Three Days Workshop on Design Thinking
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Sri Ganesh College of Engineering & Technology organized a three-day workshop on “Design Thinking for Innovation Bootcamp” to foster creativity, innovation, and human-centered problem- solving among students and faculty members. The workshop was conducted for all departments AI& DS EEE, ECE, IoT, and CSE - in two phases: from 13th to 15th October 2025 for the AIDS and IoT departments, and from 15th to 17th October 2025 for the CSE, EEE, ECE and IOT department. Held at the D-Block Seminar Hall, SGCET Campus, the sessions provided an engaging platform for participants to explore innovative design methodologies, develop critical thinking, and engage in collaborative, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities.
Workshop Overview
The inaugural session was graced by Mr. Srinivas Viswanatham, Design Manager at HCL Technologies Ltd., Chennai, who served as the Chief Guest and resource person for the workshop. In his inspiring address, he emphasized that design thinking is not merely a process but a mindset that fosters innovation, creativity, and empathy in the modern technological era. He motivated participants to approach every challenge as an opportunity to design meaningful, user-centric solutions.
The entire three-day program was conducted and facilitated by Mr. Srinivas Viswanatham, who guided students and faculty through hands-on sessions, interactive discussions, and real-world design challenges that enhanced their problem-solving and innovation skills.The workshop unfolded across three dynamic days.
Day 1: Exploring the Foundations of Design Thinking
Day 1, titled Exploring the Foundations of Design Thinking, focused on introducing the five stages of the design thinking process—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Students learned how empathy allows designers to understand real human needs and define problems effectively.
Day 2: Creative Ideation and Hands-on Workshop
Day 2, themed Creative Ideation and Hands-on Workshop, engaged participants in group brainstorming sessions, empathy mapping, and rapid prototyping activities. These interactive exercises encouraged collaboration, divergent thinking, and creativity.
Day 3: Advancing with Design Thinking
Day 3, Advancing with Design Thinking, concentrated on evaluating solutions through practical testing methods such as A/B Testing, Guerrilla Testing, and Lab Testing, helping students refine their prototypes and validate their ideas.
Students also engaged in sessions on User Understanding and Journey Mapping, where they learned to identify target audiences, build user personas, define goals, trace user journeys, and visualize pain points and aspirations. By mapping emotions such as joy, anxiety, doubt, and motivation along the user journey, participants developed a deeper understanding of human-centered design.
The five-step Design Thinking Process—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Evaluate—was explained in depth. Students also practiced empathy mapping to better understand users by analyzing what they see, hear, feel, and do in their environments. This exercise emphasized that design innovation begins with understanding people.
The final session emphasized Professional Ethics and Design Thinking in Practice, introducing frameworks such as the “Five A’s” — Mindset, Permission, Confidence, Acceptance, and Introspection. The session also offered valuable insights on interview readiness, effective communication, and portfolio presentation, helping participants prepare for professional excellence.
Students explored advanced topics like gamification, memory retention techniques, and speed reading, broadening their cognitive and professional skill sets. These discussions encouraged participants to integrate creativity with ethical awareness, fostering a balanced approach to innovation.
In conclusion, the Design Thinking for Innovation Bootcamp empowered students to tackle real-world challenges with creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. The program effectively blended cognitive enhancement, design methodologies, and ethical professionalism, shaping students into future-ready innovators.
The workshop was convened by Dr. K. R. Sugavanam, Administrative Officer, SGCET, and coordinated by Dr. Karunakaran, Vice Principal, SGCET. Their guidance, along with the enthusiastic participation of students and faculty, made the event a memorable success, reinforcing SGCET’s commitment to promoting an innovation-driven learning culture on campus.
