Location : Woxsen University

Duration : 2 Hours

Objective

The “Empowering Young Innovators through Design Thinking” workshop at Woxsen University was designed to introduce Grade 11 students to the transformative potential of human-centered innovation. The primary objective was to help students move beyond conventional, linear problem-solving approaches and cultivate a creative, empathetic, and experimental mindset. By familiarizing them with the five-stage design thinking framework Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test the program aimed to demonstrate how structured creativity can be applied to address real-world challenges across academic, social, and entrepreneurial contexts.

Execution

Conducted as a focused 2-hour, high-energy session by Prof. Munwar Khan and Prof. Mrudul Chilmulwar, the workshop combined conceptual clarity with hands-on application. Students were first introduced to the core principles of design thinking through relatable examples and interactive dialogue. They were then organized into collaborative teams and guided through the full design cycle: identifying user needs, framing clear problem statements, generating solution concepts, and developing rapid physical or digital prototypes. The workshop culminated in structured presentations where teams pitched their innovations to peers and mentors, encouraging critical feedback, confidence building, and reflective learning. The immersive format ensured that participants not only understood the methodology but experienced its practical relevance firsthand.