International Workshop on Puppetry and Character Design

Event Date: 02-09-2025

Galgotias School of Design Hosts International Workshop on Puppetry and Character Design 2025 

Brief Description of the Event

The International Workshop on Puppetry and Character Design 2025 was organized by the School of Design, Galgotias University, in collaboration with the University of the Arts London (UAL) on 2nd September 2025. The two-hour hands-on workshop was conducted by Ms. Amy Hare, an international expert from UAL. The session introduced design students to puppetry as a medium of visual storytelling, emphasizing character creation, movement, emotion, and sustainability through experiential and collaborative learning approaches 

Detailed Description of the Event

The workshop was designed as an interactive and practice-oriented learning experience, moving beyond conventional lecture formats. Students were introduced to puppetry as a performative design tool, enabling them to understand how character, gesture, and emotion can communicate narratives effectively.

Participants actively engaged in hands-on activities, where they worked in groups to create puppets using recycled newspapers, reinforcing sustainable design practices. Through guided exercises, students explored how movement, posture, and expression influence emotional storytelling and audience engagement. This approach allowed learners to connect abstract design concepts with tangible, performative outcomes.

Collaboration played a central role in the workshop. Students worked in teams, exchanged creative ideas, synchronized puppet movements, and collectively developed short visual narratives. Peer learning and group reflection enhanced communication skills and mirrored professional design workflows where teamwork is essential.

The session also emphasized empathy-driven design, encouraging students to perceive characters as emotional entities rather than static forms. By animating their creations, students learned to incorporate human emotions, user perspectives, and sensitivity into design thinking.

The international exposure provided by Ms. Amy Hare enriched students’ understanding of global design practices, aligning with Galgotias University’s focus on practice-based, interdisciplinary, and experiential education. The workshop successfully integrated creativity, sustainability, empathy, and collaboration into a cohesive learning experience 

Event Outcome

The workshop resulted in the following key outcomes:

• Enhanced students’ creative thinking and storytelling abilities through performative design methods
• Improved understanding of character design, movement, and emotional expression in visual communication
• Strengthened collaborative and peer-learning skills, reflecting real-world design practices
• Increased awareness of sustainable design through the use of recycled materials
• Fostered empathy and user-centric thinking, essential for contemporary design education
• Provided exposure to international design pedagogy and global perspectives

Overall, the event contributed significantly to students’ holistic development by integrating technical skills with emotional intelligence, sustainability, and collaborative learning.

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