Mission:

The School of Design Innovation at Mahindra University is dedicated to nurturing designers to create impactful, human-centred solutions keeping in mind the local cultural practices and systems. The School’s focus is to encourage entrepreneurship and support govt. and NGOs to promote sustainable livelihoods. The School’s mission is to drive innovation that works for people, deliver real-world benefits, and inspires future-ready designers.

Through talented and motivated faculty and international collaborations SDI strives to bring in the required talents in the students through live projects. The School’s collaboration with incubators and its adaptative curriculum enables it to introduce startup culture early in the students’ learning. The school’s endeavour is to create innovative leaders who will shape industries, communities, and economies for a better world.

Vision:
Innovation can change the world in ways that are unimaginable. Yet there are some who can visualize such a change and develop product and services that are readily adopted by the people and transform the way they live and dream. Soon such innovations become the strong backbone of the society, industry, and the economy.

The School of Design Innovation at Mahindra University envisions a world where designers drive meaningful change. They solve real-world problems and create transformative solutions. SDI aims to nurture designers who not only understand people but also develop impactful products and services that address societal and industrial challenges. The goal of the School is to foster and groom such young minds to be the future-focused innovative leaders.

The School of Design Innovation will be mentored by the best design brains from across the world. This pursuit of design excellence is bolstered by a partnership with the Pininfarina Design Academy in Torino, Italy and Shenoy Innovation Studio IDC IITB.

The labs and studios across Mahindra University are well equipped so that students can build their mock-ups and proof of concepts for design innovation. The students are motivated to use the Chakku’s 7 concerns of design thinking, formulated by our founding dean Prof. B.K. Chakravarthy from his 3 decades of design innovation experience. This is used as a project management template and collaborative tool for taking design to market.

Design Differentiator

SDI design methodology follows the Innovation by Design paradigm, where design thinking exists in a continuous, reciprocal loop like a Möbius strip- ensuring that the process and the outcomes are seamlessly interconnected and continuously refined.

Mahindra University promotes teamwork among students from various fields to tackle real-world challenges. The humanities help in understanding people’s needs, while the School of Design Innovation drives creativity through design thinking. The entrepreneurship program focuses on testing and validating ideas, and the engineering department assists in building prototypes. Together, all these departments collaborate to find effective solutions to problems.

The School of Design Innovation offers an immersive learning experience with expert-led online and offline lectures, one-on-one mentoring, and teamwork-driven projects. Enriched with field visits, cross-cultural art, and design boot camps, the program prepares students for real-world impact.

1^st C The Cause: The resolve to solve a problem

Every design project is initiated by a need which becomes the ‘Cause’ of the entire journey that follows. This need may be a commercial requirement, a social necessity, or a specific niggling problem with an existing product. The recognition of such a need is a key trigger for the project and it can be identified by any of the stakeholders connected to the product – a product manufacturer or marketer, a user, or a product designer.

2^nd C The Context: Understanding the problem space and the environment

To study and understand an existing product or similar products in the market, it is critical that the environment in which the product is used is understood comprehensively. This means that a designer must study the users and their perspectives on the product. Often this involves several rounds of interaction and observation.

3^rd C The Comprehension: Arriving at design insights

At this stage, the designer analyses all the information gathered and methodically lists out their observations and perceptions of any notable issues in the use of the product. Such analysis results in the thorough, all-round comprehension of a product as it functions within the contexts of its use. The design insights thus arrived at give rise to creative ideas and form the basis for the intervention that follows.

4^th C The Check: Creating a project brief

The check is an essential step in understanding what requirements the product should ultimately meet and what problems the design intervention should address. The check, which is often a document in the form of a product brief, is created from the design insights and must be approved by the client. The product brief is an important point of reference throughout the journey as concepts and prototypes are created and evaluated.

5^th C The Conception: Generating ideas and concept

Using the product brief, the designer arrives at multiple ideas to come up with solutions for the problems listed. At this crucial stage, ideas are proposed and grouped into clusters. This makes possible the consideration of multiple concepts. Finally, the team zeroes in on one all-encompassing concept that best addresses all aspects of the product.

6^th C The Crafting: Building mock-ups and prototypes

The final concept is further refined against various criteria like use of material and manufacturing limitations. Depending on the user profile, the designer at this stage creates several style options and zeroes in on the one that addresses the aesthetics concerns in the best manner. The final product design is showcased by creating small scale mock-up models, CAD models or working prototypes. The final product which meets the product brief conditions is then taken up for mass production.­

7^th C The Connection: Delighting the user

The last but critically important concern is the connection the new product makes with the user. This connection or the bond between the user and the product is formed only when the user is satisfied with the product’s performance and begins to cherish it, which in turn creates an increased demand for the product. In fact, it is the customer’s satisfaction that makes a winning product and functions as the most important criterion for innovation.

Design Innovation Projects to be followed in all academic programs. The Chakku’s 7Cs of Design Thinking for Innovation for undertaking any innovation project is as follows

1^st C The Cause: The resolve to solve a problem
Every design project is initiated by a need which becomes the “cause” of the entire journey that follows. This need may be a commercial requirement, a social necessity, or a specific niggling problem with an existing product. The recognition of such a need is a key trigger for the project and it can be identified by any of the stakeholders connected to the product – a product manufacturer or marketer, a user, or a product designer.

2nd C The Context: Understanding the problem space and the environment
To study and understand an existing or similar products in the market, it is critical that the environment in which the product is used is understood comprehensively. This means that a designer must study the users and their perspectives on the product. Often this involves several rounds of interaction and observation

3rd C The Comprehension: Arriving at design insights
At this stage, the designer analyses all the information gathered and methodically lists out their observations and perceptions of any notable issues in the use of the product. Such analysis results in the thorough, all-round comprehension of a product as it functions within the contexts of its use. The design insights thus arrived at give rise to creative ideas and form the basis for the intervention that follows

4th C The Check: Creating a project brief
The check is an essential step in understanding what requirements the product should ultimately meet and what problems the design intervention should address. The check, which is often a document in the form of a product brief, is created from the design insights and must be approved by the client. The product brief is an important point of reference throughout the journey as concepts and prototypes are created and evaluated.

5th C The Conception: Generating ideas and concept
Using the product brief, the designer arrives at multiple ideas to come up with solutions for the problems listed. At this crucial stage, ideas are proposed and grouped into clusters. This makes possible the consideration of multiple concepts. Finally, the team zeroes in on one all-encompassing concept that best addresses all aspects of the product.

6th C The Crafting: Building mock-ups and prototypes
Using the product brief, the designer arrives at multiple ideas to come up with solutions for the problems listed. At this crucial stage, ideas are proposed and grouped into clusters. This makes possible the consideration of multiple concepts. Finally, the team zeroes in on one all-encompassing concept that best addresses all aspects of the product.

7th C The Connection: Delighting the user
The last, but critically important concern is the connection the new product makes with the user. This connection or the bond between the user and the product is formed only when the user is satisfied with the product’s performance and begins to cherish it, which in turn creates an increased demand for the product. In fact, it is the customer’s satisfaction that makes a winning product and functions as the most important criterion for innovation.

Interaction Design

1. User Interface (UI) Design – Designing intuitive digital interfaces and user flows.
2. User Experience (UX) – Designing intuitive, inclusive, and seamless user experiences
3. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) – Researching how people interact with digital and physical systems.
4. Extended Reality (XR) Design – Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) experiences.
5. Game Design and Games Studies – Coding, development, design, study, level design, character creation of games.
6. Wearable & Smart Device Interaction – Designing interactions for smartwatches, fitness trackers, and AR glasses.
7. Service Design & Systems Thinking – Mapping user journeys and designing holistic service ecosystems.
8. Gamification & Interactive Storytelling – Designing engagement-driven experiences in apps and products.
9. Automotive & Transportation UX – Human-centered interfaces for vehicles and mobility solutions.
10. Accessibility & Inclusive Design – Designing for diverse abilities, neurodivergence, and universal usability.

 Communication Design 

1. Graphic Design:Focuses on visual content creation for print and digital media, including logos, brochures, posters, and websites.
2. Branding and Identity Design:Involves creating a cohesive visual and thematic identity for businesses or products, including logos, colour schemes, and overall brand guidelines.
3. Motion Graphics Design: Involves creating animated visual content for use in videos, presentations, websites, and other digital platforms.
4. VFX:Create realistic or stylized imagery by integrating computer-generated elements with live-action footage, covering skills such as compositing, 3D animation, tracking, and simulation techniques.
5. Advertising Design:Focuses on creating visual content for advertisements across various media, including print, digital, and outdoor advertising.
6. Illustration:Involves creating original artwork for use in books, magazines, advertisements, and digital media to visually convey messages or stories.
7. Information Design:Specializes in presenting complex data and information in a clear and understandable manner, often through infographics, charts, and diagrams.
8. Film and Video Design:Courses and subjects in Film and Video Design by design schools typically cover storytelling, cinematography, scriptwriting, editing, sound design, motion graphics, visual effects (VFX), animation, and media production.
9. Animation Design:Create ­
10. Social Media design:Understanding new digital tools and its application in social media. 

Industrial Design  

1. Product Design: Involves designing consumer products, from electronics and household items to furniture and appliances, focusing on usability, aesthetics, and manufacturability.
2. Transportation Design: Centers on designing mobility solution such as cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, water transport and air transport, emphasizing both function and style, as well as a systems design approach
3. Furniture Design: Specializes in designing functional and aesthetically pleasing furniture for residential, commercial, and public spaces.
4. Packaging Design: Focuses on creating packaging solutions that are not only visually appealing but also functional, sustainable, and protective of the contents.
5. Exhibition Design: Involves designing displays and fixtures for exhibitions, trade shows, museums, and retail spaces to enhance the presentation and interaction of products or artifacts.
6. Medical Device Design: Specializes in designing medical and healthcare products, ensuring they are user-friendly, safe, and effective for both patients and healthcare providers.
7. Lighting Design: Focuses on designing lighting products and systems that provide effective illumination while also considering aesthetics, energy efficiency, and user comfort.
8. Toy and Game Design: Involves creating toys and games that are not only entertaining but also safe, educational, and suitable for their intended age group.
9. Sustainable Design: Emphasizes designing products with a focus on environmental sustainability, including using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient processes, and promoting product longevity and recyclability.
10. Ergonomic Design: Specializes in designing products that optimize human well-being and overall system performance, ensuring that products are comfortable, efficient, and safe to use.

Apparel Design

1. Fashion & Textile Design – Garment and fabric innovation, aesthetics, and creative expression.
2. Pattern Making & Garment Construction– Technical skills for translating designs into wearable products.
3. Digital & Smart Wearables– AI-driven fashion, 3D designs, and technology-integrated clothing.
4. Sustainable & Circular Fashion– Eco-friendly materials, zero-waste design, and ethical production.
5. Sportswear & Functional Apparel – Performance-driven clothing for athletics, workwear, and extreme environments.
6. Luxury, Couture & Ethnic Wear– High-end craftsmanship, traditional textiles, and cultural fashion.
7. Fashion Business & Branding– Retail, merchandising, marketing, and entrepreneurship in apparel.
8. Trend Forecasting & Consumer Behaviour– Predicting future trends using data, AI, and market insights.
9. Adaptive & Inclusive Design – Clothing for diverse body types, disabilities, and gender-neutral fashion.
10. Costume & Experimental Fashion – Film, theatre, avant-garde, and conceptual fashion exploration.