Bhopal: A unique workshop titled “Introduction to Design Thinking” was jointly organized recently by the Child Rights Observatory Madhya Pradesh and the Art Design Teachers Forum. Held at Manjari Hall in New Market, the workshop was led by Dr. Ritesh Ranjan, Head of the Jagran School of Design.
The objective of the workshop was to introduce participants to the process of design thinking and explore creative ways to solve real-life problems. Through discussions, group work, and hands-on activities, the participants engaged in finding simple and effective solutions using the principles of design thinking.
Dr. Ritesh Ranjan described design thinking as a practical and human-centered approach that can be adopted to resolve almost any problem. He elaborated on its key stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.
What made this workshop special was the diverse group of 15 participants, including not only art teachers but also homemakers, school principals, a retired banker, and a 12th-grade student.
Participants brainstormed on making the first day of school more engaging
In group exercises, participants brainstormed on making the first day of school more engaging and welcoming for students. A recurring concern among teachers was the challenge of understanding students and creating a supportive environment. It was suggested that students should be involved in planning classroom sessions to instill a sense of responsibility and increase engagement.
Another major concern was the lack of recognition given to fine arts as a core subject—something neither students nor school administrations often take seriously. Student Vidhi Chouksey noted, “Children don’t want to study either at home or at school. Attending school feels more like a task than an experience.”
Participants included Shikha Saxena, Bhumika Singh, Bhawana Choudhary, Ankita Jain, Vishakha Sharma, Sonali Gupta, Vidhi Chouksey, and Aarti Sharma. Certificates were awarded to all attendees. Rashmi Saraswat shared information about upcoming initiatives, and the session was moderated by Sunil Shukla.
The workshop demonstrated how the design thinking approach can be a valuable tool for finding simple, thoughtful solutions across education, art, and everyday life.
