| Subject | Design Dissertation |
| Session | 2024-25 |
| Date | 12th August, 2024 |
| Time | 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Venue | Conclave I |
| No. of Faculty | 13 |
| Faculty Coordinator | Prof. Ajita Deodhar |
| Attendees | Faculty members at PiCA |
| Speakers invited | Prof. Ritu Deshmukh |
A Guest Lecture by Prof. Ritu Deshmukh was organized for the faculty members of Pillai College of Architecture on 12th August 2024. The session focused on exploring the depth of research and guiding faculty on how to mentor students in effectively incorporating research into their design dissertations. Prof. Ritu Deshmukh emphasized the importance of fostering a research-driven culture within the college starting as early as the 3rd year, ensuring that students’ work is purposeful and relevant to real-world challenges.
The lecture highlighted the significance of selecting research topics that resonate with students, whether from government-proposed projects, personal passions, or socially relevant issues. Prof. Deshmukh discussed the importance of evaluating the feasibility and scope of a topic to ensure it contributes to existing knowledge. She shared that research can emerge from various sources, such as daily observations, historically significant places, societal and infrastructure challenges, or global trends. Additionally, she underlined that research outcomes do not necessarily have to be large in scale, but must reflect a sense of belonging and relevance to the community.
Prof. Ritu Deshmukh further delved into research methodology, stressing the value of a structured literature review to understand the “what, how, and where” of the research. She also emphasized the role of case studies in grounding the research in a real-world context. Faculty were encouraged to guide students in creating meaningful research outcomes that demonstrate a connection to the community and address practical needs. Throughout the session, there was an emphasis on rethinking traditional research processes to align with today’s challenges and the importance of managing time effectively during the research journey.
The session concluded with a reminder that faculty has an important role in guiding students toward research that supports their design dissertations and addresses broader societal issues. By encouraging critical thinking and originality, faculty can help students create meaningful and impactful design solutions.
