DESIGN
SUMMER
SCHOOL
2026.
Immersive hands-on design learning in the heart of Delhi.
The Design Summer School (DSS), organized by the Human-Centered Design (HCD) Association of IIIT Delhi, offers a series of interactive, expert-led workshops on design and related fields, including Human-Centered AI, Sensing, character sketching, photography, and XR/AR/VR design.
Curated for students, professionals, and design enthusiasts, this program provides a premium hands-on learning opportunity to build design solutions for real-world problems. Prepare for expert mentoring, high-impact tutorials, and networking with the brightest creative minds in Summer 2026.
Curated Days & Track Timeline.
The full schedule for Design Summer School 2026 is currently being finalized. Prepare for three days of immersive, expert-led workshops, keynote talks, and hands-on design challenges. Detailed session timelines and speaker assignments will be announced shortly.
DAY 01
Design Thinking & Ideation Processes
DAY 02
Creative Thinking, Sensing & HC AI
DAY 03
New Media, Videography & XR Realities
DSS Legacy & Moments.
A visual retrospective of the creative energy from previous Design Summer School editions. Through hands-on making, peer review, and interactive installations, participants transformed concepts into tangible realities.
Design Thinking & Ideation
The summer school launched with an inspiring opening ceremony and keynote address by Dr. Srinivasan Venkataraman from IIT Delhi. The talk established the foundations of design theory, creative cognition, and rapid ideation frameworks.
HCD & Interactive Research
Dr. Richa Gupta from IIT Delhi guided participants through the core principles of Human-Centered Design. Teams investigated real-world empathy mapping, interactive accessibility, and user-centric problem definitions.
AI in Design Thinking
An interactive, hands-on workshop led by Mr. Arunesh Singh of Superlinked. Participants experimented with state-of-the-art generative AI tools to accelerate design ideation, synthesize user data, and build initial concept drafts.
Character Sketching & Anatomy
Renowned Indian cartoonist Mr. Manoj Sinha introduced the fundamentals of character sketching. Attendees explored form drafting, facial proportions, and the basic skeletal structures that bring illustrated characters to life.
Visual Narratives & Cartooning
A deep dive session with Mr. Manoj Sinha on translating abstract concepts into cartoon strips. Participants learned how to sequence storyboards, apply humor, and use simple ink line-weight changes to convey complex expressions.
Design Methods of Creativity
Dr. Sonal Keshwani from IISc Bangalore conducted a structured workshop on systematic creative processes. Teams engaged in cognitive exercises to bypass creative blocks and applied engineering frameworks to brainstorm solutions.
Sensing & Cognitive HCI
Dr. Kalpana Shankhwar from National Taiwan University presented advanced research on human-computer interaction and cognitive design. The session focused on the translation of cognitive signals into intuitive interface designs.
Brain-Computer Interfaces
An immersive, live demonstration of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) led by Dr. Priyanka Jain and the Neuro-Cognitive AI & XR Group from C-DAC, MeitY. Participants conducted live EEG trials and experienced brainwave-driven feedback loops.
New Media Design & Arts
Dr. Gowdham Prabhakar from IIT Kanpur led a technical workshop on New Media Design using TouchDesigner. Attendees built projection mapping setups and designed interactive, audio-reactive digital installations.
Storytelling & Lens Curation
Senior NGMA photographer Mr. Bijendra Kumar and Mr. Anoop Ratn guided participants on depth of field, visual framing, and camera mechanics. The session explored how camera settings shape narrative perspectives.
Light Curation & Composition
Part two of the photography masterclass focused on studio lighting and composition. Mr. Bijendra Kumar and Mr. Anoop Ratn helped participants build complex visual stories and conducted critique sessions of peer photo submissions.
Mobile Photography & Videography
An active outdoor workshop led by Mr. Aman Samuel focusing on capturing professional-quality visual assets using mobile cameras. Attendees learned on-the-go framing, sound capture, and post-production techniques.
Multisensory Interface Technologies
Dr. Madhan Kumar Vasudevan from IIT Roorkee introduced advanced multisensory interfaces. The session examined haptic feedback, affective touch, and design evaluation frameworks to build products that appeal to multiple senses.
VR Systems & Interaction
Dr. Anmol Srivastava from IIT Guwahati led a technical session on virtual reality. Participants explored immersive spaces, calibrated head-mounted displays, and designed interactive haptic feedback loops in virtual scenes.
Our Mentors
Unleash your creativity and ignite your design passion. Dive into a summer of learning and connection with the industry's leading design experts.
Mr. Aman Samuel
MBA, University of Madras
Dr. Anmol Srivastava
Ph.D, IIT Guwahati
Mr. Anoop Ratan
MFA, Teerthanker Mahaveer University
Dr. Jainendra Sukhla
Ph.D, Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Dr. Kalpana Shankhwar
Ph.D, National Taiwan University
Dr. Pragma Kar
Ph.D, Jadavpur University
Dr. Richa Gupta
Ph.D, IIT Delhi
Dr. Sonal Keshwani
Ph.D, IISc Bangalore
DSS 2025
Swag. Snacks. Vibes.
Celebrate DSS 2025 with exclusive merchandise and a curated selection of gourmet food, designed for developers, innovators, and visionaries alike.
Register
Accommodations
Available
Accommodation Form and Fees need to be paid separately.
Shared accommodation is available for the duration of the summer school, charged separately.
Here is a step-by-step guide in PDF format.
You can view or download the document.
To avail the same, apply by 28th June 2025 on the portal
What to Bring
Stay ready for the 5-day DSS event and secure entry to IIIT Delhi with these essentials.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Srinivasan Venkataraman
Associate Professor, Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)
Dr. Srinivasan Venkataraman broad interests are in Design Creativity and Innovation, Design Theory and Methodology, Design Cognition, Design Thinking, Virtual Reality, Engineering Design and New Product Development.
Workshops & Sessions
by Guest Speakers
Session on Vivan : A Vibrant Brain by Dr.Priyanka Jain
Scientist F (Associate Director) & Head of the Neuro-Cognitive AI and XR Group, C-DAC, MeitY, Government of India.
We are honored to host Dr. Priyanka Jain, Scientist "F" (Associate Director) and Head of the Neuro-Cognitive AI & XR Group at C-DAC, MeitY, Government of India, for a special session titled "Vivan: A Vibrant Brain." With 24 years of AI research experience, recipient of the AWSAR-2019 Award, and leader of cutting-edge, government-funded projects in brain, computer interfaces and behavioral analysis, Dr. Jain has delivered over 25 invited talks, authored 73 research publications, secured 14 copyrights, and contributed to bilingual scientific literature. She will be accompanied by Mr. Tanmay Jain and Mr. Krishan Sharma for this insightful exploration of the human mind.
Session by Dr.Madhan Kumar Vasudevan
Assistant Professor, Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)
Dr. Madhan Kumar Vasudevan is Assistant Professor of Design at IIT Roorkee. He leverages haptics, HCI and computational neuroscience, especially affective digital touch, to enrich multisensory interaction and wellbeing. He earned his Ph.D. from IIT Madras, completed a UCL postdoc on an EU-funded contactless-haptics project, and received UCL's Healthy Ageing Challenges Award.
Workshop on Character Design by Mr.Manoj Sinha
Leading Cartoonists in India
A cartoonist is a visual artist who specialises in drawing cartoons... There is one such man ,it has been said about him that - "he has got Ink directly from Saraswati Maa", a man with such persona is none other than Manoj Sinha, He started his journey from his native land Ranchi and is presently based in Delhi. working with the Hindustan Times Group, New Delhi.
New Media Design with Interactive Arts by Dr.Gowdham Prabhakar
Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur)
Explore real-time interactive media with TouchDesigner in this hands-on workshop on New Media
Design. Learn to create immersive experiences using sensors, projection, audio-reactive visuals,
and generative design; ideal for artists, designers, coders, and storytellers interested in
interactive installations and digital scenography.
Dr.Gowdham Prabhakar, Assistant Professor at IIT Kanpur and head of HIVE Lab, researches HCI,
robotics, and new media art. With a Ph.D. from IISc and postdoc at UCL, his work focuses on
embodied, multisensory tech and includes collaborations with firms like Kirloskar and Faurecia.
Use of AI tools in Design thinking by Mr.Arunesh Singh
Design & Growth at Superlinked
Arunesh brings 6.5+ years of design experience across startups and labs including Superlinked, Taxmann, and Weave Lab (IIIT-Delhi). His work blends HCI, UX, and AI-powered interfaces, making complex tech intuitive.
Visual Storytelling & Fine Arts by Mr. Bijendra Kumar
Sr. Photographer, NGMA | Artist & Educator
Bijendra Kumar is a seasoned visual artist and senior photographer at the National Gallery of Modern Art. With 15+ years across photography, painting, and animation, his work has been showcased in 60+ exhibitions and honored with awards like the CCRT Junior Fellowship and Lalit Kala Akademi accolades.