Design Programs

GUIDE TO UNDERSTAND DESIGN PROGRAMS

What is design as a career?

Design involves solving problems visually and functionally—ranging from graphic and product design to UX, interior, fashion, and service design. Designers use creativity, research, and technical skills to craft experiences, products, or brands. In 2025, designers must be adaptable, tech-savvy, empathetic, and collaborative

Who Should Consider It?

Ideal candidates have:

Creative and visually inclined
Detail-oriented with empathy towards users
Strong communicators and problem-solvers
Flexible, willing to learn tools rapidly
Those drawn to shaping user experiences, visual narratives, tangible products, or spaces align well.

Eligibility for Bachelor in Design (India & abroad)

In India:

10+2 pass with typically 50% aggregate (some schools accept 40%)
Age limits apply (e.g., NID requires candidates born on/after July 1, 2004 for general category)

Abroad:

Similar high school completion
Strong portfolio (especially art-based programs)
For postgraduate programs: bachelor’s in design/related field, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, work samples.

Top entrance exams

India:

UCEED (IITs)
NID DAT
NIFT entrance test
CEED (for postgrad/interior)
FDDI AIST

Global equivalent:

Portfolio-centric admissions (e.g., UAL, RISD, RCA)
Standardized tests often optional
Portfolios: Portfolios, interviews, SOPs — some schools (e.g., RCA) emphasize real-world impact

Best Undergraduate Colleges in India

NID (Ahmedabad, MP, AP)
IIT Bombay – IDC; IIT Delhi – Dept. of Design
NIFT (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Gandhinagar…)
Private: Srishti, MIT-ID, UID, Pearl Academy, IIAD, ARCH, World University of Design, CEPT, Amity

Top Universities Globally

Royal College of Art, London (ranked #1 Art & Design for 11th year)
University of the Arts London (#2 QS)
Leading global art/design schools include: Stanford, Oxford, UC Berkeley, Toronto, Cambridge, RISD, Parsons, Pratt, NUS, Tsinghua

Course Curriculum in a BSc/MSc Program

Duration: 4 years (some 3‑year BA/BFA)

Core + specialization subjects: design fundamentals, sketching, history, typography, UX/UI, product/space/etc.
Studio-based projects, internships, portfolios
Final-year capstone or thesis project (Varies by institution.)

Job roles after graduation

Graphic / Brand Designer
UX/UI / Interaction Designer
Product / Industrial Designer
Interior / Spatial Designer
Fashion / Textile / Jewelry Designer
Service Designer
Design Manager / Creative Director
Art director
Design Entrepreneur

Postgraduate options

M.Des / MFA in specializations like Industrial, Communication, UX, Interior, Service, Film/Video, Design Management
MBA/Leadership programs for creative direction, consultancy