understand the problems they have to solve. This includes research about the user’s needs. This stage is crucial for the human- centric design process. Here, designers have to keep their mindset aside and think like users to gain a proper understanding of the user’s needs.

Stage 2: Define- State users’ need/problems

At this stage, designers observe the information they have collected and define the core problem they have to deal with. All this has to be done in a human-centered manner.

Stage 3: Ideate- Create ideas

As the designers reach this stage, they are ready to generate ideas. With all the information and analysis from last two stages, designers can think outside the box and look the problem in different ways. They find different innovative solutions to the problems.

Stage 4: Prototype- Start creating solutions

This is an experimental stage where the aim of the designers is to find and identify the best solution for the problems identified in earlier stages.

Stage 5: Test- Try the solutions

In this stage, different solutions found during the prototype phase are implemented as well as tested for their effectiveness. This is the final stage of the 5-stage process, but this module is iterative i.e. designers can repeat the earlier stages in order to figure out some more innovative solutions for the problems.

Why is design thinking important for students?

• It is very important for everyone to develop design skills as it allows one to understand and respond to rapid changes in the world around us. The word is becoming more and more complex and interconnected. Here, design thinking is a means to cooperate with the changes in a human-centric manner.
• Design thinking help students to define complex and ill-defined problems and think out of the box to find out the best-suited solution.
• In classrooms, it facilitates students to develop empathy, generate inventive ideas, develop cognitive awareness and learn problem-solving.

Clearly, design thinking is essential to survive in this competitive world as it facilitates one to find solutions even of the most complex problems. That is why Avantika University is based on design thinking philosophy. Avantika University is a part of MIT Pune and its campus is situated in Ujjain, MP. The curriculum of Avantika is designed in such a way that skills such as creativity, adaptability, empathy and synthesis are bestowed in candidates along with academic knowledge and design thinking. Here, students are encouraged to work in teams and gain skills such as communication, prototyping, empathy and collaboration and problem-solving skills. The students of the university are trained by experts of MIT Institute of Design and bestowed with hands-on experience. So, apply for admissions at Avantika University and pursue job-centric courses.