NID Prelims Syllabus
National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2027 ( NID Entrance Exam )
NID DAT 2027 Registration Date
10 Sep '26 - 30 Nov '26
NID Prelims exam is conducted for all the candidates who have filled the NID Registration form. NID does not release any official syllabus for the NID Entrance Exam, but candidates can prepare for the exam based on the topics asked in the previous year's exam and in sample papers. In this article, we will see the topics and chapters for the NID Prelims Exam for B.Des and M.Des.
NID Prelims Exam
NID Entrance Exam is conducted in two stages: NID Prelims and NID Mains. NID Prelims consists of the NID DAT Entrance Exam, and NID Mains has the Studio Sensitivity Test and an in-person Sensitivity Test/Interview. NID Prelims Entrance Exam is a pen-and-paper test. It tests students' observation skills, visual skills, problem-solving ability, etc. The Prelims Exam will be of 3 hours and will involve questions that have text and visuals.
The NID Prelims Exam is divided into two parts: Section A: Objective Type and Section B: Subjective or Drawing Question Type. Candidates must note that NID does not release any fixed pattern or syllabus for its entrance exam. So candidates should work on the conceptual topics.
- NID Syllabus 2027 Highlights
- NID Prelims Syllabus: Section A
- NID Prelims Syllabus: Section B
NID Syllabus 2027 Highlights
Check out the highlights for NID Syllabus.
| Particulars | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Exam Duration |
3 Hours (180 minutes)
|
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
| Syllabus Split |
Section A (Aptitude): 30% - 40% weightage
Section B (Drawing): 60% - 70% weightage
|
| Section A Main Area |
• Logical reasoning and 3D shape rotation
• Color theory and branding foundations • General Knowledge and design awareness • Everyday physics basics (gears, pulleys, levers) |
| Section B Focus |
|
| Negative Marking |
No negative marking in Section A
|
NID Prelims Syllabus: Section A
This section includes MCQs, MSQs, Match the following, etc. This section aims to test awareness related to visual and textual knowledge and understanding the fundamentals of design. It has questions from Mathematics, GK, English, Logical reasoning, design aptitude, etc.
| Sections | Topics |
|---|---|
| Visual Analysis & Spatial Aptitude | Mental rotation of 3D objects, paper folding and cutting patterns, pattern recognition, counting surfaces and identifying hidden shapes within complex geometry. |
| Design Principles & Color Theory | Understanding the fundamentals of design (balance, contrast, rhythm, unity, and proportion). Deep knowledge of color wheels, complementary colors, warm/cool tones, and psychological impacts of colors in branding. |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | Recent cultural events, national award-winning films, architectural landmarks, major sports events, global environmental issues, and historical art movements. |
| Awareness of Brands, Logos, & Designers | Identifying famous logos, taglines, corporate branding transformations, sustainable materials, and knowing the works of legendary Indian and international designers. |
| Basic Science & Elements of Mechanics | Basic everyday physics principles such as gears, pulleys, levers, shadows, reflections and how simple machines work. |
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NID Prelims Syllabus: Section B
Section B of NID Prelims has the maximum weightage. This section evaluates the hands-on sketching skills, visual imagination and ability to communicate through drawing and sketches. Some of the topics in the syllabus are as follows:
| Sections | Topics |
|---|---|
| Perspective Drawing | Mastering 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point perspectives. |
| Human Anatomy & Gesture Sketching | Sketching human figures in action with correct body proportions, weight distribution, realistic hand gestures, and a wide array of facial expressions capturing distinct emotions. |
| Object Rendering & Textures | Drawing everyday consumer products with a clear focus on scale, light sources, highlights, cast shadows, and realistic textures (e.g., rendering wood, glass, wrinkled fabric, or brushed metal). |
| Storyboarding & Sequential Narrative | Breaking down a short story, a passage of time, or a cause-and-effect situation into a clean 3-to-4 frame comic-strip sequence with continuous character design and smooth framing. |
| Creative Problem Solving & Innovation | Designing futuristic spaces or hybrid utility objects |
NID DAT Prelims Syllabus for the B.Des program
The syllabus for NID B.Des DAT is as follows.
| NID DAT Prelims Syllabus for B.Des Program |
||
|---|---|---|
| Design Outline for Beginners |
Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
| Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship | Design Theory |
Elements & Principles Of Design |
| Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
| Lettering |
Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
| Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Form & Function |
Colour, Pattern & Texture |
| Theme Development | Creative thinking & writing | Picture Analysis |
| Visual Logic |
Good Design vs Bad Design | Drawing Fundamentals |
| Use of Measurements, Scale & Proportions | Optical Illusion |
Foreshortening & Perspective |
| Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & motifs |
| Memory Drawing |
Usage of Colour in Compositions | Expression & Emotion |
| Exercises on imagination |
Lateral Thinking |
Story Pictures |
| Presentation Techniques | Imagination & Doodling | 3D Visualisation |
| Graphics & Pictograms |
Innovation & Creation | Design Awareness |
| Developing Observation |
||
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
UCEED and NID DAT test different skills. Students should compare the exam patterns with their own strengths.
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