NID Preparation Books 2027 (B.Des/M.Des): Study Material, Recommended Books for DAT Prelims & Mains

National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2027 ( NID Entrance Exam )

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NID DAT 2027 Registration Date

10 Sep '26 - 30 Nov '26

Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Sep 14, 2026 09:38 IST
In order to have the best chance of clearing the NID 2027 exam, it is recommended that the candidate follow the best books available in the market. There are multiple benefits of using good books as reference material, as they will contain few to no errors, contain problem sets, and will be as per the official syllabus.

To prepare well and have a good crack at the exam, refer to the best study material available. There are multiple benefits of using good books as reference material, as they will contain few to no errors, contain problem sets, and be as with the official syllabus.

NID DAT Books

 

When preparing for the exam, ensure that the reference material is top-class. If the NID DAT preparation books are good, they can increase your chances of getting a good score in the exam. That being said, you must also know how to prepare for the exam using these books.

In this article, we bring you the best books to prepare for NID DAT. So, if you want to ace the exam, you need to pull up your socks. The NID admission is a two-step process. Candidates first appear in the DAT Prelims. The scores of Prelims are used to shortlist candidates for the NID DAT Mains, which is a studio test round. 

The National Institute of Design (NID) will conduct the NID DAT 2027 exam in two stages: DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The DAT Prelims exam will be used to shortlist candidates for the DAT Mains. The final result of NID DAT 2027 will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. On the day of the DAT Prelims exam, you must bring along the NID DAT 2027 admit card and an ID proof. Also, report to the NID DAT 2027 exam center at the reporting time mentioned in the admit card. Latecomers will not be allowed inside the exam venue. Go through the NID DAT 2027 exam guidelines to learn the basic etiquette on exam day.

Table of contents
  • Recommended Books to prepare for NID DAT
  • Books to prepare for NID DAT Prelims (Aptitude Test)
  • Books for NID DAT Interview and In-Person Sensitivity Test
  • NID DAT Books for Studio Test

Recommended Books to prepare for NID DAT

Given below are some books recommended by Toppers and experts to prepare for the NID DAT exam. Check them out! 

1. Arihant's Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam

One can easily get Arihant's ultimate guide for NID preparation online from Amazon/Flipkart or a nearby bookshop. The ultimate guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT by Arihant covers the syllabus of almost all colleges and institutions that offer Bachelor's and Master's degrees in fashion design.

2. NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial Board

NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial Board contains NID Sample Papers so that you can understand exam patterns and the type of questions posed in the examination.

3. Origami Design Secrets: Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art - Robert J. Lang for NID Preparation

Origami Design Secrets has ideas of various origami and how original origami designs are made, including step-by-step guidance for 26 designs. This is also helpful for the NID studio test.

4. Design Drawing – Francis D. K. Ching

This book is best for understanding fundamental cognitive mechanisms that create visual perception and language that can improve your creative imagination with important points of drawing, including line, form, tone, and space.

5. NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by D Mittal

Along with English, Quantitative Ability, Analytical and Logical Ability, and Creative Ability, this book also contains the last three years' solved Papers of the NID exam to help aspirants get an insight into the NID pattern and the types of questions asked.

6. NIFT/NID (Admission Test) Previous Years' Papers (Solved) by R Gupta

NID 2027 aspirants can improve their problem-solving skills, speed, and accuracy by reading and practicing this book. One can buy the NIFT/NID (Admission Test) Previous Years' Papers (Solved) by R Gupta online from Amazon/Flipkart.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is NID DAT a difficult exam?
A: 

If the candidate prepares well and with the correct strategy, then the NID DAT exam can be cracked. Among the first things the candidate needs to do is prepare a practical study timetable, get familiar with the syllabus and pattern, and get the book combination right.

When studying, make it a habit to take notes and also solve all the problems given at the end of the chapter or book. Next, solve sample papers and question papers. Finally, closer to the exam, take mock tests to put the final touches on your preparation.

Q:   Is it possible to crack NID DAT without coaching?
A: 

It is not at all necessary to take coaching to get a good rank in NID DAT. It is because the entrance exam will test the creative, drawing, and innovative skills of the candidate. Now, a coaching institute can’t teach you to be creative or become innovative; instead, with a little effort these skills can learn these skills.

Q:   Do I need to solve sample papers to do well in NID DAT?
A: 

Yes, there are a multitude of benefits of solving previous years’ question papers and sample papers. For one, they will help the candidate get an idea of the types of questions asked, difficulty level, weightage, etc. This exercise of solving a sample paper is a must for NID candidates. Past years’ question papers for the NID entrance exam also help candidates in identifying important topics, resulting in aspirants securing higher marks in this design entrance test.

Q:   Which are the best books for NID Entrance Exam?
A: 

To give oneself a higher chance of securing a good rank in NID DAT, it is important to use good-quality books a reference material.

 Here are some of the best books recommended by experts and previous rank holders to prepare for the NID DAT exam.

  • NID (B. Des. ). Entrance Books and Test Series by AFAINDIA
  • Basic Rendering by Robert W. Gill
  • Design drawing by Francis D. K. Ching
  • NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial Board 

Books to prepare for NID DAT Prelims (Aptitude Test)

Apart from above mention books, check the given book list, particularly for the NID DAT Prelims exam:

  • Quantitative Aptitude - Physics and Maths syllabus up to Class 10.  
  • Logical Reasoning - Step-by-Step Verbal Reasoning by Philip Kay, How to Pass Diagrammatic Reasoning Test by Mike Bryon.  
  • GK and Current Affairs - Read newspapers daily for current affairs. For static GK, read any good GK book for NID.
  • English - The Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam by Arihant
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Books for NID DAT Interview and In-Person Sensitivity Test

The books to prepare for the NID interview are given below.

Books Authors/Publication
Interview: This book includes preparation, questions, and Answers Kindle Edition: Robin Superhalk
Preparing For A Winning Interview BIBHU PRASAD MISHRA
How to Answer Interview Questions: 101 Tough Interview Questions  Peggy McKee 
NID M.Des. Interdisciplinary Design Studies | Previous Year Studio Test Papers + 5 Mock Studio Tests Qrio Studio
How to Crack Group Discussion & Personal Interview  M.B.Sivaramakrishnan

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Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When will the NID DAT syllabus be released?
A: 

Candidates may note that the National Institute of Design (NID) doesn't release any syllabus for either DAT Prelims or DAT Mains.

However, the institute will release the sample test papers for the NID DAT  exam. The sample papers contain questions similar to the ones that will be asked in the actual exam. 

So, the candidate may download and practice the sample papers to get an idea about the difficulty level, types of questions asked, marking scheme, weightage, and topics covered.

Additionally, the candidate may download the section-wise topics for the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains exam that have been prepared by consulting previous years' question papers.

Q:   What is the syllabus for NID Entrance Exam?
A: 
The NID syllabus for that Prelims will include questions from topics like Drawing fundamentals, Innovation in design, Theme development, Exercises on imagination, Graphics & pictograms, Principles of composition, Design theory, etc. The syllabus for NID that Mains will include topics like Model making, Material manipulation, Audio-visual exercises, Importance of body language, Doodling, Creative thinking and the likes. Candidates may note that the National Institute of Design doesn't release any official syllabus. The important topics for the exam are identified by consulting previous years' question papers. The candidate is advised to visit the NID admission portal for the latest updates on NID Syllabus; alternately they may visit this page.
Q:   Where can I download the syllabus for NID DAT 2027?
A: 

There is no official syllabus for NID DAT exam. Details regarding the pattern and types of question asked are available in the handbook available on the website. You can solve sample paper to get the idea of the question paper.

 

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NID DAT Books for Studio Test

Check out some of the books for NID Studio Sensitivity Test

Book Author / Publisher
Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Arihant
NIFT & NID (B.Des) Entrance Book RPH Editorial Board
NID DAT Book R.S. Aggarwal
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About the Author
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Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager

Sayeba Naushad is a commerce postgraduate from Banaras Hindu University. She has over five years of experience in content writing and editing. She has a nose for current events in design field. At Shiksha.com, she s

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