Teaching Experience at UID
Teaching Interaction Design
Teaching and Designing lessons to push the boundaries of Interaction Design Education.
At UnitedWorld Institute of Design (UID), Karnavati University, I taught the Interaction Design class, encompassing about 48 students each semester. I wanted the class to become a space for the students (and by extension, me) to research, ideate and prototype riveting Interaction Design projects. I've taught 200 students each semester (for 3 semesters) for over 800+ hours.
Subjects I’ve Taught
At the Interaction Design Department of UID, Karnavati University, I taught courses that I had an expertise in. Given my background in Electronics and Communication Engineering and Masters in Interaction Design, I took up subjects that blends my interest, my knowledge and what was required in the team
Apart from these, I have also pitched in a few subjects and electives:
In addition to my academic responsibilities, I actively participated in various administrative tasks. My involvement ranged from curriculum development to preparing NAAC documentation. This experience has allowed me to contribute to the overall educational framework and ensure quality standards are met.
Interaction Design is one of the hardest design verticals to master since it is humane and yet requires certain objectivity. My goal is to make Interaction design feel both objective and experimental at the same time. With all my classes, I follow these principles:
Making it engaging
I use a combination of short lectures, group activities, and games to make the learning experience engaging and exciting for (most of) the students.
Feedback
I believe in giving consistent and detailed feedback to students, at a micro and macro level. Not just based on their current project, but also how they can improved since previous semester.
Explorations
With the ever changing technological landscape, I give the students space to explore when it comes to testing, designing and prototyping their designs and break the boundaries
Updated
I also make sure that the students are adapting to the current resources and tapping into new ways to bringing their ideas to life- whether it means exploring MR, or AI
Logics via Games
I start every lesson with teaching Logics to students. This came handy in the subject- Interactive Data, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence and Creative Coding. Since most of the students find it hard to start coding and bringing their ideas to life, I start the class by teaching basic logics via Scratch in a group, disguising coding basics. This ended up honing their technical craft skills and helped them express their personalities via the games they build.
Going beyond Pixels
I love encouraging my students to explore diverse ways to prototype their designs and bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s through film, origami, physical models, or even Minecraft, I believe there are endless possibilities for creativity! For me, interaction design isn’t just about “pushing pixels.” It’s a journey that begins long before users engage with a design and continues even after they’ve finished their experience, leaving a lasting impression in their memories.
Zooming in, Zooming out
Personally, I believe that as designers, we should always focus on doing projects that have a social impact at the end. Whether it is by designing for a culturally contextual problem or a marginalized community of India, I keep pushing my students to take up projects that are culturally relevant and ask them to engage with the people involved on ground.
Having fun: Going Beyond Classes
Design being close to many people’s hearts, I make sure that students don’t miss out on having fun while they’re studying and when we’ve been working on projects. We do that by sometimes going out and watching movies once in a while
Core Responsibilities
My core responsibilities entailed the following:
Teaching courses to undergraduate Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) students of Interaction design
Mentoring thirty students for portfolio development and career guidance
Coordinating and maintaining research outcomes and projects for IxD Dept
Keeping a repository and directing students to relevant conferences and design competitions
Research and Mentorship
Research Papers I have undertaken several research projects and had the privilege of guiding students in Interaction Design (IxD). Some of our research papers were even published at international conferences, showcasing our findings and contributions to the field. This experience not only enriched my own knowledge but also allowed me to support the next generation of designers in their academic journeys.
Accepted in 10th International Conference on Research Into Design (ICoRD‘25)
1. Fostering Collaboration and Effective Group Learning: A Framework for Design Education | Diksha Singh, Arun S
2. Bridging the Digital Gap, Tailoring Smartphone Experiences for India's Elderly | Sanjana Baweja, Diksha Singh
3. Tastes of Travel: Gastronomy Tourism in India | Saakshi Bakliwal, Diksha Singh
4. Empowering Young Minds: Engaging Financial Education Through Interactive Games for Indian Schools | Sakshi W., Diksha S.
Oral Presentation in International Conference on Chemical Safety & Security for Health & Environment, Gujarat, India ‘23
1. Measuring, Managing, and Minimising Carbon Footprints: Innovative 'Carbon Zero' App Concept | Arnav D., Diksha Singh
2. From Waste to Wellness: Digital Innovative App Solution Reshaping India's Food Landscape | Tanaya Naik, Diksha Singh
Mentorship I have had the privilege of mentoring over 60 students during my tenure as they navigate their academic and professional journeys. This experience has been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to guide and support them in reaching their goals while fostering their growth as future leaders in their fields. Some of my students have gone to various academic and professional journeys:
Other Learnings
Moreover, I also attended Faculty Development Programs (FDPs) at my time in UID:
Outcome Base Education (OBE) and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching
Research Skill Development Program
Mapping the Future of Communication Design Pedagogy
Academic Documentation and Assessment Planning
Participated in Research-o-pedia
Faculty Assistant in ADW for Björn Dahlman, Clowning Chronicles
Teaching: The Ultimate Learning Experience
Teaching is the best way for me to learn! Every time I lead a lesson, I discover something new. I love finding fun and effective ways to improve my teaching, and I enjoy tweaking my lessons every week. UID has been an awesome place for me to experiment and try out new ideas.
