This workshop encouraged unique and imaginative thinking while working on an every day object.

Through this session one understood different design concepts and understand fellow designers. Attendees drew great knowledge from the work and learning from other designers.

The workshop covered the basic concepts of design innovation and methods in which designers can incorporate them into their practice.

The first half was an interactive lecture where participants solved simple brain teasers to find innovative solutions that promote out-of-the-box thinking. In the second half, participants were given a small design challenge to solve and was done using the tools that they learned about in the lecture. The task was to redesign an everyday use object but with an innovative design approach.

At the end of the design session participants shared their thoughts and design solutions with everyone and received feedback on their unique ideas.

About Heriot Watt University

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK Universities for business and industry. We connect with Industry at every level and develop programmes to match their needs – so employers get work-ready industry-fit graduates.

We are a truly global university and named by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide as International University of the Year 2018. Our global campuses are situated in some of the world’s most inspiring locations in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia. Each of our campuses offers superb facilities and a unique learning environment.

We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences – subjects which make a real impact on the world and society.

About Malini Karini

Malini Karani is the Director of Studies for Interior Design (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

Malini obtained her Bachelor in Interior Design from American University in Dubai and her Master's in Architecture from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She has practiced as an architect and interior designer in Dubai for seven years and has been involved in academia for 15 years across the MENA region. Some of the projects she worked on in Dubai include Etihad Mall, Times Square Mall, retail branches of Barclays Bank and luxury villas in Emirates Hills.

At present, she is completing her PhD in Architecture from Cardiff University, UK, in the field of Vastushastra / Indian Architectural Theory. She has successfully published research papers on this subject and constantly aspires to spread the essence of traditional architectural theories whilst continuing to embrace contemporary design