Bottom-up Solution for Managing the Pedestrian Traffic on the PU-PGI road
The students participating in the Skill Enhancement Course on Design Thinking organised by Panjab University’s Centre for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (CSDE) with Design Innovation Centre (DIC) have provided solutions to the issue of pedestrian traffic on the PU-PGI road. Patients coming to PGI have to cross over to go to PGI, and similarly, in the evening, the PU students have to cross over to take the bus. Unlike other sectors in Chandigarh, there is no zebra crossing in the middle, whereas this sector has the highest human crossing. The student teams reviewed the situation to make suggestions to elevate the problem, along with comparative cost estimates.They shared their transformative experiences during the Valedictory Ceremony. The 30-hour course sensitised the students to develop solutions in a human-focused way.
The importance of the design triad – desirability, feasibility and viability – was emphasised to resolve problems confronting the twenty-first century world.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Arun Kumar Grover, Former Vice Chancellor of Panjab University, highlighted the role of universities in creating capable students by providing them with comprehensive education, critical thinking skills, practical application abilities, and personal development. He emphasised that CSDE and DIC should strive to scale up their initiatives further as centres for fostering innovation, critical thinking, and a skilled workforce.
Prof. Naveen Aggarwal, coordinator of DIC, shared in his keynote address three cases where their designed solutions failed because the needs and perspectives of the end users were not addressed. It is about socialising the design process by actively involving the people using the solution. He emphasised that there is no use in creating something novel if the same is not helpful to the end user. Design thinking offers meaningful and impactful solutions.
The valedictory ceremony concluded by awarding certificates to students for successfully completing the course.
