Aim:
The aim of this project is to understand and design for problems from socio-economic-cultural-political-technology-sustainability perspective that are complex, uncertain, interconnected and form a system within defined boundaries

Content:
. Design of system level solutions so that design can be thought of as interrelated, circular. Holistic and dynamic.
. Understanding, strategizing, conceptualising and designing for complex systems.
. Design solutions that are suitable for transportation, education, publishing, retailing, etc.

Team Work:
It involves the students having different skills and strengths working as a team solving a relatively complex design problem.
You can form teams with max 3 students collaborating together. Make sure the teams formed are based on having different skill-sets and not necessarily based on friendship.
The teams will collaborate with feedback from faculty mentors for inputs and suggestions.

We’ll meet twice a week on Monday morning/afternoons (for presentation + report submission + Feedback) and Thursday morning/afternoons (for discussions) and if it’s an ‘emergency’, on other days.
So basically, you need to take responsibility for your team, be professional and make sure you put in the efforts and commitment.
The students will solve a system level problem and will have to come out with an appropriate solution using product/s or service/s by the end of the project.


What will you learn?:
. Adopt a design process and methodology for designing complex systems level problems
. Conduct independent research, understand the problem space, synthesize, map the relationships, be able to think critically and find appropriate design solutions
. Able to work in teams and collaborate to solve complex problems
. Confidence in being creative and innovative and convert ideas into workable prototypes for large scale issues and problems spanning different fields.

References:
- John Thackara; In the Bubble: Designing in a Complex World, The MIT Press, 2005
- Bruce Hanington, Bella Martin, Universal Methods of Design: 100 Ways to Research Complex Problems, Develop Innovative Ideas, and Design Effective Solutions, Rockport Publishers, 2012
- Donald A. Norman, Living with Complexity, MIT Press, 2010
- Jeffrey Whitten and Lonnie Bentley, Systems Analysis and Design Methods, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2005
- Gerald M. Weinberg, Daniela Weinberg, General Principles of Systems Design, Dorset House,1988