Enrichment Programs | Design Thinking
Enrichment Programs
Design Thinking
DESIGN THINKING PROGRAM
Design Thinking is a core concept at Ekya, which develops empathy, as students are made to look at societal problems. An experimental process in nature, design-thinking equips the child to think critically, identify insights, build on each other’s ideas, learn from failures and be risk-takers.
Through Design thinking challenges, students learn to work with multiple perspectives, access and make sense of information, apply critical thinking and intuition, iteratively learn from failure and create solutions that integrate both ideation and empathy.
THE DESIGN THINKING PROCESS:
The students use their skills as creative thinkers to build solutions to a socially relevant challenge through the iterative and hands-on Design Thinking process.
Identify the challenge through a brainstorming session and share observations.
Empathize with the Users/Stakeholders affected by the problem; Build an empathy map.
THE DESIGN THINKING PROCESS:
The students use their skills as creative thinkers to build solutions to a socially relevant challenge through the iterative and hands-on Design Thinking process.
Identify the challenge through a brainstorming session and share observations.
Empathize with the Users/Stakeholders affected by the problem; Build an empathy map.
Use primary and secondary research to support findings about the problem.
Validate new information about the problem and share with the group.
Process information in a manner that makes meaning for the next steps; Build a point of view from which to work.
Use the point of view to think of multiple ways to solve the problem,
Narrow down possibilities to come up with the best way to solve the problem through feedback.
Build prototypes of the solution- an experience, a model, an illustration!
Use feedback from the user and peer groups and improve the prototypes
Share solutions to the problem with the community
A Pioneer In The Use Of Design Thinking In Education
The Design Thinking Timeline
2025-2026: Compassion and Community
Compassion and Kindness Challenge: Students will explore ways to encourage spontaneous acts of kindness to enhance community well-being. This aligns with our core purpose of fostering empathy and creating positive social impact through design thinking.
Traffic Solutions Challenge: Participants will tackle urban mobility by developing alternative transportation methods to improve community health and accessibility. This challenge emphasises our commitment to sustainable design solutions.
2026-2027: Care and Sustainability
Palliative and Elderly Care Challenge: Students will work on enhancing the quality of life for the elderly, focusing on dignity and independence. This builds on our previous successful projects like the Crew Aider and E-Pill Reminder.
Food Wastage Challenge: Participants will reimagine food consumption practices to promote sustainable nutrition and minimize waste. This challenge embodies our emphasis on sustainable solutions and responsible innovation
2027-2028: Urban Development and Environment
Urban Design and Accessibility Challenge: Students will focus on creating inclusive public infrastructure that ensures equitable mobility. This challenge reflects our commitment to human-centered design principles.
Climate Change Challenge: Participants will develop solutions to cultivate environmental awareness and preserve biodiversity. This aligns with our goal of preparing students to address global challenges through innovative design thinking.
Design Thinking Tool Kit
Projects
Smart Bin
Students designed a ‘smart bin’ that rewards people who segregate waste and put them into the right bins.
Garbage Scanner
Students, in this project, designed a scanner that will help scan garbage and tell citizens in which bin they should dispose the garbage.
Dust App
Students designed an app that allows citizens to locate garbage bins around their homes. The garbage bins are fitted with sensors that have shutters that keep them closed, especially beneficial during rainy seasons and preventing unpleasant odours.
Crew Aider
Students created a device that would help the elderly who had problems related to hand and arm movements and could not sign documents/ hold pens or pencils. The device was designed to hold a strap fixed to a frame that would support the wrist of the person who needs to sign/ write.
Energy Tracks
Students designed a track to be placed on footpaths that will use the energy from the track to turn street lights on. They encouraged the need for the elderly to walk and keep fit. They also designed special wheelchairs that move on these tracks as well.
The E-Pill Reminder
Student Voices
