The Communication Design Program (CDP) was conducted on May 20th–29th, 2013 at IDC, IIT Bombay. CDP 2013 was a hands-on programme with a special focus on photography and understanding the principles of visual communication. This programme is envisaged such that students from different cultures form teams and collectively explore and address design issues. Students from Kansas State University also participated in this program. During the workshop, Indian students engaged in individual as well as group activities in and outside the classroom and formed teams with American students. This course is designed to foster a sense of inquiry in the minds of students, while engaging in art and design practices. The idea is to question design decisions and check for effective communication strategies. Indian students worked in collaboration with faculty and students from America and together gained valuable cultural experience. This ‘learning by doing’ programme was augmented with theory in the form of lectures and discussions.