RIVER OF POSSIBILITIES

Course Overview

The River of Possibilities was an open elective course co-hosted with Arjun Kamdar at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. The course attracted 16 participants spanning different design disciplines and a mix of bachelor's and master's students, creating a rich interdisciplinary environment for exploring water management challenges through design.

Course Structure & Methodology

• • Systems Mapping: Participants mapped water systems at various scales, and also listed factors affecting the system.
• • Stakeholder Analysis: Students identified and analyzed the human and non-human stakeholders involved in water management, including government agencies, communities, industries, and ecosystems.
• • Speculative Scenarios: Using future forecasting techniques, participants developed speculative scenarios for aquatic ecosystems in 2050.
• • Prototyping Solutions: Teams created physical and digital prototypes of interventions that could address water challenges identified in their research.
• • Participatory Workshops: The course included community engagement through workshops with local water users and experts.

Field Research & Exploration

The course incorporated extensive field research to connect theoretical concepts with real-world water systems. Students visited local water bodies, fish markets, and processing facilities to understand the complete ecosystem of water use and management in the region. These field experiences provided valuable insights into the cultural, economic, and ecological dimensions of water resources.

Interdisciplinary Approach

The course deliberately brought together students from various design backgrounds—including industrial design, communication design, textile design, and interaction design—to foster cross-disciplinary thinking. This diversity of perspectives enabled rich discussions and innovative approaches to water management challenges that transcended traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Learning Outcomes

• • Systems Thinking: Students developed the ability to analyze complex water systems and identify leverage points for intervention.
• • Speculative Design: Participants learned to use design fiction and speculative approaches to envision alternative futures for water management.
• • Collaborative Skills: The course emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement methodologies.
• • Prototyping for Complexity: Students gained experience in creating tangible representations of complex systems and solutions.
• • Environmental Literacy: Participants developed deeper understanding of water ecosystems, management challenges, and sustainability principles.

Project Outcomes

The course culminated in a public exhibition where student teams presented their speculative water management solutions. Projects ranged from community-based water monitoring systems to speculative infrastructure for water recycling in urban environments. The exhibition engaged the broader design community and local water management stakeholders in conversations about possible futures for sustainable water use.

Collaborators