A.Y.
2025-26
Design Thinking and Graphics Design Syllabus in brief – Std. VII (ECA)
Session Time – 1 Clock hour per week (Practical + Theory) REF.: CBSE DESIGN THINKING SYLLABUS
Media –Digital Media (on computer only, if required –as and when paper media)
Software/Programs required - Tux Paint, Photoscape, Inkscape, Gravit Designer 3.5.64 Canva and Gimp
Please note – All above mentioned Software/Programs are freeware, no purchase or licencing is required.
What is the overall vision and aims of Design Thinking and innovation Curriculum?
The overall vision of DT&I curriculum is to be able to instil the following in the students:
• Explore student’s sensory abilities, cognitive abilities and social abilities
• Create awareness in the students through observation, discovery, analysis, experience, collaboration
and Reflection
• Nurture their curiosity and enhance their explorative abilities
• Foster creativity and innovation in students
• Identify problems and be able to find solutions + Apply Design Thinking process and methods to
solve various problems
• Learn the fundamentals/essentials of creative design discipline
Overall Learning Objectives
• Introduction to Elements of Design and Story-creation
• Observe and Discover Forms in Environment and Explore Form Transitions
• Fundamentals of Sketching and Product Concepts Explorations
• Fundamentals of Design Thinking Process
Additional Competencies
• Enhance Observation Skills
• Improve Sensitivity to Design
• Improve Communication and Presentation skills
Main topics – Design Thinking
a. Introduction
• What is Design?
• Who is a Designer?
• What is Design Thinking?
• Who is a Design Thinker?
• What is Design Thinking Process?
• What is Innovation?
b. Introduction to Elements for Design – Fundamentals and Elements of Design
c. Discovering Forms in the Environment, Document any one of these topics through photography.
You need to make a selection of 6 photos. Make use of the camera on your mobile: (at home- click when you’re with your
parents)
• Symmetry in Natural or Man‐made environment
• Patterns found in the Environment either in Objects/Plants or animals
• Textures found in Nature or Objects
• 5 stages: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test
• Real-life examples: solving problems with design
✅ Activity: for example - Case study discussion (e.g. "Design a lunchbox for school children")
• Understanding the user: who are we designing for?
• Some more Activities as above
Graphic Design Part – Highlights – Outcomes
• What is Graphic Design?
Learn about the scope and history of graphic design.
• Understanding Digital Images
Discover the aspects of computer literacy relevant to graphic design, and the basics of digital graphic
design.
• Visual Communication
Discover specific techniques for generating meaning through visual elements.
• Layout and Composition
Learn how to improve the layout and composition of your work.
• Idea Generation and Research
Learn how to go about generating innovative ideas and communicating them to clients and team
members.
• Working with Text (Typography)
Learn how to choose and analyse typefaces for the best results.
• Designing for Print
Discover how to adjust a design specifically for print.
• Creating Designs for the Web
Learn about the specifics of designing graphics for use on the web.
Introduction to Graphic Design
• What is design?
• What is graphic design?
• Where we see design in real life
• Elements of design: line, shape, colour, texture, space
Assignments
✅ Draw 5 line types using MS Paint
✅ Poster about school using shapes and lines
Design Thinking Link:
🔹 Empathize: What do people find visually attractive? Why do they like posters/logos?
Principles of Design
• Balance, contrast, alignment, repetition, proximity, white space
Assignments:
✅ Balanced layout
✅ Posters showing good vs poor contrast
✅ Festival poster using repetition and alignment
Design Thinking Link:
🔹 Define: What makes a design hard to read or confusing? How can we fix it?
Colour Theory & Typography
• Primary, secondary, warm/cool colours
• Colour meanings and emotions
• Font types and choosing the right fonts
Assignments:
✅ Colour wheel
✅ Warm/cool colour posters
✅ Font Mood Chart
✅ Birthday invitation
Design Thinking Link:
🔹 Ideate: How can colour and font choices change how people feel?
Graphic Design Software Skills
• Using Canva / Gravit Designer / Tux Paint / Inkscape
• Shapes, text, layers, images, exporting
Assignments:
✅ Personal logo
✅ Class timetable
✅ Certificate of achievement
✅ Calendar page
✅ Recreate a famous logo using shapes
Design Thinking Link:
🔹 Prototype: Try out different layouts, logos, or visual ideas using digital tools
Layout & Composition
• Visual hierarchy, grids, margins
• Making things easy to read and visually appealing
Assignments:
✅ 2-page magazine spread
✅ Book cover
✅ Travel brochure
✅ School notice board redesign
Design Thinking Link:
🔹 Test: Show your design to a friend—what do they notice first?
Digital Drawing & Illustration
• Drawing with Tux Paint/Inkscape
• Simple characters, scenes, comic art
Assignments:
✅ Digital cartoon character
✅ Comic strip
✅ Illustrated quote or poem
✅ Greeting card
Innovation Focus:
🔹 Create new characters or worlds
🔹 Combine digital drawing with storytelling
Photo Editing
• Cropping, brightness, filters with Photoscape
Assignments:
✅ Edited photo of a school event
✅ Before/after comparison
✅ Add text/effects to a selfie
✅ Themed photo collage
Innovation Focus:
🔹 Improve real-world photos to communicate better stories or moods
• The Elements of Design
o – Pixels
o – Fonts
o – Colours
o – The Audience
o – The Message
Some of the Graphic Design Activities during the year to complete.
1. Create / Design a logo
2. Business card
3. Create Holidays card
4. A Festival card design
5. Design a character
6. Package Designing
7. Event Card design
8. Banner Designing
9. Advertisement layout
10. Greeting Card
11. Brochure Design
12. Creating a Flyer, Postcard, and Advertisement
13. Creating a T-Shirt Design
14. Creating a Book Cover
15. Creating a Label Design
16. Designing a Poster
17. A calendar page for month in which your birthday is
18. Final Assignment (at the end of the year)
Please note: The syllabus is subject to change as per the new developments and suggestions from the experts
in the field.
