Written by Team NotFound from Delhi Technological University made a strong impression in Designathon 2025 with a bold, climate-adaptive concept that blends architectural insight with sustainable engineering.
Saibik Dey, Tejas, and Vinayak Biju designed a year-round student workspace that stays cool without relying on air conditioning – a critical challenge in India’s increasingly hot summers.
The concept was shaped by India’s climatic conditions and influenced by the bold, sustainable architecture of the Chandigarh College of Architecture. It all came together thanks to the team’s commitment to usability, environmental performance and understanding of the environment around them.
The team’s third place has been recognised by their university.
Dr. Ravindra Singh, from the Department of Design, Delhi Technological University said:
“We are immensely proud of our students’ achievement at the Autodesk Designathon 2025. Their success reflects the creativity, technical skills, and dedication fostered at Delhi Technological University. We appreciate Autodesk and KnowledgePoint for providing such an excellent platform to showcase young talent.”
The team’s approach prioritised natural cooling through thoughtful spatial orientation and materials. A south-facing layout takes advantage of prevailing winds, while sun-breaker walls block direct sunlight and even channel air inside via a Venturi effect. A layered roof system – with cement, clay, and rooftop planting – draws on the evaporative cooling power of traditional clay pots. Meanwhile, solar panels provide renewable energy for lighting and charging, and the rooftop doubles as an outdoor study area to make every part of the design work harder.
“The best part of Designathon,” said the team, “was the immense help from student experts and the supportiveness of the hosts.”
But completing the full design, renderings, and summary in such a tight timeframe? That was the real test. Along the way, they discovered new capabilities in Autodesk Fusion and sharpened their skills in collaboration and time management.
Each member of the team is aiming for a future in design: Vinayak and Tejas in product design, Saibik in visual/UI/UX design. Their Designathon experience – and Fusion 360 know-how – will give them a competitive edge as they move forward.
“We’re proud of what we achieved, and excited for what’s next.”
About the Designathon
Designathon 2025, organised by KnowledgePoint, was the third edition of a two‑day international online design challenge for teams of engineering and industrial design students. Students were offered training to boost their Autodesk Fusion modelling skills and learn about key workflows.
They then worked in teams of two or three to respond to a sustainable design challenge – the student teams were asked to design an accessible, aesthetically-pleasing outdoor hub where students can gather, work and charge their devices. The solution needed to use a renewable energy source (or sources) for the electrical supply. The design needed to consider durability, usability and impact on the environment.
This year teams of students from 140 educational institutions took part. 178 projects were submitted, involving 446 participants in 17 countries.
This year’s Designathon was really competitive, with three teams scoring the same in joint third place. This is what the jury had to say about the Team NotFound entry:
“We were impressed with how understanding of local climatic conditions clearly inspired the design for this outdoor student hub. By capitalising upon these conditions for its design and energy-supply, it offers a multi-level and functional space for students.”
Learn more about Designathon 2025 and Autodesk’s commitment to education here.