T-works
T-Works is India's largest prototyping center and manufacturing knowledge partner, supported by the Government of Telangana. I led the service design of T-Works curriculum, a government-backed makerspace initiative in Telangana, from a resource-rich but operationally challenged facility into a structured, community-driven innovation hub. The core challenge was to unlock the full potential of an underutilized makerspace by developing both a comprehensive learning curriculum and an operational framework that would foster independent makers. Through strategic service design and curriculum development, we achieved a scalable solution that streamlined operations and established a sustainable maker community ecosystem.
My contribution
Service Design
User research
Project Lead
The team
1 Consultant
2 Interns
1 UX researcher
Strategic Research & Discovery
The initial challenge was understanding why a well-resourced makerspace wasn't achieving its community engagement goals. I led a comprehensive research phase involving stakeholder interviews, resource audits, and user workshops. This revealed that the core issue wasn't just disorganized resources, but a missing bridge between available tools and user empowerment. By mapping the ecosystem of stakeholders, resources, and potential user journeys, we identified the critical need for a structured yet flexible learning framework that would transform casual visitors into confident makers.
Curriculum Architecture & Design
Building on our research insights, I developed a modular curriculum strategy that balanced accessibility with depth. The key innovation was structuring content on Gitbook in a way that supported both guided learning and independent exploration. We created clear evaluation frameworks for each makerspace area, enabling users to progress from basic tool usage to independent project leadership. This approach solved the dual challenge of maintaining quality control while scaling user access.
Operational Framework Development
To address operational inefficiencies, I designed an integrated service framework that streamlined instructor onboarding, class scheduling, and payment processing. The solution included standardized protocols that could flex with growing demand while maintaining consistent quality. This systematic approach transformed ad-hoc operations into a scalable model that could support growing community engagement.
Implementation & Community Activation
We piloted the new framework through ceramics and electronics workshops, allowing us to refine the approach based on real user interaction. The implementation strategy focused on building capability within the T-Works team, ensuring they could independently maintain and evolve the system. This phase demonstrated the framework's success through increased user engagement and the emergence of user-led projects.
