Why Pursue a Career in Design?
Professional designers in the fields of fashion, interior design, product, communication, and animation have many options to show off their skills and produce incredible works. India's design industry has a bright future, enabling students to follow their desired design career paths. Choosing a specialization and getting accepted into an undergraduate program is the first step in starting a career in the field of design. Innovation is the key skill required for every design program.
Top Design Colleges
The best design colleges in India where most design students dream of attending are given below. Joining a prestigious institution is important for opportunities to advance in a design career.
NID
National Institute of Design
The National Institute of Design (NID) is India’s premier design school, recognized for its excellence in industrial, communication, and textile design. Established in 1961, NID offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. It emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and research-driven design solutions. With its campuses in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Bengaluru, NID is globally renowned for fostering innovation and collaboration. Its multidisciplinary curriculum and strong industry partnerships make it a leader in design education.
2025 Admissions Open
NIFT
National Institute of Fashion Technology
NIFT is India’s leading institute for fashion and design, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Established in 1986 under the Ministry of Textiles, NIFT has campuses across India. It focuses on fashion technology, apparel design, and fashion management, blending creativity with business acumen. NIFT has strong industry connections, providing students with opportunities for internships and placements. Its innovative curriculum and state-of-the-art infrastructure make it a hub for future designers and fashion professionals.
2025 Admissions Open
IIT
Indian Institute of Technology
IITs, known for their engineering prowess, also excel in design education through their industrial design centers. IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, and IIT Delhi are especially renowned for their design programs. Offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses, IITs integrate technology with design to create impactful solutions. The curriculum emphasizes user-centric design, innovation, and sustainable practices, making graduates highly sought after in the industry. IIT's interdisciplinary approach prepares students for diverse design careers.
2025 Admissions Open
IDC Bombay
Industrial Design Center
The IIT Bombay Industrial Design Center, School of Design is the design school part of the infamous IIT Bombay. Established in 1969, the college offers courses in both B.Des & M.Des in fields such as Design and Animation. The college offers state of the art placement opportunities, facilities & faculties, making it one of the most sought after design schools especially for M.Des students.
2025 Admissions Open
MITID, Pune
MIT Institute of Design
MIT Institute of Design, Pune, is part of the renowned MIT Group of Institutions. Established in 2006, the institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas like product design, fashion design, and communication design. MIT ID focuses on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. With world-class infrastructure and experienced faculty, the institute promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Its industry-driven curriculum ensures students are well-prepared for the evolving design landscape.
2025 Admissions Open
MITID, Indore
MIT Avantika Design University
Avantika University, part of the MIT Group, is India’s first design-centered university. Located in Ujjain, it offers an innovative curriculum that integrates design with technology, engineering, and liberal arts. Avantika’s design programs emphasize problem-solving, creativity, and real-world applications. Its state-of-the-art campus, industry partnerships, and experiential learning opportunities ensure students gain practical skills. Avantika’s interdisciplinary approach makes it a standout in India’s design education space.
2025 Admissions Open
Design Scholarship Test (DST)
Date: Sun, 15th Dec 2024
Time: 11:00 am to 02:00 pm
UID
United World Institute of Design
Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID) is one of India’s leading design institutes, located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. UID offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate design programs, covering areas like fashion design, product design, visual communication, and interior design. Known for its modern facilities and industry-oriented curriculum, UID encourages creativity, innovation, and hands-on experience. Its international collaborations and strong focus on real-world projects help students build successful careers in design.
2025 Admissions Open
UPES
University of Petroleum & Energy Studies
UPES, located in Dehradun, is a well-known multi-disciplinary university and has been ranked No. 1 in 'Academic Reputation'. Its School of Design provides a blend of technology and creativity, with undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas like product design, graphic design, and transportation design. UPES is known for its industry-aligned curriculum, experienced faculty, and state-of-the-art labs. The university focuses on innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, making it a popular choice for aspiring designers.
2025 Admissions Open
ISDI
ISDI School of Design & Innovation
Atlas School of Design & Innovation is a fantastic choice for aspiring designers and innovators. Established in 2013, it's quickly become one of India's premier design schools, right in the heart of Mumbai.
What sets ASDI apart is its unique approach. They focus on a strong foundation in liberal arts and critical thinking, combined with specialized training in cutting-edge design techniques and emerging technologies. This holistic approach empowers students to not just be creative, but to use their skills to drive real-world impact.
2025 Admissions Open
École Intuit Lab
École Intuit Lab, Bangalore
Ecole Intuit Lab is a globally recognized design and digital school, with campuses in Paris, Mumbai, and now Bangalore. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in multimedia, visual communication, game art and design & digital product design. Known for its international faculty and cutting-edge curriculum, Ecole Intuit Lab combines French creativity with Indian sensibilities. The institute focuses on practical learning, industry exposure, and global perspectives, preparing students for the dynamic world of design
2025 Admissions Open
TDV
The Design Village
The Design Village is an interdisciplinary learning institute located in Noida, with a curriculum that is closely aligned with industry needs.
The Design Village often collaborates with industry experts, professionals, and organizations through workshops, seminars, and other events that provide students with exposure to real-world design challenges such as international collaborations that allow students to opt for exchange programs, or exposure to global design trends and practices.
2025 Admissions Open
WUD
World University of Design
Located in Haryana, the World University of Design (WUD) is dedicated to design, innovation, and creativity. WUD offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fashion, product design, communication design, architecture, and more. The university’s modern curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, sustainability, and industry collaboration. With state-of-the-art facilities and experienced faculty, WUD aims to nurture creative professionals who can address global design challenges.
2025 Admissions Open
Pearl
Pearl Academy
Set up in 1993, Pearl academy is a premium design and creative arts institutes in the country. Pearl has several campuses around india like Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, etc. They offer both UG & PG courses across their campuses in various design, fashion & creative art domains.
2025 Admissions Open
STRATE
Strate School of Design
Strate School of Design is a well-known institution in France and on a global scale, recognized by both the academic community and businesses. It educates future design professionals who are poised to make a positive influence on the future. Operating across four campuses in Paris, Lyon, Bangalore, and Singapore.
Strate provides a comprehensive educational experience, with diverse and ambitious programs tailored to address the demands of the 21st century
2025 Admissions Open
CMR University
CMRU School of Design
The CMR University School of Design, based in Bangalore, offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas like product design, interior design, and visual communication. Known for its holistic approach to design education, CMRU fosters creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills. The institute focuses on interdisciplinary learning and industry collaborations, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the demands of the design industry. Its vibrant campus life and experienced faculty make it a preferred choice for aspiring designers.
2025 Admissions Open
FDDI
Footware Design & Development Institute
Established in 1986, it has attained the esteemed status of an "Institution of National Importance." FDDI provides ug & pg courses in Footwear Design and production, Leather, Lifestyle & Product Design, Fashion Design, retail and fashion merchandising, and retail and fashion merchandising. FDDI has 12 campuses across India
CEPT
Center for Environment & Planning Technology
CEPT University in Ahmedabad is a prestigious institution offering programs in architecture, planning, and design. CEPT’s Faculty of Design focuses on creating socially responsible, sustainable design solutions. Offering both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, CEPT integrates design with urban planning, architecture, and sustainability. With a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and practical experience, CEPT produces graduates who are well-equipped to address the challenges of modern design and urban development.
Alliance
Alliance University
Alliance School of Design & creative arts was established in 2010 under Alliance university. Located in Bangalore, Alliance university offers various courses in B.Des such as animation & film design, interaction design and more. All students are required to apply through the alliance design aptitude test (ADAT)
2025 Admissions Open
Referral Code: AFDINDIA25
Admission Process and Eligibility
To gain admission into design colleges in India, students may be required to submit a creative portfolio and achieve a qualifying score in the institution’s entrance exam. For ug programs, candidates should have completed their 10+2 education from a recognised board. For pg programs, graduation from UGC recognized university is mandatory.
Design Portfolio: A lot of design colleges require a portfolio that demonstrates the student’s creativity, skills, technical abilities, and design mindset. It highlights their potential by showcasing their skills in conceptual design, problem-solving, and visual communication.
Entrance Exam Scores: Admissions often require scores from entrance examinations like the NIFT Entrance Exam, UCEED, and NID DAT. The candidate’s design, innovation, and critical thinking skills are assessed through these exams.
Entrance Exams for Design Colleges
Candidates are required to score above a cutoff mark in the entrance exam in order to be admitted into the best design colleges in India. Entrance tests are essential for admission to prestigious design programs.
NID DAT: Overview, Eligibility, and Exam Structure
To gain admission to the design programs at the National Institute of Design, candidates must clear both the Prelims and Mains stages of the NID DAT exam. Depending on the course, completion of a 10+2 program or a bachelor's degree is typically a prerequisite for eligibility. The test assesses general knowledge, design, creativity, and visualization abilities.
UCEED: Overview and Key Details
UCEED is an entrance exam administered by IITs for B.Des program admissions. Evaluating logical reasoning, creativity, design thinking, and visual perception is the primary focus. The UCEED exam is open to anyone who has completed their 10+2 education in any stream.
NIFT Entrance Exam
Aspirants who want pursue a career in fashion can apply to get into the National Institute of Fashion Technology & obtain All India Rank (AIR) in the NIFT Entrance Exam. The admission test includes general ability test, creative ability test & situation test. UG applicants must complete the 10+2 in any stream and PG applicants must complete graduation.
Many design colleges conduct institute-specific entrance exams, such as the MITID DET for admissions into various MITs, AIEED - All India Entrance Examination for Design, Pearl Academy Entrance Exam, and CEED (for pg design courses in IISc & IITs). These exams vary in format but tests similar aptitude and creativity assessments.
How afdindia Helps You to Get Admission to Design Colleges?
afdindia is dedicated to helping aspiring design students achieve their goal of securing admissions into the best design colleges in India. Expert guidance is provided by our faculty members through a comprehensive coaching approach customized to each entrance exam and individual’s strengths. Students are provided with the necessary tools and guidance to ensure their success throughout the entire admissions process & design entrance exams.
Entrance Exam Coaching: afdindia specializes in coaching for top design entrance exams like NID DAT, UCEED, NIFT, CEED & others. Students benefit from our faculty's extensive experience, which enhances creative thinking, design skills, and exam comprehension.
Portfolio Preparation: Admission to top design colleges often requires a strong portfolio. Our help with portfolio preparation guarantees students can demonstrate their original ideas, creativity, and design skills thoroughly. Mentors provide each student with individualized guidance so that their portfolio is unique and accurately represents their skills.
Interview Preparation: Personal interviews and situation tests can be very important in certain college admissions. afdindia provides personalized coaching and conducts mock interviews to assist students in preparing for these stages. Students gain the ability to express ideas clearly, perform well under pressure, and make an impression on interviewers.
FAQs
What are the main entrance exams for design colleges in India?
NID DAT, UCEED, CEED, NIFT Entrance Exam, and other state- or institute-specific exams are a few of the main entrance exams.
What are the criteria for qualifying for design entrance exams?
Normally, candidates need to have finished their 10+2 from an accredited board. However, eligibility requirements can differ for each exam and institution.
How is the NIFT Entrance Exam conducted?
The NIFT Entrance Examination will be administered in both CBT (Computer Based Test) and PBT (Paper Based Test) formats. The NIFT Entrance Examination for the GAT (General Ability Test) will be conducted online for all programs. The Creative Ability Test (CAT) for B.Des. and M.Des will be conducted using a paper-based format (PBT).
Is a portfolio required for design college applications?
During interviews or studio tests, certain design institutes may ask for a portfolio that displays your creative work.
How often is the NID DAT exam conducted?
Once a year, the NID DAT entrance exam is conducted.
What is the best way to prepare for design entrance exams like NID DAT or UCEED?
Join afdindia’s coaching programs and work to improve creative thinking, hone up drawing abilities, keeping up with design trends, and practice sample questions encompassing general aptitude, logical reasoning, and lateral thinking.
What does the exam pattern of the NID DAT consist of?
NID DAT consists of two stages: Prelims (design aptitude objective and subjective questions) and Mains (studio test and interview).
What are the main topics tested in the UCEED exam?
UCEED evaluates proficiency in visual and spatial ability, observation, design sensitivity, environmental and social awareness, analytical and logical reasoning, and language comprehension.
Is it possible to apply for multiple design entrance exams within a year?
You can apply for multiple entrance exams such as NID DAT, UCEED, NIFT. Most of the exams are held on different dates and dates rarely clash.
Is coaching required to succeed in design entrance exams?
Although coaching is not required, it can increase your chances of success in these competitive exams.
