NIMS University Hosts Workshop on Design Thinking, Critical Thinking, and Innovation Design

Dr. Sanjay Pattan Shetty conducting a session with NIMS University students.

February 10, 2025 – Jaipur, India – NIMS University successfully organized an insightful workshop on “Design Thinking, Critical Thinking, and Innovation Design” in Collaboration with Nims Sushma Innovation and Incubation Center at the Axel Pries Institute of Public Health & Biomedical Science. The session was led by Dr. Sanjay Pattan Shetty, Director of the Institute, who shared deep insights into structured innovation, problem-solving, and the practical application of design thinking principles.

Why Innovate & When to Stop?

Dr. Shetty emphasized that innovation is the key driver of individual and societal progress, enabling solutions to real-world challenges. He highlighted that true innovation must address genuine problems and bring value to society. However, he also underscored the importance of recognizing when to halt innovation—if an idea is no longer viable or does not produce the desired results, further investment of time, money, and effort may lead to unnecessary losses. He illustrated this with the example of ultrasonic planes, where continued investment despite clear limitations led to significant financial setbacks.

The Innovation Process

Dr. Shetty explained that successful innovation begins with a thorough understanding of the target audience and their real needs. Engaging with people, identifying pain points, and ensuring the innovation adds value to society is crucial. He also emphasized that fields like global health offer significant opportunities for impactful innovation, where solutions can lead to substantial improvements in public well-being.

Key Features of Innovation

Dr. Shetty outlined three critical elements that define successful innovation:

1. Desirability – The innovation must be something people truly want and find useful.
2. Feasibility – It should be cost-effective and accessible to a broad audience.
3. Viability – The innovation must align with existing policies to facilitate smooth execution and widespread adoption.

Stepwise Approach to Innovation Through Design Thinking

The workshop delved into a structured approach to innovation using Design Thinking, broken down into three key steps:

1. Empathy & Problem Identification – Understanding people’s needs and critically evaluating existing solutions to identify gaps.
2. Prototyping & Testing – Developing and testing a working model to refine and validate the innovation’s effectiveness.
3. Implementation – Scaling up the solution for maximum impact, ensuring it is sustainable and widely beneficial.

Engaging Q&A and Takeaways

The workshop concluded with an engaging interactive Q&A session, where attendees discussed the challenges of innovation, shared their perspectives, and explored ways to drive meaningful change. Dr. Shetty reiterated that innovation is not just about invention—it is a revolution that transforms the world by addressing real problems effectively.

About NIMS University

NIMS University is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship by providing research, mentorship, and incubation support to aspiring innovators. The university focuses on healthcare, technology, and sustainability, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration to develop breakthrough solutions that create a lasting impact on society.