Guide To Postgraduate Design Schools in India
Over the last decade, India has seen an uproarious growth in design education and the institutes providing it. This has included a mix of both private and government colleges opening with the sole aim of educating designers that can help improve the world around them, influence the problems in positive ways and build a culture along with a strong community of designers. If you’re looking to pursue design as a career, the following are wonderful colleges for under graduation:
National Institute of Design is internationally acclaimed as one of the finest educational and research institutions for Industrial, Communication, Textile and IT Integrated (Experiential) Design. It is an Institute of National Importance under the DIPP, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. They offer a wide spectrum of design domains while encouraging transdisciplinary design projects. This was the first design college to open in India under the directions of Charles and Ray Eames’ India Design Report. They are prominently known for their Graphic Design, Product design, Automotive Design, Toy & Game Design, Strategic Design Management, Design for Retail Experience and Ceramic and Glass Design.
College name: National Institute of Design (NID)
Courses offered: Masters of Design (B.Des) in Animation Film Design, Apparel Design, Ceramic & Glass Design, Design for Retail Experience, Digital Game Design, Film and Video communication, Furniture and Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design, Information Design, Interaction Design, Lifestyle Accessory Design, New Media Design, Strategic Design Management, Textile design, Toy & Game Design, Transportation & Automobile Design & Universal Design.
Budget (yearly) : 2,59,500 + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: Design Aptitude Test (held annually), followed by Studio Test and Interview + Portfolio review in final stage.
Private/ Govt College: Government
Qualification needed: Bachelor degree of minimum 4-year duration in any specialization, after 12th standard or equivalent to 12th standard from any university or institute recognised by law in India + Below 30 Years of age.
Course Duration: 2.5 years
Location: Ahmedabad (Main Campus) + PG Campus (Gandhinagar) + Bangalore (R&D Campus)
In the year 2006 the MIT Group decided to broaden its horizons in terms of education. They wanted explore academic areas that were new, challenging, and futuristic. Located by the banks of Mula-Mutha river, MITID boasts an ever-increasing range of courses for design aspirants. It is best known for its course in Transportation design as it was the first college to offer it as an undergraduate program. Other courses that are well-taught include Graphic Design, Retail and Exhibition Design, Design Management, Fashion Management, Film & Video Design, Product Design, and User Experience Design.
College name: MIT Institute of Design (MITID)
Courses offered: Masters of Design (B.Des) in Product Design, Transportation Design, Interior Space and Furniture Design, Retail Design, User Experience Design, Graphic Design, Animation Design, Film & Video Design, Fashion Management & Marketing, Design Management, Immersive media Design, & Transcultural Design.
Budget (yearly) : 3,20,000/- + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: Design Aptitude Test (held annually), followed by Studio Test and Interview + Portfolio review in final stage.
Private/ Govt College: Private
Qualification needed: The basic eligibility for admissions in the Master of Design Programme is Graduate or its equivalent (10+2+3 minimum), the students have to clear the admission process comprising of Design Aptitude Test followed by studio test & personal interview.
Course Duration: 2 years
Location: Loni Kalbhor, Pune (Main Campus)
DJ Academy is young design college but they’ve already made quite a name for themselves. They rose to prominence because of the quality of students they’ve produced. They provide courses in undergraduate and postgraduate. In their undergraduate courses, they’re best known for their communication design curriculum and their wholesome teaching pedagogies. Their vision is to promote inclusive social development by way of empowering students with knowledge and skill sets that can be utilised in the modern environment. They are fames for their User Experience Design, Service Design and Communication Design courses.
College name: DJ Academy of Design (DJA)
Courses offered: Masters of Design (B.Des) in Industrial Design, Communication Design, Service Design, Furniture and Space Design & User Experience Design.
Budget (yearly) : 5,77,200 + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: They have their own design test every year or Scores obtained in the entrance examination conducted by IIT- CEED* (Common Entrance Examination for Design) are also considered. This is followed by a studio test and a portfolio review.
Private/ Govt College: Private
Qualification needed: minimum 3-year duration in any specialization, after 10+2 system, from any university or institute recognized by law in India + Full-time Diploma of minimum 4-year duration in Design / Fine Arts / Applied Arts / Architecture, after 10+2 system, from any university or institute recognized by law in India or a Bachelors degree.
Course Duration: 2 years
Location: Coimbatore (Main Campus)
The Institute cherishes the hope that its graduates will be the leaders of tomorrow. Their education is patterned with this in view. The Institute provides excellent environment facilitating and supporting the pursuit of excellence. From the year 2015 onwards , IDC began offering a four year, eight semester Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programme and a five year, ten semester dual degree B.Des + M.Des programme. However, the option of doing the dual degree, B .Des + M.Des is only available at the end of the 3rd year.
College name: IIT-IDC School of Design
Courses offered: Masters in Industrial Design, Visual Communication, Animation and Interaction Design as well as a Ph.D. programme in Design.
Budget (yearly) : 82,000 + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: Acceptable CEED score (held annually), followed by Studio Test and Interview + Portfolio review in final stage.
Private/ Govt College: Government
Qualification needed: 10+ 2 from any stream (55% minimum) + UCEED Score + Bachelors degree/diploma with equivalence certificate.
Course Duration: 2 years
Location: Mumbai (Main Campus)
They even have a podcast of students guiding potential learners through the entire process. The entire guide is available here.
5. ISDI School of Design & Innovation, Parsons (ISDI Parsons)
ISDI's design courses combine a world-class curriculum, state-of-the-art campus, industry-leading faculty and hands-on, project-based training to prepare students for a path-breaking career in design and innovation.
College name: ISDI School of Design & Innovation, Parsons (ISDI Parsons)
Courses offered: Masters in Design & Innovation & Fashion Business Management.
Budget (yearly) : 6,04,750 + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: Creative Aptitude Test and a Personal Interview. Candidates who have applied for PG Design & Innovation Program with CEED score are directly eligible for Personal Interview round.
Private/ Govt College: Private
Qualification needed: 10+ 2 from any stream + 1 year work experience + Graduate Qualification with equivalence certificate.
Course Duration: 2 years
Location: Mumbai (Main Campus)
6. Raffles Design International (RDI)
Raffles Education Corporation Limited ("Raffles Education Corp") expanded their boundaries and stepped into Mumbai in the year 2004 as Raffles Design International, Mumbai, growing ever since. Today, it is among the best design institutes in Mumbai, India and is conveniently located at a prime location, i.e. Marol, Andheri in Mumbai. They also provide a 6 month Diploma in all the Design disciplines mentioned below and are best known for their International Fashion Business, Digital Media, Fashion and Visual Communication Design courses.
College name: Raffles Design International (RDI)
Courses offered: Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Digital Media Design, Visual Communication Design & International Fashion Business.
Budget (total) : 17,48,200 + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: Online submission of educational requirement + Interview.
Private/ Govt College: Private
Qualification needed: (10+ 2) from any stream + IELTS Score of 5.5 for Diploma and 6.0 for Advanced Diploma for English + Minimum Age of 16 years + Portfolio + Interview
Course Duration: 18 months
Location: Mumbai (Main Campus)
Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology is a non-residential institution founded in 1996 by the Ujwal Trust with the objective of providing art and design education in an environment of creativity to maximise the individual’s potential. Their programs offer opportunities to make creative impact at different levels of practice through capabilities developed in the areas of law, environment and policy, media art and sciences, education and development, and business and the humanities. They are best known for the versatility of the education system to adapt to individual needs.
College name: Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Courses offered: They offer three kinds of Postgraduate Programmes.
First: Postgraduate Program in Arts.
Second: Postgraduate Diploma Program.
Third: Postgraduate Professional Program - M.Des, M.F.A and M.Plan
Budget (yearly) : 9,50,00 + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: Shrishti Entrance and Aptitude Test (SEAT) followed by Round 2 after selection.
Private/ Govt College: Private
Qualification needed: 10+ 2 from any stream + UG degree/diploma with equivalence certificate
Course Duration: 2 years
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka (Main Campus)
Symbiosis School of Planning Architecture and Design (SSPAD) is an institution which brings together a perfect blend of three streams namely planning, architecture and design under one roof. We offer a five year degree programme in Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), a four year Bachelor of Design (B.Design) undergraduate degree and a two year Master of Design (M.Design) degree wherein, the students opting for these programmes choose their discipline of choice and will engage for four years honing the skills that will allow them to be industry ready at the end of it.
College name: Symbiosis School of Planning Architecture and Design
Courses offered: Master of Design in User Experience Design
Budget (yearly) : 2,10,000 + overheads (for Indian Students, includes refundable deposit)
Process: SEED (Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design) conducted annually, followed by Studio Test and Personal Interaction.
Private/ Govt College: Private
Qualification needed: 10+ 2 from any stream + Valid Score obtained in SEED + UG degree with equivalence certificate.
Course Duration: 2 years
Location: Nagpur, Maharashtra (Main Campus)
Some more resources for you to decide for a career in design for yourself:
* not ranked in order of excellence
