Design Programs

Design involves creating solutions—visual, physical, digital—that address needs and communicate ideas. Designers work in fields like graphic, product, fashion, UX/UI, industrial, interior, animation, and game design. It's essential because it influences how we interact with products, spaces, and technology, improving usability, aesthetics, sustainability, and overall quality of life.

Ideal candidates are creative, empathetic, visually perceptive, and analytically minded. Successful designers have:

• Empathy & observation: critical for UX and product design

• Creative problem-solving & spatial thinking: vital across all disciplines

• Technical skills: such as sketching, CAD, prototyping, and software tools

• Communication & collaboration skills: for teamwork and client interaction

In India:

• 10+2 in any stream with typically minimum 50% aggregate Many institutes cap at ~24 years (e.g., NIFT, NID Dat)

Abroad: 

• Equivalent high school diploma (A‑levels, IB, or national credentials), English proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL), and a portfolio

In India:

• UCEED (for B.Des at IITs)

• NID DAT (Prelims + Mains for NID campuses)

• NIFT (written + situation test for fashion/design) 

• CEED (for M.Des—postgrad) 

• Other exams: AIEED, IIAD, FDDI-AIST, Pearl Academy, SEED, UID, etc.

Abroad: 

• International schools require SAT/ACT, portfolio, interviews and design aptitude tests

• NID (multiple campuses) 

• NIFT (under fashion & lifestyle) 

• IITs (Bombay, Guwahati, Delhi, Hyderabad) via UCEED 

• FDDI (fashion and product design across 10+ campuses) 

• Others: Pearl Academy, IIAD, UID, Symbiosis SID, Amity, Srishti, WUD, JD Institute

• Top global design schools include Royal College of Art (UK), Parsons (USA), ArtCenter (USA), Delft University, and RISD. 

Typically a 4‑year degree including:

• Foundation studios (2 semesters)

• Specialization studios (6 semesters)—e.g. Communication, Product, Textile, UX, Industrial

• Core theory: design history, visual communication, materials

• Technical skills: drawing, CAD, prototyping, user research

• Internships/project work in industry

• M.Des (often via CEED)

• M.Arch/Urban Planning/Sustainable Design if inclined to spatial design

• MBA (specializing in Design Management)

• Emerging fields: interaction design, design strategy, design research

• Creative thinking & aesthetic judgement

• Technical proficiency in drawing, CAD, prototyping

• Research & user empathy for UX

• Communication through presentations and portfolios

• Collaboration via studio work

• Digital tools—Adobe suite, 3D modeling, prototyping platforms

• Graphic Designer, UX/UI Designer, Product/Industrial Designer

• Fashion Designer, Textile Designer

• Animator, Motion Designer, Art/Creative Director

• Set & Exhibit Designer, Interior Designer, Furniture or Landscape Designer

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)

• UX/UI tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD

• 3D/CAD: Rhino, SolidWorks, Fusion360

• Prototyping: Blender, Unity (game design), After Effects

• AI-assisted design: tools gaining traction