Design Thinking for Agricultural Implements

Design Thinking is an introduction to the process of generating creative ideas and concepts. It aims at finding ways and intellect used by the designers in order to initiate the method to finally develop a robust and sustainable product. Agribusiness looks towards innovation to counter the pressures due to drastic variations in climate and population density. Design thinking in building agricultural equipment emphasize on understanding the needs of the customers, farmers, workers and machine operators, to convert the ideas through a usable approach to develop a problem-solving activity or machine. The current course covers the step by step procedure to make agricultural equipment. Introduction to design, manufacturing, and product characteristics are catered in the starting weeks. This is followed by the design thinking process where creativity holds the key. Tasks for the students are given in the lectures, and examples and case studies are quoted for making the course palatable.

• Introduction to design thinking
• Product characteristics
• Design thinking model
• Empathize and define 
• Ideating
• Prototyping and testing

• UG and PG students of Agriculture and Allied Sciences
• Faculty of Agriculture Universities
• Agriculture Scientists in ICAR
• Professionals in State and Central Departments of Agriculture
• Specialists working in KVKs
• NGOs in Agriculture
• Progressive farmers/ farming community
   

• What is design thinking and when to practice it
• How design thinking helps to bring innovative ideas
• What are the functional and design parameters of a product
• Understanding customer & translating their needs
• Usability testing of a developed equipment

Qualifying students will be given certificates based on their involvement and performance. Participation certificate and Competency certificate will be issued by the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), IIT Kanpur, India and Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada.