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The Institute of Human-Centred Design · Since 2011
In fellowship with
DIC Hub, IIT HyderabadHuman-centred design for every school, college and institution.
HCD Institute embeds human-centred design and design thinking across schools, colleges and public institutions, through HCD Lab @ School, immersion programmes at DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad, and hybrid certifications for the AI era.
About the Institute
HCD Institute is a human-centred design school, founded in 2011 to take design education beyond design colleges, into every school, polytechnic and university. From foundation courses for students to executive education for leaders.
Our philosophy
Design thinking is a horizontal, not a vertical.
It is a creative tool that runs across every discipline. It helps us understand, ideate and solve, and build opportunities and systems. That makes it a cornerstone of every STEM stream: engineering, building things, starting up a business, research and plain curiosity.
One way of thinking, running through every field.
01
Understand
See people, problems and systems clearly before acting.
02
Ideate
Generate many possibilities, not just the first answer.
03
Solve
Test ideas with real people and refine what works.
04
Build
Turn ideas into products, ventures, services and systems.
Not just a path to a future in design. A way to be a creative innovator in every walk of life, from the lab and the start-up to public administration.
Flagship programme · DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad
HCD Lab @ School
A design thinking and innovation curriculum from DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad, run in your school's own rooms. In the timetable, at weekends or in vacation camps — your choice.
Run by your own teachers. They are trained through the Faculty Training Programme at DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad and supported all year by DIC faculty, and students earn a certificate from DIC, IIT Hyderabad. Board-exam years, Grades 10 and 12, are left out.
Route 01
Start with the rooms you have
No new building: jute soft boards, a blackboard and simple making materials turn an existing classroom into a design lab.
Route 02
Train your teachers
Your teachers join the Faculty Training Programme at DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad, then teach with DIC faculty support.
Then
Immersion at DIC Hub
Selected students join the five-day immersion at IIT Hyderabad, and strong projects may move to pre-incubation.
Flagship immersions
Five days at DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad.
For schools · Grades 9–12
Think like an innovator. Build like a founder.
A residential design thinking, entrepreneurship and innovation immersion for high-school students, ending in a live jury.
School immersion
For college students · UG & PG
Five days to learn how design really works.
From a large system to one idea with a venture case, with field research, an entrepreneurship workshop and two faculty juries.
College immersionProgrammes & certifications
Design education for schools, colleges, graduates and executives.
Graduates & postgraduates
Global Immersion
Publish original research, earn a DIC credential, and get structured support into Nordic universities.
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Certification · Leaders · 2 days
2-Day Executive Immersion
Lead in the age of AI. Use human-centred design and GenAI to find your next opportunity, test it fast and leave with a plan.
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Certification · Any role · Weekends
Weekend Design Thinking
The full design thinking process on a real problem, with AI tools at every step, without leaving your job.
Learn moreCertification · Hybrid
UX Design
Research, interaction design, design systems and AI experiences, ending in portfolio-ready case studies.
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Product Manager
Discovery, outcome-driven roadmaps, metrics and shipping AI features users trust.
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Certification · Hybrid
AI Product Owner
Agile product ownership with AI copilots, evals, guardrails and responsible AI.
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AI Communication
Brand voice, multimodal GenAI content, AI workflows and visibility in AI search.
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Certification · Next cohort 21 Nov
OD Certification
Organisation design & development for HR, OD and L&D leaders. 12 weeks, live online, anchored by Dr Deepak John Mathew.
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Diploma · six months
Diploma in Universal Design
A studio-led diploma for architects, designers, doctors, administrators and advocates, taught by HCD Institute.
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HCDx
Public Policy
Embedding human-centred design into public systems, making governance more people-centred and future-ready.
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HCDx
Schools & Colleges
Design thinking labs and AI-integrated programmes for schools and colleges, built on existing infrastructure.
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The Fellowship Journey
From insight to execution to impact.
A curated design education journey for students and graduates, guided by rigour, reflection and AI-native practice.
01
Cultivate
Sharpen perception, judgement and foundational thinking across design, communication, technology and strategy, building human insight and AI fluency.
02
Compose
Anchor in a primary archetype and curate complementary disciplines. Studio work, live projects and AI-assisted creation turn ideas into outcomes.
03
Ascend
Portfolio, positioning and transition. Learners define their professional identity and move into industry, entrepreneurship or advanced study.
The Institute
One institute. Four ways in.
Learn
Programmes for students, professionals, executives and institutions.
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Practice
Helping organisations and governments solve complex human problems.
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Universal Access
Accessibility audit, certification and training for public systems.
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Research
Articles, the HCD Toolkit and research from the Institute.
ExploreOur lead partner
In fellowship with DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad.
Design Innovation Centre Hub, IIT Hyderabad
HCD Institute is incubated at DIC Hub, IIT Hyderabad, and its programmes are delivered in fellowship with it: DIC's studios, faculty and certification sit at the centre of HCD Lab @ School and our immersions.
Work with HCD