Supporting the emergence of Indian design through design and innovation centres – A methodological approach

Abstract

In this article a set of strategic interventions developed through the Erasmus + KA2 project entitled ‘Design and Innovation Capacity Building in India/DESINNO’ which is under implementation within the action ‘Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education’ are presented. The approach developed brings together an historical overview of design in India, an overview of Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) and industry in relation to design in the country, a literature review of relevant emerging field in contemporary design, an overview of relevant sectorial reports from India and the European Union and fieldwork comprising of surveys and focus groups in India. This triangulation of the interventions chosen allows to move forward to the deployment of the strategy developed in three Indian HEIs. The maker movement, social innovation and grassroots innovation form a unity that is tailor made for the Strengths and Opportunities present in contemporary India. Design hubs, community makers spaces in HEIs, are the central pillar in this strategy. Additionally, the knowledge transfer to Indian academics and professional designers by European HEIs in an open and collaborative fashion aims to provide the necessary competences to support said design hubs.