Dr. Anisha Malhotra Dalvi
Associate Professor of Design
Anisha earned her Ph.D. in design from the IDC School of Design at IIT Bombay. Her doctoral research, 'Investigating the effect of collaborative structures on design problem-solving in children,' delved into how collaboration guides divergent thinking in young learners. She furthered her research at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR Mumbai, where she focused on the development of active learning resources for school students to introduce them to design and collaborative ideation. At HBCSE, she was also involved in engaging teachers in professional development programs and helping them enhance STEM education through design. With a keen interest in design pedagogy, she has several research publications in design journals and international conferences, based on themes such as co-creation and disciplinary practices in design. She has co-authored a unique design activity book aimed at nurturing design aptitude in children. Anisha's enthusiasm for working with children stems from their natural adventurous spirit, resilience, fearlessness, and eagerness to co-create and innovate. She believes that nurturing these qualities in young learners is key to fostering a new generation of creative thinkers and problem solvers.
An alumna of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, where she specialized in Information Design, Anisha brings a comprehensive and holistic approach to her research and teaching. She has taught at various design schools as well as to undergraduate students without a design background. Her work emphasizes play-based pedagogies, design research methods, and collaborative learning. She believes that design education should equip students with purposeful design and love for experimentation and exploration. Committed to sustainable living, Anisha has co-designed contextual and relevant educational games on water conservation and waste management and she can often be found talking incessantly about an individual's role in protecting the environment and conducting workshops to promote a minimal lifestyle
