HCD Institute × Design Innovation Centre @ IIT Hyderabad

DIC Micro-Diploma in Design Thinking

A 12-week intensive for working professionals and recent graduates — any discipline welcome. Build a rigorous, practice-led design thinking capability and earn a joint IIT Hyderabad + HCD Institute credential.

12 weeks

8–10 hrs/week

Max 20 seats

Online-first

IIT Hyderabad certified

Programme at a glance

Months · 12 modules

2+1

Foundation + Diploma project

Jury

IIT × HCD × Industry panel

Fellowship arc

Months 1 – 2

Cultivate

Observe · Frame · Make · Reflect. Studio, seminar, and field — three modes running in parallel.

Month 3

Compose

Your bespoke diploma project. A real problem, a dedicated mentor, a full design research process.

Post-programme

Ascend

Portfolio, alumni network, Iceland internship pathway, and advanced HCDx programmes.

Pedagogic lineage: NID / Prof. M P Ranjan’s Design Concepts & Concerns (field visits, systems modelling, Concept Mela) · Parsons Transdisciplinary Design (studio + seminar, role-shifting, wicked problems) · HCD Institute (AI-integrated, DIC-credentialed, India-rooted)

Weekly modules

Week 1

The designing self & what is design?

Observer

Week 2

Field observation & learning from context

Observer

Week 3

Systems thinking & modelling complexity

Modeller

Week 4

Problem framing & the design brief · Concept Mela

Modeller

Week 5

Visual language & design representation

Maker

Week 6

Human factors, ergonomics & usability

Maker

Week 7

Prototyping, testing & iterative refinement

Maker

Week 8

Business thinking & design strategy

Narrator

Week 9

AI-integrated design thinking

Narrator

Week 10

Critical thinking, systems futures · Mid-critique

Narrator

Weeks 11–12

Diploma project: research → prototype → jury

Researcher-Practitioner

What you walk away with

DIC Micro-Diploma

Joint credential from IIT Hyderabad (DIC) and HCD Institute

Studio portfolio

10 weeks of documented, jury-validated design exercises

Process book

A complete design research document — portfolio-ready

Mentor access

IIT faculty + HCD practitioner pool throughout

Global pathway

Iceland internship pathway via HCD’s Nordic partnerships

Career positioning

Product, UX, strategy, social impact, entrepreneurship

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a design background to apply?

What is the time commitment each week?

Can I choose my own diploma project topic?

What does "IIT Hyderabad certified" mean exactly?

What software do I need, and does it cost money?

Do I need a design background to apply?

What is the time commitment each week?

Can I choose my own diploma project topic?

What does "IIT Hyderabad certified" mean exactly?

What software do I need, and does it cost money?

What is the Concept Mela, and is it mandatory?

What is the Iceland internship pathway?

How is the programme assessed? Are there exams?

What can I do after completing the diploma?

How do I apply?

What is the Concept Mela, and is it mandatory?

What is the Iceland internship pathway?

How is the programme assessed? Are there exams?

What can I do after completing the diploma?

How do I apply?

HCD Institute × DIC @ IIT Hyderabad

hcd.institute · +91 85478 88709

Apply or enquire

Shaping human-centered businesses for the next 25 years.

Pl. de la Synagogue 5, 1204 Genève, Switzerland

DIC, IIT andi, Sangareddy, Telangana, 502285, India

dic@iit.ac.in

HCD Worldwide

About us

HCD School

Publications

Case studies

Certification

HCDx in Geneva

HCDx in Policy Building

Terms & Conditions