Hyderabad: Mahindra University launches School of Design Innovation

Hyderabad: Mahindra University has launched the School of Design Innovation in Hyderabad, in partnership with the Pininfarina Design Academy, Torino, Italy and the Shenoy Innovation Studio IDC IITB.

The new school aims to provide students with mentorship from top design experts from India and around the world.

Skill development from sketching to prototyping

The inaugural academic session will start on August 15, offering a Bachelor’s Program in Design. The curriculum combines design fundamentals such as sketching, engineering labs, prototyping and digital tools.

Students will later specialise in one of three disciplines: Industrial Design, Communication Design or Experience Design. The program emphasises cutting-edge technologies like AR, VR and AI, and will culminate in a Capstone Project aimed at addressing real-world industry challenges.

The first batch of students to get Rs 1 lakh scholarship

The program is open to all students who have completed their 10+2 education across all streams and possess a passion for design and sketching.

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work and will be interviewed as part of the selection process. The first batch of students will benefit from a 25 per cent Chancellor’s Scholarship, amounting to Rs 1 lakh per year.

Addressing real-world challenges

Dr Yajulu Medury, the VC of Mahindra University, highlighted the significance of the new school.

He said, “As India moves into the next phase of technological growth towards achieving its goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat, we are seeing an exponential growth in adoption of new technologies requiring new skillsets and competencies. The launch of the School of Design marks a significant milestone in Mahindra University’s journey towards excellence and innovation in education. We believe that design is not just about aesthetics but about creating solutions that address real-world challenges. Through our rigorous curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities, we want to make our students ready for the future of jobs.”

Prof. BK Chakravarthy, founding dean of the School of Design Innovation, elaborated on the core objectives, saying, “The core objective of design innovation is an effective problem-solving method that blends creativity with strategic acumen and it guides students to ideate and develop their concepts into innovative products and services. A friendly user interface, for any software, is as important as the technology behind it and the convenience of use makes it more market-friendly. Through hands-on experiences, field visits, and cross-cultural design boot camps, we aim to instil in our students the skills and mindset needed to tackle complex challenges. Our aim is to not stop at the design concept or prototype stage but to leverage our deep industry synergies to take it to the market in line with our idea of ‘Turning your Passion into your Profession’.”

The7Cs of learning

The curriculum at the School of Design Innovation will be based on Prof. Chakravarthy’s conceptual framework, Chakku’s 7Cs, which include The Cause, The Context, The Comprehension, The Check, The Conception, The Craft, and The Connection. These principles will guide student projects and ensure a comprehensive approach to design thinking and innovation.