iDiDe (pronounced “i-dee-dee”) is an international design workshop with a?transcultural-themed agenda. The learning experience offers immersive cultural activities and cross-national collaboration, involving students from a number of institutions working in collaborative studio groups of 3-6 members alongside academics, architects and built environment professionals who offer industry expertise and professional mentorship.?The pedagogical objectives are to explore contemporary practice within a globalizing context through intercultural dialogue. The academic experience fosters intercultural understanding along with culturally appropriate design responses.

iDiDe 2019, 沙巴体育 Design Studio was conducted over a period of 3 weeks from 9-31 January, 2019, involving a cohort of 40 students from School of Built Environment, Deakin University, Australia and Faculty of Architecture, MAHE, 沙巴体育. The students along with mentors from both universities worked on “Design of Anganwadi Centre” at Shirthady, near Moodabidri, Mangalore District.?It was?a social outreach project for the benefit of mothers and children aged between 3 to 6 years of the rural?community. The project is an initiative of the local Government and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).??

The process of the studio involved participatory engagement with the community- the principal stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project. Design charrettes with community members gave an opportunity for students to revise and refine their designs before exhibiting them to the Government and Public.?Students conducted toy and painting workshops for Anganwadi children to understand their emotional connect with design.?

Students interacted?with experts from academics,?industry?and allied disciplines?on various topics related to Anganwadis. Some of?the topics discussed were:?emotional, physical and spatial needs; context, culture, constraints and regulations pertaining to the site; health related aspects in design; materials, costing and construction etc. for designing the Anganwadi Centre. Finally, five proposals developed by five groups were put forth to the community and the Government on 25^th?January 2019 in the exhibition held at TMA Pai Convention Centre, Mangalore which was graced by the CEO of?Mangalore, Deputy Director of?Women and Child Welfare, Project development officers, supervisors from the Government, university officials from MAHE and the community.??

The designs developed by students received tremendous appreciation from all stakeholders. They targeted many of the resolutions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Government offered to take up the project and collaborate on further initiatives with students to cater to the dire need of?Anganwadi?Centres.

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