This 4-year journey of discovery aims to help students develop a personal viewpoint on design, considering its economic, social, environmental and cultural implications.
MAKER SPACES AT BITS PILANI, MUMBAI CAMPUS
Your
design
journey
This 4-year journey of discovery aims to help students develop a personal viewpoint on design, considering its cultural, social, economic, and environmental implications. Secondly, it aims to equip students with the appropriate skills and competencies needed to operate with success in the design ecosystem. Third, it fosters an agile attitude towards the evolving role of a designer by developing people skills and life skills.
Through the course of the programme, each student is assigned an in-house mentor first and later, an industry coach. Every student is exposed to a capstone project in the final year.
YEAR 1 —
Experiment
The first year offers a multidimensional tasting experience designed to stimulate students' curiosity about the diverse choices of a career in the design world. Experimentation serves as the primary learning strategy, allowing students to acquire knowledge and understanding, and actively engage with and absorb the fundamental aspects of design. Activities include exploring materials, shapes, aesthetics, alongside social and ethical aspects.
FUNDAMENTAL
Fundamental courses constitute the core of the Bachelor of Design (Honours) programme. They include Design & Theory studies that every student, independently from personal interests, output profiles, and choice of specialisation, needs to master to understand and operate in the Design field at large.
Courses
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The Languages of Design
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Material Studies
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Designing the Future
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Designing the Now
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Open Design & Technology Lab
SPECIALISATION
Specialisation Courses address subjects, topics, and domain-specific knowledge and reflect students' choice to focus on a particular application context (specialisation) or a job profile (designer's role).
Courses
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Designing for the Senses
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Introduction to Experiential Design
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Introduction to Designing Interactions
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Social Media Communication
Transversal
Transversal Courses aim to improve the understanding of the broader context in which a designer operates. Transversal subjects focus on the Transformation Areas of Expertise of the BITSDES Competence Learning Model.
Courses
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Community Project (NGO/GOVT)
TOOLS AND SKILLS
Tools / Skill courses include a wide range of conceptual and technical methods to support students in the development of all the phases of the design process, from design research, to idea generation, to concept development and implementation, to business proposition, to communication and pitching.
Courses
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Designing for the Senses
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Introduction to Experiential Design
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Personal Development Courses contribute to developing an individual approach and style to the design profession, both in terms of widening personal knowledge and developing soft & life skills.
Courses
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Professional Development Plan 1
YEAR 2 —
EXPLORE
Being a designer today means leveraging past knowledge and taking a step forward. The second year of this program focuses on exploring the boundaries, logic, and processes that define "good design" and "good business". The key learning strategy involves:
- Analysing and studying design best practices
- Engaging with the industry and its processes
- Understanding global challenges
Students choose an elective path that guides their study plan for the following years, allowing them to acquire a specific professional role. This role can be more inclined towards working for the industry, developing one's own business, or undertaking a research role.
FUNDAMENTAL
Fundamental courses constitute the core of the Bachelor of Design (Honours) programme. They include Design & Theory studies that every student, independently from personal interests, output profiles, and choice of specialisation, needs to master to understand and operate in the Design field at large.
Courses
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Live Industry Project 1 (Crossdisciplinary)
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Transformation Design Project
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Business Design Project
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Designing the Now
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Speculative Design Project
SPECIALISATION
Specialisation Courses address subjects, topics, and domain-specific knowledge and reflect students' choice to focus on a particular application context (specialisation) or a job profile (designer's role).
Courses
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Specialisation Lab 1 - Product
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Specialisation Lab 2 - Experience
TRANSVERSAL
Transversal Courses aim to improve the understanding of the broader context in which a designer operates. Transversal subjects focus on the Transformation Areas of Expertise of the BITSDES Competence Learning Model.
Courses
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BITSDES Week
TOOLS AND SKILLS
Tools / Skill courses include a wide range of conceptual and technical methods to support students in the development of all the phases of the design process, from design research, to idea generation, to concept development and implementation, to business proposition, to communication and pitching.
Courses
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Visualization & Prototyping Tools 2
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Personal Development Courses contribute to developing an individual approach and style to the design profession, both in terms of widening personal knowledge and developing soft & life skills.
Courses
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Professional Development Plan 2
YEAR 3 —
EMBRACE
In the third year, students are ready to appreciate and enthusiastically embrace their career path in design. It is a year of total exposure and engagement with external stakeholders and contexts. The third year includes a cross-disciplinary Industry Live Project, international experiences (projects and/or exchanges), and active participation in master classes with thought leaders and designers. These experiences play a fundamental role in developing a personal point of view on design and the profession of a designer.
FUNDAMENTAL
Fundamental courses constitute the core of the Bachelor of Design (Honours) programme. They include Design & Theory studies that every student, independently from personal interests, output profiles, and choice of specialisation, needs to master to understand and operate in the Design field at large.
Courses
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Live Industry Project 2 (Crossdisciplinary)
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Social and Public Design
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Collaborative International Project
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AI for Design Project
SPECIALISATION
Specialisation Courses address subjects, topics, and domain-specific knowledge and reflect students' choice to focus on a particular application context (specialisation) or a job profile (designer's role).
Courses
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Specialisation Lab 3 - Branding
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Specialisation Lab 4 - Service
TRANSVERSAL
Transversal Courses aim to improve the understanding of the broader context in which a designer operates. Transversal subjects focus on the Transformation Areas of Expertise of the BITSDES Competence Learning Model.
Courses
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BITSDES Week
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Personal Development Courses contribute to developing an individual approach and style to the design profession, both in terms of widening personal knowledge and developing soft & life skills.
Courses
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Professional Development Plan 3
INVESTIGATIONS
Investigation Courses aim to involve students in capturing and understanding the emergent signals of the design community and its possible evolution through hands-on experiences that include Master Classes with professionals and industry representatives, on-site visits to design studios, creative workshops, production sites, and craftsmanship districts.
Courses
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Masterclasses & Visits
INTERNSHIPS
Internships encompass a series of (in-house or remote) activities and initiatives aimed at immersing and challenging the student in a real professional work context; these include collaborating with a design studio, pursuing a personal project (as a freelance) with an industry mentor, participating in a national or international design competition.
Courses
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Summer Internship
YEAR 4 —
EXPAND
The fourth year is a finalization year, during which students who have achieved a high level of independence and agency can dedicate themselves to developing a personal research project. The goal is to expand their horizons and contribute to advancing design-driven knowledge. Additionally, students can refine their skill set further by attending advanced elective courses.
FUNDAMENTAL
Fundamental courses constitute the core of the Bachelor of Design (Honours) programme. They include Design & Theory studies that every student, independently from personal interests, output profiles, and choice of specialisation, needs to master to understand and operate in the Design field at large.
Courses
-
Personal Research Project
SPECIALISATION
Specialisation Courses address subjects, topics, and domain-specific knowledge and reflect students' choice to focus on a particular application context (specialisation) or a job profile (designer's role).
Courses
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Specialisation Lab 5 - Interactive Environments
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Specialisation Lab 6 - A/R, VR
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Specialisation Lab 7 - New Materials
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Specialisation Lab 8 - Web3
TRANSVERSAL
Transversal Courses aim to improve the understanding of the broader context in which a designer operates. Transversal subjects focus on the Transformation Areas of Expertise of the BITSDES Competence Learning Model.
Courses
-
BITSDES Week
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Personal Development Courses contribute to developing an individual approach and style to the design profession, both in terms of widening personal knowledge and developing soft & life skills.
Courses
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Professional Development Plan 4
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Starting a Design Business
Final Project
The Final Project is an individual design research project in which the student investigates a set theme. Themes are chosen by students within a research framework either identified by themselves or proposed by the Course Staff in close relation with companies (when applicable). The Final Project culminates in an open presentation delivered during the final examination to the whole Course Staff, External Examiners, and invited critics.
Courses
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Capstone Project
