Understanding Design Course | IIT Bombay | Prof. Nina Sabnani
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 253 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 4 weeks |
| Categories | Design Engineering |
| Credit Points | 1 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Understanding Design: A 4-Week Journey into the World of Design
Have you ever looked at a sleek smartphone, a user-friendly highway, or a simple pen drive and wondered about the thought process behind it? We are surrounded by designed objects, both monumental and minute. The discipline of design is the invisible force shaping our world, translating ideas and human needs into tangible reality. This blog introduces a comprehensive 4-week online course, Understanding Design, offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), and led by the renowned artist and storyteller, Prof. Nina Sabnani.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Nina Sabnani
Prof. Nina Sabnani is not just an academic; she is an accomplished artist and storyteller whose work bridges animation, ethnography, and participatory design. A Fulbright Fellow with a master's degree in film from Syracuse University, NY, her doctoral research at IIT Bombay focused on the traditional Kaavad storytelling of Rajasthan. Her award-winning films and illustrated books, translated into many Indian languages, showcase her unique approach. Her passion for collaborative creation is evident in projects like Hum Chitra Banate Hain, which won a National Award from the President of India. Prof. Sabnani brings this rich, interdisciplinary perspective directly to this course.
What is This Course About?
Understanding Design aims to demystify the field of design and highlight its multidisciplinary nature. Design can be interpreted in multiple ways, and this course creates awareness of its core principles and vast scope. Through engaging lectures, real-world case studies, and project-based activities, the course establishes the profound relevance and value of design, exploring how it impacts society, industry, and the environment.
This course is perfect for anyone curious about what design truly is and why it's a critical skill in today's world. Whether you're an engineering student looking to enhance your problem-solving toolkit, a management student aiming to understand user-centric innovation, or simply a creative mind eager to understand the discipline, this course is for you.
Who Should Enroll?
- Undergraduate Students from Engineering, Design, and Management streams.
- Professionals seeking to collaborate effectively with designers.
- Anyone with curiosity about the designed world around them.
- Individuals interested in the intersection of art, technology, and society.
Course Layout: A 4-Week Learning Journey
The course is structured into seven insightful modules spread over four weeks, providing a holistic view of design.
| Week | Modules | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Module 1: An Introduction to Design Module 2: Users and Context | Foundations of design, understanding the user, and contextual analysis. |
| Week 2 | Module 3: Design and Society Module 4: Design and Sustainability | Social impact of design, ethical considerations, and sustainable design principles. |
| Week 3 | Module 5: Design and Industry Module 6: Design and Collaboration | Design's role in business, innovation, and the power of collaborative processes. |
| Week 4 | Module 7: Innovation by Design | Synthesizing learning to understand how design drives meaningful innovation. |
Essential Reading & Resources
The course draws from a rich bibliography of foundational design texts, recommended for deeper exploration:
- Norman, Don: The Design of Everyday Things
- Heskett, John: Design: A Very Short Introduction
- Papanek, Victor J: Design for the Real World
- Brown, Tim: Change by Design
- Lawson, Brian: How Designers Think
- Additional resources from D'Source, IDC, IIT Bombay
Why Take This Course?
In a world increasingly driven by innovation and user experience, understanding design is no longer a niche skill—it's a fundamental literacy. This course offers a unique opportunity to learn from a pioneering practitioner at a top-tier institution. You will gain:
- A clear framework for understanding the design process.
- Insight into how design creates value for people, businesses, and the planet.
- The vocabulary and perspective to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
- Inspiration from global and Indian case studies, including Prof. Sabnani's own groundbreaking work.
Embark on this four-week journey to unlock the principles of design and discover how this powerful discipline shapes everything from the objects we use to the societies we live in.
Enroll Now →