Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  

for  Grade  6  to  12    
FAQs  and  Introduction  
202  
 
 

 
 

     
 
 
 
CBSE,  New  Delhi    
 
   FAQs  and  Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  and  
Innovation  Curriculum  in  Schools  
2022  
 
  1.0     Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  in    
    Schools:  
 
1.1       What  is  Design?  
1.2         Who  is  a  Designer?  
1.3         What  is  Design  Thinking?  
1.4           What  is  the  Design  Thinking  Process  
1.5     Who  is  a  Design  Thinker?  
1.6         What  is  Design  Innovation?  
1.7     Why  should  a  student  opt  for  this  curriculum?  
1.8     What  areas  or  specialisations  of  design  can  one  pursue?  
 
 
2.0     Aims  and  Objectives  of  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation    
    Curriculum:  
 
2.1   What  is  the  overall  vision  and  aims  of  Design  Thinking  and  innovation    
        Curriculum?  
2.2     What  are  the  learning  objectives  and  competencies  of  Design        
    Thinking  and  innovation  Curriculum?  
2.3     How  does  the  focus  of  the  curriculum  change  from  grade  6  to  grade  12?  
2.4     Which  student  can  opt  for  the  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  curriculum?  
 
     
3.0     Implementing  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  in  Schools:  
 
3.1       How  is  the  content  for  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  made    
    available?  
3.2   How  will  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  be  implemented  in  Schools?  
3.3     How  is  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  taught  and  assessed  in    
    schools?        
3.4     What  infrastructure  do  schools  need  for  conducting  Design  Thinking  and    
    innovation  classes?  
3.5     Who  will  be  the  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  specialist  at  your  school?  
3.6     What  will  the  impact  of  implementing  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation    
    curriculum  in  Schools?  
 
   
4.0     References  

1  -­‐  Page   FAQs  &  Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  &  Innovation  Curriculum  –  Grade  6                    CBSE  2022  
 
 
  

1.0     Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  and  

Innovation  in  Schools:  
 
___    
1.1         To  understand  what  is  design,  let’s  look  at  quotes  by  designers:  
What  is  Design?    
   
“Design   is  solution  to  a  problem”    
  -­‐  John  Maeda,  Designer  and  Teacher  

   
  “Essentials  of  design  are-­‐  purity,  precision,  details  ”  
-­‐  Prof.  Sudhakar  Nadkarni,  Designer  and  Teacher  
   
“Design  is  thinking  made  visual”    
-­‐  Saul  Bass,  Graphic  Designer  
   
  “Design  is  plan  for  arranging  elements  in  such  a  
way  as  best  to  accomplish  a  particular  purpose  ”  
-­‐  Charles  Eames,  Designer  and  Film  Maker    
 
“Design  is  not  just  what  it  looks  like  and  feels  like.    
Design  is  how  it  works.”  
  -­‐  Steve  Jobs,  Designer  and  Businessman  
 
In  a  nutshell,  design  is  about  understanding  needs  and  being  sensitive  to  
issues,  identifying  problems  that  need  to  be  solved,  creating  innovative  
appropriate  solutions,  considering  aspects  of  sustainability  such  that  it  
makes  a  positive  difference  to  life  in  our  universe.  
___    
1.2         A  designer  is  a  highly  creative  person  who  enjoys  solving  problems.  A  
Who  is  a  Designer?   designer  also  needs  to  be  a  sensitive  human  being  empathetic  to  issues  and  
problems.    
As  a  designer,  you  will  learn  to  identify  problems,  think  of  a  creative  
solution  to  solve  it  and  show  and  demonstrate  how  this  can  be  done  such  
that  it  adds  value  to  peoples’  lives.  (Ref:  2)  
Design  is  part  of  the  creative  industry  and  has  many  options  for  you  to  
pursue,  such  as  Communication/Graphic  Design,  Product  Design,  Animation  
Design,  Automobile  Design,  Architecture  Design,  Environmental  Design,  
Digital  Design,  Textile/Fashion  Design,  and  such.    
So,  if  you  are  looking  for  something  which  will  give  the  creative  streak  in  
you  an  outlet  and  also  provide  you  with  innovative  problem-­‐solving  skills,  
design  may  be  the  option  for  you.  
___    
1.3         One  can  understand  Design  Thinking  as  a  method  to  solve  problems  using  a  
What  is  Design  Thinking?   process.    
A  process  that  first  understands  the  user’s  needs,  identifies  and  analyses  a  
problem,  and  research  relevant  information,  after  which  ideas  are  explored  
and  analyzed,  until  an  appropriate  innovative  solution  to  the  problem  or  
need  is  arrived  at.    
 
2  -­‐  Page   FAQs  &  Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  &  Innovation  Curriculum  –  Grade  6                    CBSE  2022  
 
 
  
 
Hence  Design  Thinking  could  be  viewed  as  the  process  that  translates  an  
idea  into  a  blueprint  for  something  useful,  whether  it’s  a  vehicle,  a  building,  
a  graphic,  a  service,  or  a  system.  (Ref:  2)  
___    
1.4   It  involves  the  following  five  phases  in  the  process  of  solving  a  problem:    
What  is  the  Design   1.  Observe/Empathize/Research,    
Thinking  Process?   -­‐  the  first  phase  helps  you  to  identify  needs  and  locate  issues  to  be  solved  
through  observation  and  empathy  
2.  Understand/Analyse/Define,    
-­‐  this  phase  of  the  process  helps  you  to  understand,  define  and  analyse  the  
problem  area  
3.  Ideate/Alternate/Create,    
-­‐  this  phase  helps  you  to  come  out  with  several  alternate  creative  
innovative  solutions  to  the  problem  
4.  Build/Prototype/Detail  and    
-­‐  this  phase  helps  you  to  actualize  the  solution  by  building  mock-­‐ups,  
creating  scenarios  and  then  prototyping  and  detailing  
5.  Evaluate/Reflect/Implement  
-­‐  the  last  phase  is  to  get  feedback  through  evaluation  so  that  the  
suggestions  can  be  implemented  in  the  final  solution.  
 

                                                                                                     

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1.5       A  Designer  Thinker  is  a  person  who  applies  the  Design  Thinking  process  to  
Who  is  a  Design  Thinker?   solve  problems  and  find  a  creative  innovative  solution  in  any  field  or  
  domain.  For  example,  you  could  apply  Design  Thinking  to  solve  problems  in  
  arts,  social  sciences,  law,  medicine,  engineering,  business,  etc.  It  could  even  
  be  applied  to  solve  problems  at  home  or  in  your  neighbourhoods  or  in  your  
  place  of  work.  If  everyone  could  adopt  this  method  to  solve  problems  then  
we  would  be  moving  towards  a  creative  society  that  finds  solutions  to  many  
of  its  problems.  
 
 

3  -­‐  Page   FAQs  &  Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  &  Innovation  Curriculum  –  Grade  6                    CBSE  2022  
 
 
  
   
___   Innovation  involves  the  implementation  of  something  new  and  replacing  or  
1.6   reframing  of  the  existing  mindset.  It  is  about  translating  a  concept,  idea,  
What  is  Design  Innovation?   thought  or  invention  into  artefacts  and  services  that  create  value  to  life.  It  is  
the  process  of  transforming  ideas  into  commercial  reality.  Innovation  plays  
a  major  role  in  society.  It  helps  us  cater  to  the  needs  of  people  that  arise  
from  constant  physical  and  emotional  changes.  It  helps  identify  the  crucial  
applications  of  technology  and  scientific  inventions.  
 
As  compared  to  Innovation,  Invention  happens  once  in  a  while.  However,  
each  Invention  may  produce  millions  of  Innovative  Products  –  like  the  
invention  of  Wheel  has  produced  and  continues  to  produce  Innovative  
Products  for  the  benefit  of  mankind.  Innovation  is  in  how  an  invention  can  
be  used  to  solve  problems.  Hence,  Design  pursues  Creativity  of  Innovation.  
 
___    
1.6   Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  will  assume  an  ever  more  important  role  to  
Why  should  a  student  opt   play  in  the  future  of  our  world.  This  will  help  address,  identify  and  solve  
for  this  curriculum?   problems  creatively  whatever  the  field  of  specialization.  It  should  be  useful  
to  find  solutions  to  issues  both  within  one’s  own  neighborhoods  and  to  
issues  at  a  national  or  global  level.  It  will  also  be  a  useful  tool  for  us  to  move  
towards  a  creative  economy  in  the  coming  years.  
So  if  you  would  like  to  be  part  of  this  creative  innovative  practice,  do  opt  for  
this  subject.  
   
___    
1.7   Design  today  is  everywhere.  It's  driving  businesses,  cultures,  media  and  
What  areas  or   technology  and  making  sure  environments  (virtual  or  real)  are  easier  to  
specializations  of  design   navigate.  Design  is  integral  to  the  creative  industries  and  is  part  of  the  
can  one  pursue?   economy  driven  through  creativity  and  innovation.  We  could  categorize  the  
following  as  broad  fields  of  design  that  imbibe  various  specializations  within  
themselves.  These  are  some  of  the  options  for  you  to  pursue  as  part  of  your  
future  studies  or  as  a  carrier  option:  
•  Communication  design  (Animation,  Publication  Design,  Web  Design,  
Graphics  Design,  Printing,  Film  and  Video)  
•  Spatial  design  (Architecture  and  Interior  Design,  Environmental  Design,  
Exhibition  Design,  Set  Design,  Signage  Design)  
•  Industrial  Design  (Transportation,  Furniture,  Ceramics,  Products  and  
Packaging)  
•  Textiles  Design  (Fashion,  Accessories,  Jewelry)  
•  Craft  Design  (Material-­‐based,  Technology-­‐based)  
•  Digital  design  (User  experience  design,  User  Interface  design,  New  Media  
Design,  Game  Design,  AR/VR/MR,  Information  Visualization)  
•  Service  Design  (Social  Services,  Health  and  Wellness  Services,  Agriculture  
Services,  Public  Services)  
•  Design  management  (Design  Policy,  Design  Strategy,  Design  Planning,  
Transformation  Design)  
   
   
 
4  -­‐  Page   FAQs  &  Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  &  Innovation  Curriculum  –  Grade  6                    CBSE  2022  
 
 
  

2.0       Aims  and  Objectives  of  Design  Thinking  and  

Innovation  Curriculum:  
 
___    
2.1   The  overall  vision  of  the  DT&I  curriculum  is  to  be  able  to  instill  the  following  
What  is  the  overall  vision   in  the  students:  
and  aims  of  the  Design   •  Students  should  be  able  to  explore  their  sensory  abilities,  cognitive  
Thinking  and  innovation   abilities,  and  social  abilities    
Curriculum?   •  It  should  create  awareness  in  the  students  through  observation,  
discovery,  analysis,  experience,  collaboration,  and  reflection  
•  It  should  nurture  their  curiosity  and  enhance  their  explorative  abilities  
•  It  should  foster  creativity  and  innovation  in  students  
•  The  students  should  be  able  to  identify  problems  and  be  able  to  find  
solutions  
•  They  should  be  able  to  apply  design  thinking  processes  and  methods  to  
solve  various  problems  
•  They  should  be  able  to  learn  the  fundamentals/essentials  of  the  creative  
design  discipline  
•  The  focus  is  more  on  hands-­‐on  knowledge  learned  by  doing,  exploring  and  
acting  upon  challenges  discovered  within  their  surroundings  
 
•  In  addition,  DT&I  will  promote  socially  responsible  practice  through  
enlightening  the  students  with  ways  to  solve  problems  within  the  
Sustainable  Development  Goals  as  mentioned  by  the  United  Nations.    
•  The  course  will  also  help  students  derive  a  culturally-­‐rooted  
understanding  of  design  from  information  documented  under  the  Indian  
Knowledge  Systems.  
   
___    
2.2   The  students  should  be  able  to  do  the  following  after  taking  the  DT&I  
What  are  the  learning   modules:  
objectives  and   •  The  students  will  enhance  their  observation  skills  and  build  empathy  for  
competencies  of  the   issues  and  problems  concerning  users  and  our  environment  
Design  Thinking  and   •  The  students  will  improve  their  communication  skills  to  be  able  to  make  
innovation  Curriculum?   presentations  and  defend  their  ideas  and  thinking  with  confidence  
  •  This  curriculum  will  bring  in  sensitivity  to  various  aspects  of  design  
  •  The  students  will  be  able  to  identify  potential  problems  and  be  able  to  
understand  and  analyse  them  
•  The  students  will  learn  to  explore  creative  innovative  alternatives  as  
possible  solutions  
•  The  students  will  learn  how  to  create  solution  scenarios,  make  mock-­‐ups  
and  build  prototypes  
 
 
 
 
 

5  -­‐  Page   FAQs  &  Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  &  Innovation  Curriculum  –  Grade  6                    CBSE  2022  
 
 
    
___    
2.3   The  focus  of  the  curriculum  for  the  different  grades  are  as  follows:  
How  does  the  focus  of  the   •  Grade  6/7/8:  
curriculum  change  from   -­‐  Focus  on  exposure  and  discovery  
grade  6  to  grade  12?   During  Grade  6/7/8  the  students  get  an  initial  short  exposure  to  Design  
Skills,  Design  Sensitvity  and  Design  Thinking  Process  with  the  main  aim  of  
creating  an  interest  in  this  field.  
 
•  Grade  9:  
-­‐  Focus  on  concerns,  skills  and  sensitivity  
During  Grade  9,  it  involves  learning  Design  Skills,  Building  Empathy  with  
Analysis  and  application  of  Design  Thinking  Process  to  simple  Problem  
Solving.  
•  Grade  10:  
-­‐  Focus  on  creativity  and  problem  solving  
Grade  10  involves  further  learning  of  Design  Skills,  discovery  through  
Creative  Explorations,  Prototyping,  and  application  of  the  Design  Thinking  
Process  to  Contextual  Problems.  
•  Grade  11:  
-­‐  Focus  on  design  options  and  solving  problems  together  
Grade  11  will  introduce  students  to  different  fields/branches  of  the  Design  
and  Design  Thinking  Process  involving    projects  solving  Wicked  Problems.  
They  learn  to  work  collaboratively  and  discover  how  to  start  a  Design  
Enterprise.  
•  Grade  12:  
-­‐  Focus  on  application  and  execution  
in  Grade  12,  the  students  will  be  able  to  apply  Design  Problem  Solving  to  
different  Environments  followed  by  a  Semester-­‐long  Design  Thinking  
Process  Capstone  Project  where  they  will  get  a  chance  to  implement  all  that  
they  have  learned  during  the  Design  Thinking  and  innovation  curriculum.  
   
___    
2.4   Design  Thinking  and  innovation  is  open  to  all  students  who  would  like  to  
Which  student  can  opt  for   learn  about  this  field.  
Design  Thinking  and   It  is  being  introduced  as  part  of  the  skill  subject  as  per  the  mandates  of  the  
Innovation  curriculum?   National  Education  Policy  2020.  
The  curriculum  can  also  be  adapted  to  the  needs  of  children  with  disability.  
 

6  -­‐  Page   FAQs  &  Introduction  to  Design  Thinking  &  Innovation  Curriculum  –  Grade  6                    CBSE  2022  
 
 
  

3.0     Implementing  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  

in  Schools:  
 
___   The  content  for  the  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  curriculum  is  made  
3.1     available  through  these  four  documents  which  will  be  available  online.  
How  is  the  content  for    
Design  Thinking  and    
Innovation  made     1     2     3     4    
available?     FAQs  &   Student   Exposure     Teacher’s  
  Introduction   Task-­‐book   Slides   Manual  
 
 
1.  FAQs  and  Introduction    
This  document  will  provide  an  introduction  to  Design  Thinking  and  
innovation  as  well  as  answer  all  the  frequently  asked  questions  regarding  
this  new  subject  in  the  school  curriculum  
2.  Workbook    
This  will  comprise  of  an  introduction  to  the  subject,  its  vision,  learning  
objectives  and  competencies,  the  tasks  to  be  done,  grading  criteria,  
assessment  matrix,  Feedback  forms  and  references  
3  Exposure  Slides/Video    
Each  of  the  modules  will  be  supported  by  exposure  slides  or  videos  that  can  
be  accessed  by  both  the  teacher  and  the  students.  
4.  Teacher’s  Manual    
This  will  have  more  details  on  teaching  methods,  aims  and  objectives,  task  
sequence  flow,  task  details,  assessment  matrix  for  grading  and  evaluation  
forms  for  feedback.  
   
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3.2   DT&I  will  be  implemented  from  Grade  6  till  Grade  12.  In  Grades  6,  7,  8  the  
How  will  Design  Thinking   students  will  get  an  initial  exposure  to  DT&I  for  a  duration  of  18-­‐20  hours  
and  Innovation  be   such  that  it  can  create  an  interest  in  this  field,  nurture  their  sense  of  
implemented  in  Schools?   curiosity,  motivate  them  to  explore,  experiment  and  take  it  up  as  a  subject  
  to  pursue  from  Grade  9  onwards.    
  From  Grade  9  till  Grade  12,  DT&I  will  be  introduced  as  a  regular  subject  
comprising  of  various  related  modules  with  duration  of  160  hours  for  each  
grade.  The  recommended  duration  of  contact  hours  is  2:1  between  school  
hours  and  home  hours.  
All  CBSE  schools  are  eligible  to  introduce  DT&I  as  part  of  their  curriculum.  
   
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3.3   DT&I  learning  involves  playful  joyful  immersive  experiences.  The  students  
How  is  Design  Thinking  and   learn  through  experiential,  exploratory,  do-­‐it-­‐and-­‐learn  methods.      They  
Innovation  taught  and   learn  by  solving  contextual  problems.  They  will  explore  and  experiment  
assessed  in  schools?   with  creative  options.  The  students  will  work  together,  collaborate  and  
cooperate  while  finding  solutions.  The  classrooms  will  become  studios  
where  they  can  explore  different  materials  and  processes.  The  teacher  will    
 
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 be  like  a  mentor  who  supports  the  students  in  the  learning  and  doing  
process.    
It  is  recommended  that  3  periods  of  40  minutes  each  be  combined  together  
into  a  2-­‐hour  duration  for  the  DT&I  classes  such  that  it  gives  sufficient  time  
to  solve  the  given  task.  
The  learning  happens  through  exposure  to  the  subject,  solving  
problems/tasks  defined  in  the  workbook,  discussions  and  presentations.    
The  assessment  is  through  continuously  assessing  the  performance  of  
work/tasks  carried  out  by  the  students  throughout  the  academic  year.  The  
criteria  for  assessment  are  defined  in  the  workbook  for  each  of  the  tasks.  
 
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3.4   The  curriculum  has  been  structured  such  that  DT&I  can  be  taught  in  schools  
What  infrastructure  do   in  normal  classrooms.  Provision  should  be  made  for  students  to  work  
schools  need  for   together  in  groups  of  2  to  4.  Arrangements  should  be  made  to  put  up  the  
conducting  Design   student’s  work  on  the  walls  of  the  classrooms  to  facilitate  discussions  as  
Thinking  and  innovation   well  as  for  the  presentation  of  the  work.    
classes?   Computer  facility  and  access  to  the  internet  will  be  helpful  but  is  not  a  
must.  For  schools  without  access  to  the  internet,  the  Workbooks,  Teacher’s  
Manual,  and  the  Exposure  Content  can  be  made  available  physically  
through  printouts.  
The  Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  curriculum  is  easy  to  understand  and  
deliver  for  teachers.  And,  it  can  be  taught  in  remote  locations  with  limited  
resources  and  knowledge.  
   
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3.5   It  is  best  to  train  your  existing  teacher  to  implement  the  Design  Thinking  
Who  will  be  the  Design   and  Innovation  curriculum  in  your  school.  The  Teacher’s  Manual  is  made  
Thinking  and  Innovation   available  in  order  to  facilitate  and  support  this  activity.    
specialist  at  your  school?   CBSE  will  be  providing  training  to  teachers  of  the  schools.  
  The  DT&I  course  will  be  made  easy  to  understand  and  deliver  even  with  
  limited  resources.  This  will  facilitate  teachers  located  in  remote  areas.  
 
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3.6   This  subject  will  impact  in  the  following  ways:  
What  will  the  impact  of   •  The  Design  thinking  Process  will  impact  all  aspects  of  Schools  including  
implementing  Design   innovative  thinking  of  teachers  
Thinking  and  Innovation   •  This  will  help  a  large  number  of  schools  that  already  have  Atal  Tinkering  
curriculum  in  Schools?   Lab  and  need  to  integrate  this  process  for  productive  outcomes.  
•  This  will  help  to  ensure  focused  utilization  of  various  government  
schemes  and  policies  towards  design  and  innovation  
 
 
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4.0   References    
 
 
  Reference  1:  [Link]  
Reference  2:  [Link]
questions  
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Design  Thinking  and  Innovation  
for  Grade  6  to  12    
FAQs  and  Introduction  
2022  
 
Thank  You    
 
 

     
 
 
 
          CBSE,  New  Delhi  

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