What is Design? Courses, Fees, Top Institutes, Careers & Salary 2025

Design is basically a plan or a specification that is used to construct an object or an activity that leads to making a prototype, product, or even a process flow. In other words, design is anything that is used to ensure that an idea becomes more presentable and understandable to the consumers. Design courses can be pursued in a number of specialisations. They expand the growth prospects of the candidate and enable them to increase their pay scale. These courses are offered at Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctorate levels. In addition to this, there are numerous Diploma courses and online certificates in India to train students in specific skills they need. Moreover, due to the evergrowing demand of this industry, multiple specialisations are offered across various colleges. Candidates can pursue short-term or long-term courses in this field and establish career in Designing. Read Design Specialisations.

Candidates can pursue design courses at the UG as well as PG level in India. The most popular design course at the UG level is Bachelor of Design (BDes) and the most popular PG level course in this stream is Master of Design (MDes). The BDes degree programme is a full-time, four-year programme with specialisations in fashion design, interior design, accessory design, textile design, and many other areas.

The BDes degree has changed over time, and it is now available with a variety of design specialisations, including graphic design, multimedia design, visual effects design, visual communication, and game design. The Master of Design (MDes) degree is one of the qualifications that aids in specialisation and skill development for a career in the design industry. Only those with a bachelor's degree in a related field may pursue a master's degree in design.

Yes you can pursue a Design course after completing B.Com. Since, you are a graduate, you can apply for postgraduate level Desoign courses such as MDes, MFM and MA and MSc with Design specialisations.You can give entrance for NIFT and choose the field you are most interested in. 

Here are some important documents you should carry during a Design course admission to ensure a seamless process:

• Class 10 and 12 marksheets.
• A bachelor's or master's degree (if applicable).
• A valid ID proof (Adhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.)
• Passport size photographs.

Most popular design colleges offer admission to aspirants in courses offered by them on the basis of their performance in an entrance exam. Some popular design entrance exams are NIFT Entrance Exam, Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED), NID Entrance Exam (NID DAT), and Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED). Besides this, some instiutes offer direct admission to candidates.

The applicants can directly visit the institute and fill up the admission form and apply for a particular course.Some of the popular institutes include the following:

• NID, Ahmedabad
• NIELIT, Guwahati
• National Institute of Electronics & IT, Manipur
• MGU, Kerala
• Pearl Academy, Delhi

CEED is an entrance exam for postgraduate Design courses such as M.Des and UCEED entrance exam is for undergraduate Design courses such as B. Des. UCEED is open to all nationals (Indian/Foreign). Many reputed colleges such as Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur (IIITDMJ) aceept UCEED scores. You should have qualified for CEED exam if you wish to seek admission to Master of Design M.Des programmes at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, and IIT Kanpur, and to Ph.D. programmes in Design at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Kanpur.

A: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will declare the NIFT Final Result 2025 anytime on the official website. It is expected to be out in June end. The results will be declared online at the NTA NIFT admission portals: nift.ac.in/admission and exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT

To check your result, you have to log in to the result portal using your application number and date of birth.

The FINAL results of NIFT 2025 will be is prepared by considering the performance of the candidate in GAT CAT and Situation Test/ Personal Interview. The Final Result will be consists of NIFTEE 2025 Stage 1 and Stage 2 Examination.

Design courses are offered in the undergraduate, postgraduate or Diploma courses. They are also offered through certificate courses. Candidates can pursue BDes, BFTech (Apparel Production), Diploma in Fashion Designing, Diploma in Apparel Merchandising,  BSc in Fashion Design, BA (Hons) Fashion Design, BA (Hons) Product Design, BA (Hons) Jewellery Design, BA (Hons) Communication Design, BA (Hons) Fashion Styling & Image Design, Bachelors in Textile Design etc. Here are some popular types of Designing courses can be pursued in specialisations listed below:

• Fashion Design
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Web Design
• User Experience Design
• Knitwear Design 

The Bachelor of Design (BDes) programme is popular for various reasons. For starters, it gives a solid foundation in a variety of design disciplines, such as graphic design, industrial design, fashion design and others It allows you to explore and specialise in the areas of your interest. The practical and hands-on character of BDes programmes allows students like you to build demonstrable skills and a strong portfolio, both of which are required for entry into the competitive design business. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach encourages creativity and problem-solving, preparing graduates for a variety of employment choices. The growing demand for design experts in areas ranging from technology to marketing contributes to the appeal of BDes as a versatile and dynamic education that allows students to shape the visual and functional aspects of the environment around them. Check Popular Colleges for BDes.

Bachelor of Design (BDes) are the most popular type of UG Design courses. BDes is offered in numerous specializations, providing foundational knowledge of specific Design fields. It is a 4-year degree programme offered across thousands of Design colleges in India. 

Design is one of the most sought-after streams around the globe. The Design realm is so vast it involves all the technical and creative fields. Some popular specializations in the Design field include Fashion Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design,  Automotive Design, Jewellery Design, etc. However, choosing a specific field of study completely depends on your interests, expertise, and career goals.

A design course includes subjects/topics that are taught to students in order to introduce them to the fundamentals of design. Some design courses focus on teaching students the history of design and architectural trends whereas others, emphasize photography, drawing, and modelling. Designing skills, writing skills, Graphic history and computer applications. The syllabus of design courses might vary according to the specialisation selected. The learning of this course, will help students in enhancing the valuable skills needed in the real working while being in any design profession.

Here are some books you can read as a Design student apart from your regular syllabus to boost your knowledge in the field:

• The Design Thinking Playbook by Michael Lewrick.
• The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman.
• Designing Experiences by James Robert Rossman and Mathew D. Duerden.
• Emotional Design by Donald Norman.
• Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All by David Kelley and Tom Kelley.
• Change By Design by Tim Brown. 
• Don't Make Me Think Revisited by Steve Krug.

Of course, here are some top online college options for BDes in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Yes, more than 250 colleges offer Interior Design courses online at various levels, such as UG, PG, Diploma, Certification, and Doctorate. Some top colleges among them include:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

NIFT is a government college that was established in 1986 under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Further, the official website informs, “NIFT Act 2006 published in the Gazette of India on 14th July 2006 confers Statutory Status on the Institute. The Act came into effect on 1st April 2007. The President of India is the 'Visitor' of the Institute under the Act”.

NIFT is one of the most popular group of colleges offering various designing courses in undergraduate and postgraduate level. They conduct their own entrance examination called as NIFT Entrance Exam to admit the brightest minds for pursuing Fashion Technology and Designing courses. Check NIFT Participating Institutes.

National Institute of Fashion Technology or NIFT is a government college whereas Pearl Academy is a private design college. Both the design schools offer in-depth course curriculum and industry exposure to candidates who want to make a career in the field of design. Both colleges offer design courses in various specialisations.

Students can visit the websites of both colleges and select the college as per their suitability and specialisation. Admission to both the colleges depends on the marks score in their entrance tests. Check the rankings of these colleges below:

Here are some of the popular Design colleges offering great placement opportunities to students in India and abroad:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Accessory Designer, Interior Designer, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Game Designer, and Furniture Designer are some of the job profiles available after studying design courses. Designer pay may vary depending on a number of factors, including cities or demand. Your degree's worth may differ between cities. There are more offices and enterprises in big cities, which increases your chances of finding work.

Graduates in design have a wide range of employment possibilities.

The "better" design career is determined by the individual's interests and strengths. Graphic design opens doors to opportunities in advertising and marketing, web design is critical for a growing online presence, fashion design focuses on clothing and accessories, interior design focuses on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.
Similarly, Animation and multimedia design contribute to visual effects and content creation, UX/UI design improves digital interfaces, and architectural design entails designing buildings. The proper design stream is determined by personal passion as well as alignment with specific industry preferences and professional aspirations. Also Read:

• Fashion Design courses one can study
• Interior Design: Courses One Can Study
• Accessory Design: Types of Job Profiles

Design is a constantly changing field, with new trends, technology, and methods appearing regularly. Individuals who study design can engage in continual learning and stay current with industry advances.

• Design skills can be a great advantage for those interested in creating their enterprises or freelancing. Being able to design your own logo, marketing materials, and internet presence might provide you with a competitive advantage.
• The highly developed field of design always needs qualified professionals. It is further subdivided into numerous specialisations and several subfields. There is always a demand for creative people who are also conversant with cutting-edge design techniques because design occupations are so broad.
• Due to its growing popularity and the emergence of fresh aesthetic ideas, the design business now has a larger yearly turnover than any other sector of the economy. Also, design as a career offers varied job prospects and helps new entrants ensure a good pay scale.
• The professionals also get a chance to change jobs with experience, owing to the great scope of the courses and the availability of multiple career choices. Also, they can think of commencing their fashion brand or outlet and becoming entrepreneurs. 

There are more than 200 Design colleges in Delhi offering hundreds of courses on various levels. Here are some top options you can consider:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.

Here are some top Design college options in Bangalore, India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.