Design Thinking for Data-Driven App Development End Term: 13 September 2026 (May 2026 term)

Read the problem statement and imagine your target customers. Start by understanding the given problem. Then, identify the issues to be addressed. Think of ideas and sketch a prototype on paper. Finally, show how it solves the problem and suggest improvements. You may use the answer sheets in either portrait or landscape mode. Follow the same mode throughout. Do NOT exceed 10 pages.

Using the Karmic Design Thinking (KDT) framework, complete the following:
1. Identify who you are designing for, and what is missing because people are never bored anymore. Explain why it matters now, and list the problems to solve. 2. Synthesize insights and articulate what core conflict users face and develop 2-3 How Might We questions that opens space for solution ideas. 3. Suggest 3-5 product ideas and then choose one primary concept. Explain how your product brings boredom back and how you would create an experience that is engaging because it is boring. Describe the trade-offs you would make. 4. Draw a simple sketch of the designed product or service (No visual polish needed, focus on clarity and flow.) 5. Briefly describe the iterations, and what success looks like. Suggest how you would measure “boredom achieved.”
Guidelines:
• What do you mean by “people experience boredom in a meaningful way”?
Boredom means allowing moments of “nothing much happening,” and intentional stillness. It does not mean a lack of purpose or repetitive monotony. The goal is to create space that may enable creativity, imagination, and happiness.
• What kind of product or service needs to be designed? It can be physical or digital, such as an app, device, system, process, or flow. Your design should clearly connect to the given problem.
• Who can you design for? You can choose any domain, and any target customers. Make reasonable assumptions about your target customers. Your approach should be human-centred.

Agile and Design Thinking share several characteristics that bridge product execution and user-centric problem-solving. Which of the following elements represent these shared characteristics?
1. Learn from the user experience 2. Prioritize comprehensive documentation before execution 3. Balance team efforts 4. Adhere strictly to a fixed, linear project scope 5. Understand the problem and engage in repeated improvement
Select the correct answer from the options below:

Which of the following represents the correct chronological sequence of the standard phases in a project management lifecycle?

In KDT - Customer Journey Mapping (CJM), why is it critical to explicitly document the user's emotional state alongside their physical actions?

Which of the following tools and frameworks are used in combination during the Analyze phase of Karmic Design Thinking?
1. Multi-Why Analysis 2. Conflict of Interest mapping 3. IF-THEN-BUT framing 4. HMW questions 5. Multi-Way Analysis
Select the correct option using the codes given below:

In the context of the Karmic Design Thinking process, what is the primary objective of "bulletproofing" before moving into full-scale prototype development?

In the context of the KDT process, the Test phase is primarily categorized as what type of thinking activity?

Which of the following commercialization activities is/are essential to convert intellectual property into financial returns and market dominance?
1. Licensing 2. Enforcement
Select the correct option using the codes given below:

When embarking on website development, how does the choice of a specific site-building platform primarily impact the project lifecycle?

A user interacts with an online ticketing app. They experience frustration during the complex seat-selection process, but checking out is incredibly smooth, and the app displays a delightful, celebratory animation upon securing the ticket. Based on Kahneman’s Peak-End Rule, how is the user most likely to remember the app?

A website built with "responsive design" will automatically adjust its layout and content based primarily on:

An email application automatically detects the phrase "I have attached" in your email body. If you attempt to send the email without an actual file attached, a pop-up appears warning you. Which TRIZ principle does this feature could possibly demonstrate?

An app developer spends ₹20,000 on a social media ad campaign. The campaign generates 500,000 impressions, 1,000 clicks, and 250 app installations. What is the Cost Per Install (CPI)?

A software development company creates a highly efficient, proprietary algorithm for routing delivery trucks. To maintain their competitive advantage, they decide not to publish the details of the algorithm, not to register it and restrict access to a few key employees with non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). This form of Intellectual Property protection is known as:

In the PRESENT method for effective storytelling and pitching, a narrative is structured around "Context, Conflict, and Solution." What is the specific purpose of the "Conflict" in this framework?

This delicious, zero-waste "Scoff-ee Cup" (a play on the word meaning “to eat quickly”) eliminates the need for dishwashing and reduces plastic waste. Which TRIZ principle does this possibly represent?

The phases of Karmic Design Thinking are linked to which foundational Buddhist teaching?

A junior developer intern working at a large fintech corporation notices a flaw in how internal data is shared. During a weekend hackathon hosted by the company, she builds a prototype for a new internal tool to solve it and successfully pitches it to executives for company-wide rollout. This is a classic example of:

State whether the following is true or false: “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible.”

According to BIIG Leap discussed in the course, a newly developed prototype or feature is considered merely an "invention" and not “innovation” until it:

In what way can an alumnus of Design Thinking for Data-Driven App Development course continue to engage with Prof. Bala & Shyam? (Hint: Our course team wants to give you 1 free mark as a gesture of appreciation for completing this course! All the statements below are correct.)  [Select All as answer]
1. Joining as a Technical Lead Member in a startup, taking an active role in developing AI-powered tools that help companies innovate and bridge gaps in Intellectual Property. 2. Contributing to the creation of new courses that integrate Karmic Design Thinking and AI. 3. Applying for a TA position to build tutorials and guide project teams in bootcamps. 4. Joining them in community activities like language learning, Hapkido, Tabla, online baking classes, and creating podcasts.
Select the correct answer from the options below: