Design Isn't Taught.
It's Discovered.
We don't teach you to follow templates. We teach you to question them - to design experiences that shape culture, leverage technology, and center human needs.
A Design School Built on
First Principles of Learning
Center for Design Studies (CDS) follows a pedagogy inspired by Sri Aurobindo's philosophy of education - where learning is discovered, not delivered.
Nothing Can Be Taught
CDS creates environments where teachers guide exploration instead of transferring information.
The Mind Grows in Its Own Way
Learners choose paths aligned with their curiosity, inclination, and strengths.
From the Near to the Far
Every project builds upon what the learner already knows - grounding innovation in understanding.
Four Distinct Design Worlds
Each program at CDS functions as an independent design universe - grounded in first-principle thinking and shaped through real-world practice.
Communication Design
A professional practice-led program focused on branding, publication, typography and culturally rooted communication systems - where thinking precedes styling.
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Experiential Graphic Design
India's first structured undergraduate pathway in designing spatial narratives and immersive brand environments - where graphics move beyond surfaces.
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User Experience Design
A systems-oriented design education that goes beyond screens - shaping products, services and human processes through research and structured thinking.
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Motion Arts & Gaming
A narrative-driven program integrating motion design, world-building and generative AI workflows - preparing creators for cinematic and interactive futures.
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Guided by an International Board of Advisors
CDS is supported by globally respected design leaders who bring international perspective, academic depth and strategic direction into our evolving design ecosystem.
Dain Olsen
The Game School and NAMA, ArizonaDain Olsen is a national leader and specialist in media arts education with 35 years of experience as an instructor, administrator, and advisor. He currently serves as President of the National Association for Media Arts Education and is a faculty associate with the Game School at Arizona State University. Dain has authored a book for Routledge on media arts education and has served as a consultant and presenter for numerous states and organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the College Board, and the National Association for Media Literacy Education. Dain has also taught at Otis College and UCLA, and is an intermedia artist in video, sound, interactive, and multimedia performance.
Dmitry Kharshak
Dean, HSE University, St PetersburgProf. Dmitry Kharshak is an internationally recognized graphic designer, photographer, curator, publisher, and design educator with nearly three decades of experience in visual communication, branding, typography, and publication design. He serves as the Dean of the HSE Art and Design School, Saint Petersburg Campus, HSE University, Russia. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of PROJECTOR, an internationally acclaimed design and visual arts magazine, and has curated numerous international design exhibitions. Prof. Kharshak has taught and delivered lectures at leading universities across Europe, Asia, and India, and has served as a juror for prestigious international design competitions, including the European Design Awards and the Golden Bee Global Poster Biennale.
Mugendi Kanampiu M'RITHAA
Professor of Industrial Design at Machakos University, KenyaProf. Mugendi K. M'Rithaa is a globally recognized industrial designer, educator, and advocate for socially responsible and sustainable design. He is Professor of Industrial Design at Machakos University, Kenya, and UNESCO Chair on Cloud Computing for Sustainable Development. His work focuses on sustainability, inclusive and universal design, indigenous knowledge systems, participatory design, and design for social innovation. A former President of the World Design Organization and founding member of the Pan-Afrikan Design Institute, Prof. M'Rithaa has taught, lectured, and advised institutions across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, making significant contributions to design education and global design policy.
How Learning Actually Happens at CDS
Inspired by Sri Aurobindo's philosophy of education, our classrooms are designed to cultivate thinking minds - not obedient followers.
At CDS, learning is not delivered. It is nurtured.
- Faculty function as mentors, not information dispensers.
- Questions precede explanations - always.
- Assessment values thinking processes, not imitation.
- Each student follows a deliberately individual learning path.
Curiosity Before Curriculum
Projects and problems are introduced before theory. Curiosity opens the door - content follows.
Individual Learning Trajectories
Strengths are developed, not averaged out. Guidance adapts to the learner - not the other way around.
Understanding Before Originality
Deep research and first-principle thinking form the foundation of meaningful creative work.
Where Learning Meets Industry
The CDS Creative Studio functions as a live practice lab - where students collaborate on real briefs, experiment with production tools, and work within structured creative pipelines.
- Live Client Projects
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Mentored Production Cycles
- Portfolio-Driven Outcomes
Work That Reflects Depth & Process
A curated selection of student projects developed through research, iteration and studio-led practice.
A Legacy Built Through Disciplined Expansion
From its inception in 1988 to the establishment of CDS in 2021, the Sri Aurobindo Group of Institutes has evolved into a multidisciplinary academic ecosystem grounded in excellence.
Establishment of Sri Aurobindo School, Bhopal - founded to embody the ideals of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.
Launch of Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, strengthening commitment to healthcare education.
Establishment of Sri Aurobindo Institute of Dentistry, expanding into specialized clinical disciplines.
Expansion into multidisciplinary higher education - Technology, Pharmacy, and Management Institutes.
Inception of Center for Design Studies (CDS), introducing a focused academic model for contemporary design education.
In a remarkably short span, Sri Aurobindo Group of Institutes (SAGI) established itself as a trusted academic ecosystem - synonymous with excellence across diverse fields of study.
Leadership & Governance
Mr. Kinshuk Trivedi
Vice President - Sri Aurobindo Group of Institutes (SAGI)A Management Graduate from IMT Ghaziabad and an Engineer from SGSITS Indore, he transitioned into education leadership and social entrepreneurship after 2007.
Mrs. Chani Trivedi
Director - Sri Aurobindo Group of Institutes (SAGI)A seasoned management professional with over 15 years of experience in education management and human resources, MBA from Christ University, Bangalore.
A Space Designed for Creative Immersion
CDS operates within a structured academic campus environment - integrating studios, labs and collaborative zones into a unified creative ecosystem.
Dedicated Design Studios
Large-format studio environments structured for critique sessions, project development, model-making and collaborative design practice.
Production & Digital Labs
Equipped digital workstations, motion labs and technical infrastructure supporting visual communication, UX systems and interactive design workflows.
Collaborative Learning Spaces
Open discussion zones, seminar rooms and interdisciplinary spaces designed to encourage cross-program dialogue and peer learning.
Begin Your Journey Into Structured Creative Practice
Join a learning environment built on depth, discipline and industry integration - where design is treated as a serious pursuit.