IITM BS BSMS4002: Design Thinking for Data-Driven App Development

Design Thinking for Data-Driven App Development (BSMS4002) is a 4 credit degree level elective in the IITM BS Data Science programme, at level 4. You learn to study real users and find the problem that matters to them. Then you quickly build a working mock-up with visual, low-code or no-code tools. It has no prerequisite.

The instructors are Bala Ramadurai, guest faculty at IIT Madras, and Prathap Haridoss, Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at IIT Madras.

How the course is built

The course runs a cycle of empathise, analyse, solve and test. The week list runs it in three rounds, marked P1, P2 and P3. Marketing, patents and pitching sit between the rounds.

What you learn

Weeks 1 to 5: The first full round

You start with the course plan, project management, and ideas from the book The Design of Everyday Things. Then you build user personas and map each step a customer goes through. You list problems and turn them into "How Might We" questions. For analysis, you ask "why" many times and look for conflicts of interest. Week 5 is about idea generation: silent brainstorming, inventive principles and building concepts.

Weeks 6 to 9: Second round, plus building and business skills

You test your first round and start the second by listing assumptions and features and running field trials. Basics of digital marketing come in here. Week 7 covers website design, user experience design and prototypes. Week 8 introduces patents and copyrights. Week 9 teaches you to pitch to customers, investors and other stakeholders.

Weeks 10 to 12: Third round and launch

You collect feedback from real users, study human factors in design, and do a final test. The course ends with launching the app and a look at intrapreneurship (innovating inside a company).

The course page names Mural, Figma and Bubble as example tools for building prototypes.

How it is assessed

The course page lists 12 weeks of coursework and weekly online assignments. It also lists a group project, 1 in-person invigilated quiz and 1 in-person invigilated end term exam. It does not give the weights.

Where it counts

• The handbook's course table lists it as an L4 course tagged HM/BP. See the DS electives list.
• The BS degree level needs 2 level 4 or higher courses in the programming stream, and 4 HS/MG credits. BP seems to mean the programming stream. The handbook does not say how a course with two tags counts, so check with support first.
• It is not part of any minor.
• The March 2026 table marks it as running in May 2026 and September 2026, but not in January 2027.
• The ES handbook also lists it (as MS4002) among Data Science courses open to Electronic Systems students.

Who finds it hard

• Students who like problems with one right answer. Design work is open ended, and much of it depends on how well you understand the user.
• Students who feel awkward talking to strangers. Interviews and field trials are part of the work.
• Groups that start late or split work unevenly.

How to prepare and plan the group project

• Learn the basics of Figma before the term. A few beginner tutorials are enough to start.
• Practise one user interview now. Ask a family member how they pay bills, and note what annoys them.
• In week 1, agree with your group on a shared document, a weekly meeting time and who owns which part.
• Keep evidence as you go: interview notes, photos and screenshots of each prototype version.
• Every member should do real work and be able to explain the whole project. Do not copy another team's idea or submit work you did not do.
• The suggested books are Karmic Design Thinking by Dr. Bala Ramadurai and The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman.

What to take before and after

Nothing is required first. The MAD 1 and MAD 2 projects teach you how to build an app. This course teaches you how to decide what to build. Your prototype and user research can also go into your project portfolio.

Common questions

Do I need to write code in this course?

The course page focuses on low-code and no-code prototyping with tools like Mural, Figma and Bubble. It does not list a programming language. Coding skill helps but is not required by the page.

Is the group project graded like the diploma projects?

The course page lists a group project as one part of assessment, next to assignments, a quiz and an end term exam. It does not describe a viva or the L1 and L2 system used for the diploma projects.

Why can I not find it in the January 2027 registration list?

The March 2026 course table marks it as not running in January 2027. Offering also depends on registration numbers, so plan for May or September.

Can I do this course if I want to start my own company later?

Yes. The course page says it suits learners interested in product management and starting ventures. It covers pitching to investors, patents and copyrights, and launching an app.