Business Services and System Design
(B.Des 4 Year UG Program)

The Business Services and System Design (BSSD) course prepares you to design innovative and sustainable businesses, services, and systems that address complex challenges in today’s interconnected and interdependent world. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach that includes human-centred design, social innovation, and technology, you will develop the skills to be perceptive participants and facilitators within systems, enabling the creation of new, business-ready services. You will also gain a holistic perspective crucial for success in today’s dynamic and interdependent landscape. Upon completion of the course, you will be well-prepared to pursue careers in fields such as design consultancy, service design, social innovation, retail design, business model innovation, and project management.

All natural and manmade systems are interconnected and interdependent on all existing systems. Keeping this crucial fact in mind, we need to think and envision beyond conventional and known boundaries.

Products as we know them no longer exist as individual and stand alone function performing objects but also as ‘platforms’ that are part of a larger system of interconnected products that aim to facilitate and serve us.
Innovation in Information and Communication Technology has given rise to multiple businesses, systems and services that offer us options as we go about our everyday lives. From choosing the kinds of transport to get to work to aggregated security and facilities offered to residents by apps like ‘Mygate’ as well as online retail and banking platforms are examples of choices that consumers have today. However, as we advance into the era of smart ecosystems, it is crucial to question the long term impact of our choices across socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors. Thus, the challenge lies in innovation and problem solving using multi-disciplinary convergent thinking and ensuring that we are not inadvertently creating new problems for tomorrow. It is also important for us to be mindful of the resources and all stakeholders involved.

The course enables designers to create new scenarios for businesses, systems and services using service design and research tools and to become sensitive to the broader impact and outcome of these interventions. The course will draw from the disciplines of human-centred design, social and grass-roots business innovation and information technology. The aim is to acquire integrated learning to nurture holistic approaches necessary in today’s dynamic and interdependent scenarios.

The curriculum comprises of different ways of learning as follows:

1. Foundation introduces students to basic principles and tools of Art, Design and Technology as methods, tools and processes. Read more >>
2. Disciplinary Studios are learning spaces where students develop core disciplinary capabilities, while navigating a trans-disciplinary environment
3. General Studies is a common and compulsory programme of study that integrates Humanities, Sciences, Maths, business and finance. Development and Policy Studies and also offers Languages (Spanish, French and German) Read more >>
4. Interim is an immersive introduction to practice in new and emerging areas of art and design and environmental exposure
5. Electives are of three kinds – this program allows students to expand their skills, develop the interests as well as provide opportunities for travel exchange
6. Internship/Apprenticeship is compulsory work experience done over the summer-break between the 6th and 7th semester
7. Project based learning involves the application and synthesis of capabilities acquired. Two projects, pre-thesis and thesis, is culmination of the 4-year undergraduate program, which allows for demonstration of an integration of values, positions, capabilities and practice. Read more >>

You will gain an understanding and appreciation of design-thinking theories, methodologies, and advanced skills through mentor-led design studios, workshops, and charrettes. You will also delve deeper into complex real-world problems through research, analysis, and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data, looking for patterns and considering your place in a larger global context. This process will also allow you to explore the practical applications of these concepts in various sectors such as agriculture, health, information technology, and more. The emphasis throughout will be on inclusion, sustainability, and frugal design.

CAPABILITIES

Upon successful completion of this course graduates will have developed the following capabilities:

Research and analyze:

• To observe without bias, and to simulate scenarios in order to extract information
• To be able to position oneself in diverse contexts in order to draw valuable insights
• To have the ability to position oneself in a larger global context

Synthesize and Envision:

• Ability to identify patterns within systems and services both apparent and beyond the obvious
• Capability to make connections between seemingly unconnected components

Evolve and Reflect:

• Have the ability to experiment, make, and be open to critical feedback in order to generate insights and opportunity areas to push boundaries.
• Have the capability to collaborate and also be open to critical feedback from all stakeholders

What is Business Services and System Design?

Business Services and System Design is a course for those wanting to create sustainable businesses, services, and systems to tackle complex challenges. This course teaches students how to innovate and develop solutions for global issues, including sustainability and efficiency. It covers topics such as design thinking, system analysis and design, and project management. Through hands-on experience, students will learn to apply these concepts to real-world problems and create positive change through effective and sustainable businesses, services, and systems.

Is this course suitable for me?

This course is suitable for individuals interested in learning how to create innovative and sustainable businesses, services, and systems to address complex challenges facing the world today and in the future. It may be particularly suitable for individuals who want to work in sectors such as business, technology, and social impact, or for those who have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to learn how to design and build effective and sustainable solutions.

What opportunities do I have after completing this course?

The above mentioned capability sets could lead to opportunities such as:

• Employment in Information Technology industry which focus on integrating application and infrastructure
• Employment in design studios, R&D, product development teams in small and large companies
• Employment in start-ups, small and medium enterprises, NGOs & social enterprises
• Employment in infrastructure development and planning agencies
• With a strong will and a belief in your ideas you can become a practitioner, entrepreneur or a design consultant by becoming part of larger teams working towards emerging future scenarios in domains such as retail, infrastructure, healthcare, education and many more
• Higher studies options: Masters in service design, environmental and sustainability studies as well as design management.