In September 2023, we collaborated with AIDENT Social Welfare Organisation to introduce Design Thinking methodologies into their educational programming. This transformative workshop focused on equipping their team with tools to create more inclusive and effective learning solutions, particularly for communities facing systemic barriers to education.
Project Overview
Our partnership with AIDENT centered on revolutionising their approach to educational program design. Through an intensive Design Thinking workshop, we worked with their team to develop human-centered solutions for complex educational challenges. The workshop emphasized three key principles: empathy-driven design, community-centered approaches, and iterative problem-solving methodologies. We engaged participants in practical exercises, including a case study focused on providing education to girls in rural Maharashtra. This hands-on approach helped demonstrate the real-world application of Design Justice principles in educational programming.
Snapshot of the Partnership
The workshop successfully introduced Design Thinking frameworks and Design Justice principles to AIDENT’s team. Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, participants learned to map their positionality, identify hidden biases, and engage communities more effectively in the design process. A key achievement was the development of comprehensive problem statements and opportunity frameworks for their educational initiatives.
To ensure practical application, participants were guided through a structured problem-solving framework:
- Empathise: Creating empathy maps and building user personas to understand the learners’ constraints, including time availability and access to resources.
- Define: Developing clear problem statements using structured templates, ensuring alignment with community needs.
- Ideate: Brainstorming creative solutions, such as alternative class schedules, mobile learning hubs, and community-led mentorship programs.
One of the focal points was a hands-on exercise where participants had to design an education program for 300 girls in Maharashtra, who had limited study hours and travel constraints. Teams were provided with real-world constraints, including a fixed budget and specific resources, encouraging them to think innovatively about solutions such as:
- Implementing mobile learning units to reduce travel barriers.
- Creating a rotational class schedule to accommodate students’ home responsibilities.
- Seeking local community support for subsidized transport options.
By the end of the workshop, AIDENT’s team had developed actionable solutions, reinforcing the effectiveness of applying Design Thinking methodologies in program design.
Impact Assessment
The partnership yielded significant transformations in AIDENT’s approach to program design. Participants learned to create empathy maps, build user personas, and engage communities more meaningfully in their educational initiatives. The workshop equipped the team with practical tools for democratising their design process and ensuring more inclusive educational outcomes. Through the integration of Design Thinking methodologies, participants developed enhanced capabilities in human-centered design approaches, gaining proficiency in community engagement techniques and iterative problem-solving. The team demonstrated particular growth in understanding how to apply Design Justice principles to their work, ensuring that their educational programs would better serve diverse community needs while addressing systemic barriers to access.
The collaboration fostered a fundamental shift in how AIDENT approaches educational program design. The team developed new competencies in creative problem-solving and learned to center community voices in their work. The workshop particularly emphasized the importance of considering cultural contexts and systemic barriers when designing educational interventions.
Key Takeaways
“This consulting project was a fantastic opportunity to explore Design Thinking with the senior leadership team at AIDENT. The workshop focused on reimagining what their work could look like, making the exchange of fresh ideas both important and necessary. It was exciting to have everyone be pushed beyond the usual boundaries and into new possibilities.”
– Kuhoo Tiwari, Lead of OFC’s Advocacy Vertical and Consultant on This Project
The partnership highlighted the crucial role of Design Thinking in creating more effective and equitable educational programs. Looking ahead, we anticipate AIDENT implementing these methodologies to develop more inclusive and accessible learning solutions for their target communities.