B.Design at Rishihood: Course Highlights, Who Should Study, Curriculum, and Outcomes

Not all design degrees are created equal. Some focus on theory while others prepare you for the real world.

The B.Design program at Rishihood University combines theory and practice to give students a well-rounded college education. This 4-year program teaches design thinking and stands out because of its entrepreneurial and industry-integrated focus. Below is an overview of what this program offers.

B.Design Program Course Highlights

The Bachelor of Design at Rishihood University is a 4-year full-time residential program. Students study across 8 semesters, each exploring a new direction, so they can choose the right path for themselves. Some advantages distinguish this course from other design programs.

As a part of this program, students will:

• Choose one out of three specialisations after the first year- Communication Design, Product Design and UX and Interaction Design.
• Enjoy 2 dedicated semesters for off-campus internships to give real-life exposure to working in the design industry.
• Get mentors from top design companies and academic institutions like Jagjit Rana (Maruti Suzuki), Vaibhav Kumaresh (2x Emmy-nominated stop-motion artist) and Akash Kumar (MakeMyTrip).
• Unlock opportunities to attend design events and exhibitions across the country, like the Sargalya Craft Village in Kerala, the Festival of Architecture and Interior Designing in Delhi, Moradabad Literature Festival and so on.
• Receive a creative grant to support projects, including funds for incubating startups through Rishihood’s startup incubator called Venture Studio.

Who Should Study B.Design at Rishihood University

This program is great for students who:

• Want access to the best labs and tools to explore the latest upgrades in design tech
• Enjoy working on creative projects outside the syllabus, like designing solutions, participating in national competitions and designing products that you can sell
• Like to explore interesting creative aspects of design like studying fonts, history of design, digital art, elements of architecture, designing brand kits and so on
• Want to be graded based on their work through the semester rather than end-of-semester exams
• Want to build a strong portfolio to kickstart a great design career

B.Design Program Curriculum and Learning Structure

In their first year, students learn the basics of design, art foundations, design thinking, digital creativity, and cultural awareness. They also study subjects like Understanding India and Systems Thinking. This broad foundation helps students understand design in the real world. If students are not sure what kind of design career they want to pursue, the first year helps them explore before they choose a specialisation. Between the second and fourth years, students choose between three specialisations:

• Communication Design: Uses visuals, words, and ideas to clearly communicate a message and connect with people.
• UXID: Focuses on user experience, interfaces, and digital platforms.
• Product Design: Focuses on both physical and digital products, spaces, and wearable design.

The program is interdisciplinary in nature and is ideal for students who also want to explore other paths, like psychology, tech, entrepreneurship, leadership, or public policy, through clubs and open electives.

A curriculum crafted by the best in the industry

To ensure our curriculum stays relevant in a rapidly evolving design landscape, we brought the industry to the table. In a roundtable organised in Gurgaon, design heads from Blinkit, MakeMyTrip, Maruti Suzuki and Frog debated the evolving future of the design industry. The discussion focused on what skills will continue to matter in the long run, which emerging niches are set to grow, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way designers think, create, and problem-solve.

The insights from this roundtable shaped our curriculum. Every course, project, and learning outcome has been thoughtfully designed to withstand industry shifts and technological change. The result is a program that equips students with strong fundamentals, adaptable skill sets, and practical exposure, enabling them to grow, upskill, and stay relevant as the design industry continues to evolve.

Tools and Software Learned by B.Design students of Rishihood University

During these 4 years, students learn many tools like Unreal Engine, Adobe Suite, Figma, ARVR, 3D modelling tools, and immersive design tech. Here’s how each of these tools helps a design student:

• Unreal Engine: Learn to build real-time 3D environments, interactive experiences, and virtual worlds. Explore spatial design, game mechanics, and simulation thinking, and understand how design comes alive in immersive digital spaces.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Master branding, layout, typography, motion, and storytelling through visual communication tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, etc.
• Figma: Learn to design wireframes, explore user journeys, usability testing, and how to design digital products that are intuitive and scalable.
• AR/VR Tools: Learn to design immersive, interactive experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds. Students explore spatial interaction, human behaviour in immersive environments, and the future of education, entertainment, and retail experiences.
• 3D Modelling Tools: Learn to create three-dimensional forms, products, characters, and environments. Students develop skills in form, structure, lighting, materials, and realism—crucial for product design, animation, and spatial design.
• Immersive Design Technologies: Learn to think beyond screens and design experiences across space, time, and interaction. Students explore experiential design, storytelling through environments, and emerging technologies shaping the future of design.

Through these tools, students learn how to:

• Translate ideas into high-fidelity visual and interactive experiences
• Design user-centred interfaces, products, and environments
• Build immersive worlds, simulations, and spatial narratives using AR/VR
• Prototype, test, and iterate designs the way real studios and startups do
• Work across disciplines—blending design, technology, storytelling, and business thinking

The focus isn’t just on learning software, but on learning how to think, build, and solve problems like a professional designer, ready for careers in product design, UI/UX, gaming, animation, immersive media, and emerging tech fields.

B.Design Student Outcomes

The students’ work reflects what they learn as part of the B.Design curriculum. From real-world projects to polished portfolios, these outcomes show how ideas turn into practical and professional design achievements.

• Preksha Baid became the youngest finalist at the DesignUp 2025: Preksha Baid, a third-year B.Design student at Rishihood University, became one of the youngest finalists at DesignUp 2025, India’s most respected design and tech conference. She earned an exclusive invitation to the DesignUp 2025 Conference in Bangalore and presented in front of more than 1,000 global leaders from design, technology, product, and creative industries.
• Atharva Shende designs a learning game for kids: Atharva is a third-year Communication Design learner at Rishihood University’s School of Design. He created Shapy, a collaborative smart board game for students of 5-8 years, aimed to develop motor skills, memory, and teamwork through fun gameplay. Its objective is to transform solo screen habits into classroom collaboration for amplified learning.
• Monish Bansal and Ruchita Rani make it to the Top 7 at the Godrej Campus Connect: Monish and Ruchita secured a position in the Top 7 at the Godrej Campus Connect, an event organised by Godrej Design Lab under their Conscious Collective initiative 2025 that invites architecture and design students to share ideas focused on sustainability and human well-being. They faced tough competition due to a high volume of entries, but emerged as one of the top 7 finalists. They were especially grateful for the mentorship of Prof. Pritam Lenka, as his expertise helped them in refining their idea while competing against participants from NID and IIT Bombay.

Rishihood University’s B.Design Program is not just another design program

This program has been designed with research and the intent to upskill our students according to what the industry demands. Students have access to the best facilities to make sure that they achieve their potential. If a student who:

• Loves to explore creativity without restraints
• Want the best faculty to help you shape your design career
• Wants to build a venture alongside doing your degree
• Study inter-disciplinary courses
• Enjoys culture of experimentation, curiosity and innovation

This is the place to be.