confluence of tradition in modernity- design approaches and design thinking
1. Confluence of Tradition in Modernity :
Design Approaches & Design Thinking
Dr. Saptarshi Kolay
Assistant Professor
Department of Architecture & Planning
Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
3. Design Approaches
Design Approaches are structured methods that guide how products and services are designed – from
understanding the user's needs to delivering the final solution. Each approach shapes how designers think,
collaborate, and iterate.
Role of Design Approaches
• Ensure the user remains at the center of the process
• Provide clear steps to tackle complex problems
• Enable efficient collaboration between
multidisciplinary teams
• Help balance tradition with innovation
6. Design Approaches : Waterfall Approach
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First formally introduced by Dr. Winston W. Royce in
1970, it is a linear and sequential method where progress
flows steadily downwards through phase.
Key Characteristics:
•Structured & Predictable
•Each phase is completed before the next begins
•Ideal for projects with fixed requirements and minimal
change
linear, problem-solving
7. A hierarchical approach breaking tasks from the top level to
the smallest components. Also known as Deductive
approach. It was originated by Francis Bacon and John Stuart Mill
Design Approaches : Deductive (Top-Down Approach)
8. A hierarchical approach breaking tasks from the top level to
the smallest components. Also known as Deductive
approach. It was originated by Francis Bacon and John Stuart Mill
Design Approaches : Deductive (Top-Down Approach)
9. A hierarchical approach breaking tasks from the top level to
the smallest components. Also known as Deductive
approach. It was originated by Francis Bacon and John Stuart Mill
Design Approaches : Deductive (Top-Down Approach)
10. An approach where small components are built or improved
upon and gradually integrated into a larger system. Also
known as Inductive approach. It was formulated by Aristotle
Design Approaches : Inductive (Bottom-Up Approach)
11. An approach where small components are built or improved
upon and gradually integrated into a larger system. Also
known as Inductive approach. It was formulated by Aristotle
Design Approaches : Inductive (Bottom-Up Approach)
12. Design Thinking
Design Thinking is a cyclical procedure introduced by Prof. Larry Leifer, Stanford University, in which we endeavor to
comprehend the user, challenge presumptions, and redefine predicaments to recognize alternative strategies and
solutions that may not be immediately evident with our preliminary level of comprehension.
Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that integrates the needs of people, the possibilities of
technology, and the requirements for business success.
Non-linear, iterative
13. Popularized by British Design Council Double Diamond
design process is a widely used methodology for identifying
a problem and developing a solution. This outcomes-based
framework encourages creativity and innovation while
focusing on the core issue and its impact on end-users.
Initially proposed by the British Design Council, 2005.
Diamond One — Discovering and Defining the Problem
Diamond Two — Developing and Delivering the Solution
The framework emphasizes the importance of both
divergent (exploring a wide range of possibilities) and
convergent (narrowing down options and making
decisions) thinking throughout the design process.
Double Diamond Method
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17. Urban Design
Building Level Façade Design
Product Design
Digital Animation
Urban Design : façade
Urban Design : navigation and pathway pattern
Building level: Facade design intervention
Product design: Toy design interventions
Digital paradigm: animation and game design
interventions
TRADITIONAL
PARADIGM
MODERN
PARADIGM
Co-learning
Co-design
18. Urban Design: Facade Analysis
1
The primary architectural style
followed in whole city was Maru–
Gurjara style, which directly
translates to the architecture of
desert.
Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India
Mishra, S. & Kolay, S.(2019) "Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India"; in Research into Design for a Connected World, Springer
19. Urban Design: Facade Analysis
Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India
Analysis Tool 1—Structural Relation
Mishra, S. & Kolay, S.(2019) "Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India"; in Research into Design for a Connected World, Springer
20. Analysis Tool 2—Operations of Transformation
Urban Design: Facade Analysis
Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India
Mishra, S. & Kolay, S.(2019) "Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India"; in Research into Design for a Connected World, Springer
21. Analysis Tool 3—the Semiotic Square
Urban Design: Facade Analysis
Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India
Mishra, S. & Kolay, S.(2019) "Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India"; in Research into Design for a Connected World, Springer
22. Analysis Tool 3—the Semiotic Square
Urban Design: Facade Analysis
Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India
Analysis Tool 4— Eye tracker
Mishra, S. & Kolay, S.(2019) "Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India"; in Research into Design for a Connected World, Springer
23. Cornice Roofscape
Massing Gateway
Pointed Arch
Signage
Moorish Arch
Visual Palette of Jaipur
Urban Design: Facade Analysis
Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India
Mishra, S. & Kolay, S.(2019) "Visual Perception of the Street Façade of a Historic Town: Case Study of the Walled City of Jaipur, India"; in Research into Design for a Connected World, Springer
24. Urban Design: Navigation and Pathway Pattern
Spatial Heuristic Evaluation Through Wayfinding: A Tale of Two Indian Cities - Jaipur & Jodhpur
Comparative Analysis of Jaipur & Jodhpur are done
A series of tasks were carried out as part of the real-world experiment within the chosen
area of study of the two cities including - Spatial tasks, Recall tasks in form of cognition mapping and questionnaires were
conducted.
2
Bhatt, A., Kolay, S. (2020). Spatial Heuristic Evaluation Through Wayfinding: A Tale of Two Indian Cities. In: Ahram, T., Falcão, C. (eds) Advances in Usability and User Experience. AHFE 2019. Advances in
Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 972. Springer
25. Jaipur
Jodhpur
Jaipur
Jodhpur
Urban Design: Navigation and Pathway Pattern
Spatial Heuristic Evaluation Through Wayfinding: A Tale of Two Indian Cities - Jaipur & Jodhpur
Tool Eye tracker
Bhatt, A., Kolay, S. (2020). Spatial Heuristic Evaluation Through Wayfinding: A Tale of Two Indian Cities. In: Ahram, T., Falcão, C. (eds) Advances in Usability and User Experience. AHFE 2019. Advances in
Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 972. Springer
26. Jaipur
Jodhpur
Mental map
Urban Design: Navigation and Pathway Pattern
Spatial Heuristic Evaluation Through Wayfinding: A Tale of Two Indian Cities - Jaipur & Jodhpur
Bhatt, A., Kolay, S. (2020). Spatial Heuristic Evaluation Through Wayfinding: A Tale of Two Indian Cities. In: Ahram, T., Falcão, C. (eds) Advances in Usability and User Experience. AHFE 2019. Advances in
Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 972. Springer
27. Building level: Facade design intervention
Blending traditional materials and techniques into manually operable contemporary façade design to achieve
comfortable indoor environment
Ventilation Natural Light Privacy
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A FACADE
3
Limbani, V. & Kolay, S.(2025) "Blending traditional materials and techniques into manually operable contemporary façade design to achieve comfortable indoor environment "; in International Conference on
Research and Development, IIT Hyderabad.
28. Building level: Facade design intervention
Blending traditional materials and techniques into manually operable contemporary façade design to achieve comfortable
indoor environment
• To create a controlled visual connection with the street.
• To Maintain privacy from the outside to inside
• To create facade for visual interest that gives eye catching
elevation patterns.
• To create a facade that gives a sense of ownership and
engages users.
• To give Manual control with minimal maintenance for user-
friendly façade.
• To utilize locally sourced eco-friendly facade material.
Objectives
Limbani, V. & Kolay, S.(2025) "Blending traditional materials and techniques into manually operable contemporary façade design to achieve comfortable indoor environment "; in International Conference on
Research and Development, IIT Hyderabad.
29. Building level: Facade design intervention
Blending traditional materials and techniques into manually operable contemporary façade design to achieve comfortable indoor
environment
Prototype
Limbani, V. & Kolay, S.(2025) "Blending traditional materials and techniques into manually operable contemporary façade design to achieve comfortable indoor environment "; in International Conference on
Research and Development, IIT Hyderabad.
30. Product design: Toy design interventions
Style Etikoppaka wooden toys from Andhra Pradesh – Chess pieces
4
31. Product design: Toy design interventions
Style Etikoppaka wooden toys from Andhra Pradesh – Chess pieces
32. Product design: Toy design interventions
Style Etikoppaka wooden toys from Andhra Pradesh – Chess pieces
33. Digital paradigm: Animation and Game design interventions
Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media
5
Kolay, S. (2015)"Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media" in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier
34. Digital paradigm: animation and game design interventions
Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media
Kolay, S. (2015)"Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media" in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier
35. Digital paradigm: animation and game design interventions
Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media
Design On New-media Platform
• To assess the local context, material-tools and techniques along with the elements and principles of design and
design philosophy, ethnographic visit was conducted in ‘Raghurajpur’ and ‘Nayagram’.
• Through the ethnographic survey conducted for the research it was evident that ‘Patachitra’ of ‘Raghurajpur’ village
of Orissa was part of the crop-harvesting ceremony, when artisans used to paint the façade of their houses
transforming them into an auspicious space.
Kolay, S. (2015)"Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media" in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier
36. Digital paradigm: animation and game design interventions
Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media
Two different animated movies, titled ‘Matsyanyaya’ and ‘Fish Tale’ are designed based on same story-board to test previously
describe five visual parameters
Kolay, S. (2015)"Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media" in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier
37. Digital paradigm: animation and game design interventions
Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media
Based on the Indian visual identify a digital game—‘Wrath of Durga’ is designed which won an award by Samsung. The story is
evolved from a popular mythology of Goddess ‘Durga’, whereas the game play interaction is contemporary.
Kolay, S. (2015)"Cultural Heritage Preservation of Traditional Indian Art through Virtual New-media" in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier
