At Young Tinker Foundation, our core belief is simple yet powerful:
Great ideas begin by observing the world around us.
We encourage students to look closely at everyday problems and take the bold step to solve them. This belief forms the foundation of what we call our Principle for Design Tinkering—a mindset and method that helps anyone become a Young Tinker.
What Does It Mean to Be a Young Tinker?
A Young Tinker is not defined by age, but by mindset.
“Young” means open to new ideas, curious, and fearless.
“Tinker” means being hands-on, creative, and determined to build solutions.
Anyone who dares to question the status quo and act on their ideas is already a Young Tinker. You don’t need to be a scientist or an inventor—just someone who cares and dares.
🔁 Principle of Design Tinkering
We’ve distilled our philosophy into 7 core principles that define the journey of every Young Tinker:
1. Young Tinker – It Starts with You
Everyone can be a Young Tinker. Here, ‘Young’ refers to open-minded and free-thinking individuals who are young at heart, while ‘Tinker’ represents problem solvers and innovators. Anyone who thinks differently and is courageous enough to solve a problem is a Young Tinker. Once this mindset is cultivated, you’re now ready to solve your city/village’s biggest problem. It doesn’t matter what your biological age is—if you think with a young mind and strive to solve problems, you are a Young Tinker.
2. Learn from Failures
At Young Tinker, we see failure as a step toward success — progress matters more than setbacks. We believe: “Aage badhenge toh jeet jayenge, haar jayenge toh seekh jayenge” (If we move forward, we will win; if we fail, we will learn).
3. Problem solving using FATAC से फटाक
We use the “Design Tinkering” approach to solve problems. As the name suggests, it means “design your tinkering skills” and “tinker your design.” Problem-solving requires essential skills and the right mindset to apply this method. Our framework is called “Fatac se FATAC,” where Fatac stands for Feel, Align, Think, Act, and Check. It is an iterative process, meaning you repeat the steps multiple times to refine and improve your solution. The steps are explained below.
Jab ho problem Fatak se (jaldi se) FATAC lagayein. When in a problem, use FATAC to solve it.
4. Selecting an Idea? BMW नहीं DMW लगाओ
When you’re in the “Think” stage of FATAC, you may feel confused with many ideas but struggle to choose the right one. This is where you literally think “out of the box.”
To decide, use the DMW formula, not BMW!
What is DMW?
- Doable – Is the idea easy to execute or possible to achieve?
- Moneyable – Is it within your budget?
- Wantable – Is it something people actually need or want?
DMW helps refine your ideas and select the most suitable one to move forward.
5. Doing Unthinkable
Doing the unthinkable is a mindset. If you can think it, you can dream it, then act on it, and finally make it happen. We believe: “Jab log kahen ‘Nahin,’ aap kahen ‘Kyun Nahin’” (When people say “No,” you say “Why not?”).
6. Breaking the ICE of learning
Breaking the ICE – For us, ICE stands for Intent, Content, and Environment. These three elements are essential for effective learning.
- Intent – The most important factor. Your mindset matters! If you come with an open mind, ready to accept new ideas and a willingness to learn, you’ll discover something new every day.
- Content – Reliable learning material. Here, you have the IdeaBook or TinkerBook to guide you.
- Environment – The space where learning happens. It could be the Young Tinker Space or TOW – Tinker on Wheels.
7. “Yes, And…” vs. “Yes, But…”
“Yes, And…” vs. “Yes, But…” – Two Different Mindsets
The way we approach problems defines our mindset.
- “Yes, And…” is a progressive mindset, where people focus on solving a problem and building on ideas to find a solution.
- “Yes, But…” is a restrictive mindset, where challenges are seen as roadblocks rather than opportunities to solve problems.
Example:
Two people are given the task of removing a mountain.
- Person 1 (Yes, And… mindset): “This is a big challenge, and we can break it down! Let’s use tools, get a team, and work step by step to remove it.”
- Person 2 (Yes, But… mindset): “Yes, but this mountain is too big. We don’t have the right tools. It’s impossible to move.”
Always use Yes, And.
Lastly, remember that learning is something we do our whole lives. The skills and knowledge you gain from STEM (that’s science, technology, engineering, and math) will be useful no matter what you want to be when you grow up. Whether it’s an engineer, a scientist, a business owner, or just someone who loves solving problems, the stuff you learn here will be super important.
So, let this workbook be your guide to dreaming big, thinking creatively, and being amazed by the awesome world of STEM. It’s here to help you grow, discover your passions, and make a positive impact on the world.