School of Design Innovation’s News and Events showcases design engagements highlighting the moments of creativity, collaboration, and innovation from workshops, industry interactions, and student-led initiatives. Explore how ideas take shape and come to life!
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Members of the DIRT
Full-time Ph.D. Students:
Part-time Ph.D. Students:
Research Directions of DIRT Scholars
P. Kumaresan
Developing Innovation Pedagogy using AI for MOOCs
Guides: Dr. Chaitanya Solanki, Prof. Ravi Poovaiah
This research explores integrating Artificial Intelligence into MOOCs to develop an innovation pedagogy that enhances learner engagement, personalization, and creativity. It aims to design adaptive, scalable, and outcome-driven learning frameworks that foster critical thinking and innovation, transforming digital education for diverse learners in the 21st-century knowledge economy.
Prakash Narkhede
A Framework for Rich Media in Online Education: A Psychological, Cognitive and Emotional Study
Guide: Dr. Herold P.C.
This research explores how rich media motion graphics, interactive multimedia, and AI tools impact cognitive load, emotional engagement, and learning efficacy in design education. Using a practice-based approach, it examines how multimedia environments enhance retention, creativity, and the effectiveness of AI-driven feedback in online design learning.
Bhanu Prakash
Developing a Framework for Teaching Stop Motion Animation using AI Tools/Agents
Guide: Dr. Chaitanya Solanki
This research explores using AI to streamline stop-motion animation while preserving its handmade aesthetics. It develops a practice-based pedagogy for design students and investigates AI’s role in empowering Indian artisans through digital platforms. The project aims to blend tradition and technology, promoting handicrafts via innovative animation and sustainable toy alternatives.
Sayoni Laha
An Investigation into Architecture Motifs in India Textiles: Cultural and Aesthetic Sensibilities
Guide: Dr. Chaitanya Solanki
This research examines how architectural motifs from Mughal jaalis to temple gopuram details—are reflected in traditional Indian textiles like Banarasi, Pochampally, and Kanchivaram. It explores the historical continuity, artistic evolution, and future relevance of these designs, highlighting the deep connections between Indian architecture and textile aesthetics in contemporary design.
Mandar Kale
Reframing Sketching: Evolving Design Education for an AI-First Environment
Guide: Dr. Herold P.C., Prof. Uday Athvankar
This research explores how AI tools influence the cognitive and creative processes of Gen Z and Gen Alpha design students. Using practice-based methods and hybrid research, it aims to develop a toolkit that enhances originality, value, and satisfaction in design education amid hyperconnectivity, instant access, and AI-driven creative workflows.
Akshaya Manoj M P
Developing a Framework for Traditional handlooms to Adapt to Mainstream Market.
Guide: Dr. Herold P.C.
This research explores integrating Indian Knowledge Systems with modern science to address ecological, social, and economic challenges. Rooted in traditional sustainable practices, it aims to develop adaptable solutions for a sustainable future, influencing policy, academia, society, and economy through holistic, system-level approaches drawn from India’s rich civilizational wisdom.
Sai Harshita Abburi
Technological Interventions in Rural Housing: A Sustainable Approach through Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Guide: Dr. Herold P.C.
This research examines sustainable rural housing through technological interventions grounded in Indigenous Knowledge Systems. It aims to integrate traditional building practices with modern innovations to create eco-friendly, cost-effective, and culturally appropriate housing solutions, promoting resilience, and environmental sustainability in rural development.
Arpit Awasthi
Architecting Public Policy Frameworks through Indian Knowledge Systems
Guide: Dr. Chaitanya Solanki
This research applies Civilizational Design Thinking to develop adaptive public policy rooted in Indian Knowledge Systems. Integrating texts like Arthashastra with Nudge and Game Theory, it aims to align governance with India’s ethos, fostering culturally resonant, strategic, and equitable solutions for achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Recent Research Outcomes
Evaluating AI-Assisted Skill Development in Design Education: A Pre-Post Analysis with Expert and AI-Based Assessment
Authors: Bhanu Prakash, Chaitanya Solanki, B.K. Chakravarthy, Sai Harshita Abburi
Blending AI and Expert Insight in Design Education
As AI transforms education, this study explores its role in helping first-year design students learn the “Elements and Principles of Design.” Conducted with 31 students at School of Design Innovation in Hyderabad, India, the research aimed to understand how AI, combined with traditional teaching, can shape skill development.
Sample
31 Student, of age range 18 – 20 years , doing their B.Des in School of Design Innovation, Mahindra University ,Hyderabad, India .
Keywords: Personalized learning, Scalable teaching-learning, AI-assisted Learning, AI-human evaluation
Methodology
Students completed a creative dot-art Pebble Exercise before and after interacting with an AI tutor.
The AI was a custom-trained chatbot, giving individualized feedback. Final submissions were evaluated by both 3 human experts and AI on 6 parameters: creativity, theme, composition, color, precision, and overall design.
Pebble Exercise & Evaluation
Design students created dot-based artwork on palm-sized pebbles using various paints and tools, exploring colour, medium, and composition in a half-day activity. Each student completed two versions before and after receiving AI feedback. These artworks were anonymized and evaluated by three independent experts and an AI system on six parameters: theme expression, colour interplay, precision, creativity, composition, and overall design.
This dual evaluation aimed to assess the impact of AI guidance on student performance, blending human insight with AI’s objective analysis.
