Vishwakarma University’s Faculty of Art & Design in Pune offers a future-focused Master of Design (M.Des.) program that nurtures advanced creative thinking, interdisciplinary exploration, and innovation-driven problem solving. Designed as a two-year postgraduate programme, the M.Des. equips learners with the strategic, analytical, and practical skills required to address contemporary design challenges across industries and society.
The programme offers specializations in Visual Communication Design, User Interface & User Experience (UI/UX) Design, and Product Design, enabling students to deepen their expertise while engaging with emerging technologies, research methodologies, and industry-oriented practices. As one of the evolving destinations for higher education in design, the Faculty of Art & Design emphasizes a balance between creativity, critical thinking, and real-
world application.
The M.Des. curriculum is structured to encourage research-led design processes,experimentation, systems thinking, and innovation. Students are guided through intensivestudio-based learning, collaborative projects, and industry interaction that foster both intellectual and professional growth. Through a strong emphasis on observation, design research, prototyping, and user-centric problem solving, the programme prepares students to become thoughtful designers, strategists, and changemakers.
At Vishwakarma University, design education extends beyond classrooms and studios. The programme creates an ecosystem where academia, industry, and societal needs intersect, enabling students to work on meaningful projects with practical impact. Learners are encouraged to develop solutions that are not only aesthetically refined, but also functional, sustainable, inclusive, and future ready.
The Faculty of Art & Design believes in cultivating designers who can communicate ideas effectively through visuals, interfaces, products, experiences, and systems. The M.Des.programme demands clarity in conceptual understanding, advanced technical proficiency, and a strong research orientation, empowering students to transform innovative ideas into impactful design outcomes.In accordance with UGC norms, admission to the M.Des. programme requires candidates to have completed a four-year undergraduate degree after 10+2 education. This ensures that
students entering the programme possess the foundational academic and professional preparedness necessary for advanced design studies.
Choosing the Master of Design programme at Vishwakarma University means becoming part of a dynamic academic environment that values innovation, collaboration, creativity, and lifelong learning—preparing graduates to lead and shape the future of design across diverse
domains.

Department of Architecture had organised a First Year Orientation Week 2025–26 under the theme “Urban Nomads: Learning on Location”. The orientation program was designed to introduce students to architecture through experiential learning, creativity, teamwork, sustainability, heritage, and observation-based activities.

1. Psychology – Team Building
   An interactive psychology and team-building session was conducted to help students understand their strengths, weaknesses, communication styles, and group dynamics. Through engaging activities and discussions, students developed collaboration skills and learned the importance of teamwork in architectural practice.
2. Tree Plantation at Anandvan
   Students participated in an environmental awareness initiative at Anandvan, NIBM, involving tree plantation and sustainability-based activities. The session encouraged ecological sensitivity and introduced students to concepts of environmental responsibility and community participation.
3. Rolls & Rise Workshop
   A hands-on structural activity where students created tall structures using newspapers. The workshop focused on creativity, structural balance, problem-solving, and teamwork while introducing students to basic concepts of form and stability.
4. Photography – Capturing the City
   This activity introduced students to architectural photography and urban observation. Students explored the city and documented built spaces through photography, learning composition, framing, light, and visual storytelling in architecture.
5. Sustainable Clothing Workshop
   Students designed and created theme-based costumes using sustainable and recycled materials such as newspapers, jute, cardboard, and ropes. The activity encouraged innovation, sustainability awareness, and creative expression.
6. Hunnar Gurukul Visit
   A site visit to Hunnar Gurukul provided students exposure to traditional construction techniques and indigenous building materials. Students observed brick construction methods and gained an understanding of sustainable and context-responsive architecture.
7. Mandala Art Workshop
   The mandala art session focused on mindfulness, patience, concentration, and creativity. Through intricate patterns and compositions, students explored artistic expression and visual balance.
8. R.K. Laxman Museum & India House Visit
   Students visited the R.K. Laxman Museum and India House to understand the relationship between art, architecture, culture, and storytelling. The visit enhanced observational learning and appreciation for heritage spaces.
9. Architectural Sketching Workshop
   A basic architectural sketching and scribbling workshop introduced students to freehand drawing techniques and visual representation. Students learned to express spatial ideas through quick sketches and observational drawing.
10. CDSA Campus Visit
    Students visited the CDSA Campus to study sustainable campus planning, institutional architecture, and environmentally conscious design practices. The visit encouraged analytical observation and documentation.
11. Reflection of Master Architects
    An engaging activity where students sketched iconic buildings and explored the works of renowned architects. The exercise helped students connect architectural forms with design philosophies and architectural history.
12. PMA – Madhushala Visit
    This architectural site visit involved interaction with practicing architects to understand the design concept, process, and execution of a built project. Students also documented the project through sketches and discussions.
13. Caricature Workshop
    A creative caricature workshop encouraged students to experiment with architectural representation using expressive illustration techniques. The activity promoted imagination and visual communication skills.
14. Suzlon One Earth Visit
    The proposed visit to Suzlon One Earth aimed to expose students to sustainable and environmentally responsive corporate architecture, highlighting green building concepts and innovative workplace design.
15. Architectural Sketching – Watercolour Workshop
    An advanced sketching workshop focused on architectural rendering using watercolours. Students explored colour application, textures, and presentation techniques to enhance visual communication skills.
16. Heritage Walk – Shaniwar Wada
    The heritage walk at Shaniwar Wada introduced students to Pune’s historic architecture, urban character, and cultural heritage. The activity encouraged documentation, observation, and understanding of historical built environments.

 Hands-On Learning in Action! 

As part of the BMT–II (Building Materials & Techniques) subject for First Year, the School of Architecture and Planning, Vishwakarma University, Pune, conducted a full-day Hands-On Workshop on Timber Roof Truss Construction on 15 April 2026.

Guided by Ar. Dhruvang Hingmere (Workshop Key Person, Hunnar Gurukul) and coordinated by Ar. Amita Deshpande, students engaged in immersive learning through the execution of traditional timber joinery techniques and structural systems.

 Students actively participated in the construction of King Post, Queen Post, and Collar Trusses at a realistic scale, gaining hands-on exposure to timber tools, joinery detailing, and structural assembly processes.

 The workshop emphasized experiential learning, teamwork, and the transformation of architectural drawings into built form—strengthening students’ understanding of construction systems through practice-based learning.

An impactful step towards craft-based and experiential architectural education!

 Learning by Making – Timber Joinery Workshop 

As part of the BMT–II (Building Materials & Techniques) subject for First Year, the Department of Architecture at Vishwakarma University conducted a Hands-On Timber Joinery Workshop.

Guided by Ar. Amruta Naidu (Workshop Key Person) and coordinated by Ar. Amita Deshpande, students explored timber as a construction material and learned traditional joinery techniques through hands-on making.

 Students created timber joinery models and a staircase model, gaining insights into craftsmanship, precision, and construction detailing.

 The workshop emphasized experiential learning, helping students connect theory with real-world building practices.