List of Design Courses: Fees, Top Institutes, Admissions, Careers, Jobs & 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.

Here're some helpful tips for choosing the right Design course after 12th:

• The first and the most important step is to self introspect and identify your interest areas where your passion truly lies, whether it is Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design or others.
• After you’ve reached a conclusion you need to look for the best Design colleges and check their courses and curriculum to see if they provide you enough practical experience, career support and skill development opportunities.
• Look for industry recognition and placement records from the Design institute to ensure a high earning career path after completing your Designing course.
• It is also important to check for the Design course fees, faculty & infrastructure to ensure an enjoyable ride at the Design institute.
• In short, choose the course and college keeping in mind the amount of practical skills, industry knowledge, and portfolio-building opportunities.

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.

BDes stands for Bachelor of Design. It is one of the most popular design and designing courses that can be pursued by students after 10+2. It is a four-year programme that provides technical knowledge to the participants in various fields relating to the fashion industry, apparel industry, leather industry, Knitwear Design, Accessory Design, etc.

Students who enrol in a BDes study have experience in the design profession through internships, occasions, and exhibitions held both domestically and abroad. After completing the course, students with a BDes degree can immediately begin their careers. To improve their chances of landing better jobs, they could complete an internship with top designers in their field. Check Popular Colleges for BDes.

The BDes course is an interesting combination of both creativity, aestheticism, and a technical skill set. Creativity surely takes the lead where you have to put your innovative aptitude, conceptual thinking, and storytelling skills to use and come up with creative designs, be it fashion, graphics, industrial, or product designs.

Alongside, you also learn about new tools and technologies like AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, etc., to be able to bring those abstract ideas to life.

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

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.

Interior Design is the art and science of enhancing the interiors, sometimes including the exterior, of a space or building, to achieve a healthier and more pleasing environment for the end user. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that includes conceptual development, space planning, site inspections, programming, research, construction management, and execution of the design.

An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such projects. Interior designers work with interior spaces to make them visually and physically pleasing. While decorating the space is a prime responsibility, interior designers might also focus on architectural aspects of the space, such as crown molding.

Graphic Design is all about creating visually appealing content for various digital media in the form of logos, posters, advertisements, and other illustrations, using the knowledge of images and colors, design software, and typography skills. Graphic designing is very important for creating strong brand identities, strategic marketing, and advertising, further helping businesses grow in the digitalized world that we're living in today. You must have a strong knack for visual storytelling and a creative vision to excel in the world of graphics.

The process of developing a product that satisfies user demands and resolves a dilemma is known as Product Design. It involves several different academic fields, including engineering, design, and marketing.
The main aim of a Production Design is the creation of a useful and visually beautiful product. It teaches you how to assess issues, comprehend user requirements, and create workable solutions. Students can pursue a Product Design course and work at various job profiles in companies like Raymond, Levis, Myntra, Pantaloon, etc. 

Web Design courses will help you master the skills to design visually stunning, highly functional, and user-focused websites. From understanding design principles and building responsive layouts to diving into tools like Figma, Adobe XD, and WordPress, these web design courses offer a blend of creativity and technical expertise.

While pursuing Web Designing courses, students will also get to work on hands-on projects and have the opportunity to build a professional web design portfolio with professional-looking websites. This write-up will explore key aspects of web design, including Web Designing course highlights, current industry trends, learning pathways, top web design colleges, and career opportunities.

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 

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. 

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.

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.

The BDes entrance exam difficulty level differs depending on the specific exam that you're planning to appear for. In general, the entrance exams for B.Des courses are considered to be moderately challenging, which requires thorough preparation at your end and a strong hold over design principles, creative aptitude, logical reasoning, and general knowledge.

Every year there is a large number of student applications for Bachelor of Design courses and there is cutthroat competition. So, you need to work very hard and get excellent marks to grab a seat at a top design institute.

The time required to prepare for the BDes entrance exams differs based on the individual preparation strategy and dedication. It is better to start at least 6 months before the final entrance is scheduled to take place to have enough time in hand to cover the entire exam syllabus, have a look at the previous year's question papers, and practice mock tests, which would surely give you an edge over other applicants and help you get excellent marks and rank in the exam.

You can surely pursue the BDes course without giving any entrance exam. There are more than 300 design colleges in India where you can get admission on the basis of your Class 12 board exam marks and portfolio presentation/interview. While top colleges may ask for entrance exam scores, there are various options available for merit-based admissions as well.
You can go to the official college websites to have better clarity regarding their admission procedure and enjoy a hassle-free admission process.

The BDes full form is Bachelor of Design, and the competitiveness of the B.Des entrance exams varies from one design institute to another. In general, the exams are highly competitive, especially for top design institutes like NIFT or NID. You should have a good grasp of the design principles, creative and drawing aptitude, and general awareness to stay ahead in the race, as the student applications for BDes courses are on the rise, and hence, grabbing a seat for the course is no cakewalk.

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.

When you join a BDes programme, you learn about the fundamental concepts of Design in the first year. You would not be expected to have any previous knowledge or background in the field of Design. In many colleges the first semester is common for all BDes specialisations. You would learn subjects like Introduction to Design,  Elements of Design,  Creative Visualization Techniques,  Design Drawing,  Design Thinking,  Principles of Design,  Physical Ergonomics and Rendering & Illustration.

The B Designing course syllabus is not the same for all colleges and differs on the basis of the specialisation and the college where you plan to pursue the course. Each design institute has certain curriculum guidelines to adhere to; while some core subjects might be similar, the rest of the program-specific electives vary, along with industrial workshops, project work, and design studio lessons.

You can check the official websites of the colleges where you're planning to apply to understand their learning approach and syllabus structure for BDes courses.

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.

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.

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:

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.

There are many Design streams in India that offers the best career options. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Graphic Designer
• Interior Designer
• Fashion Designer
• Video Game Designer
• Product Design
• Art Director

There are a variety of BDes specialisations under which graduates are hired by their respective industries. For instance, a BDes in Fashion Design graduate can seek employment in Fashion industry. Some of the top Fashion Design recrutiers include Myntra, Nykaa, Meesho, Sabyasachi Couture, etc. 

Similarly every BDes specialisation has their own companies hiring graduates for specific job roles.

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.

BFTech stands for Bachelor of Fashion Technology, while BDes stands for Bachelor of Design. Although both Fashion Design as well as Fashion Technology are a part of the same stream. But there is a fundamental difference between the two. Fashion Design deals with creating new design pieces which can be apparel, accessories or fabric.

On the other hand, Fashion Technology deals with applying Science and technology to create fabrics from materials available in the market. Fashion Technology as a field emphasizes the techniques and equipment used to produce fashion products. Thus,  Fashion Technology involves the use of various techniques and equipment for the production as well as management of fashion goods that are produced.

Both these professional undergraduate degrees are in the creative field, but BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) is different from BDes because of the following points: