Features to be Considered Before Choosing a Design School

Wondering which Design school would give you the best exposure? Well, it is a known fact that choosing a Design college in India can be a little daunting. As more institutes are being added to the list of Top design colleges every day, finding the one that offers you everything on your checklist can be a difficult task to do.

To start with, Design aspirants tend to believe that government colleges like the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) or National Institute of Design (NID) are the only options for higher education in the field. On the contrary, a variety of other design colleges apart from NID and NIFT across the country provide cutting edge design curriculum, a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience, record-making placements and so on. 

This article shall help you learn the major features that you must consider before choosing a Design school. Apart from those features, it will also give you a list of some of the top Design schools in India that offer both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the disciplines of textile design, fashion design, fashion technology, graphic design,interior design, industrial and product design, and more. 

Features to be Considered Before Choosing a Design School 

Fashion design has become one of the most sought-after courses in higher education over the last two decades. A quick Google search reveals hundreds of design schools around the world, but the question remains: how do you choose the best fashion design school for you? A ten-point checklist is provided below for your review before making your big decision. Here are the features that you must consider and certainly add to your checklist when choosing a Design school in India:

Faculty: No matter which design institute you decide to apply to, its faculty will play a massive role in making or breaking your career in Design. The impact of faculty on your learning experience is valuable and it is the faculty-student interactions that will never fade away. Although the faculty does not have an effect on your immediate success, its role is tied to the primary and central functions of design education.

Course Curriculum and Co-curricular Activities: The faculty and curriculum of a design programme go hand in hand. What is crucial to understand here is that when you glance through the curriculum of your course of choice, you get an idea of what you would encounter and whether you would enjoy it or not. Most design enthusiasts make the mistake of selecting a design institute only for its brand value and end up losing interest in the field. Unlike traditional times, present-day institutes give immense significance to providing an all-around experience to students. They are widely encouraged to participate in various events and extra-curricular activities along with seminars and hands-on design projects. While your college experience is largely academic, you will also spend time on other activities.

Placement Trends: Given that design is one of the most sought-after career options across the world, it leaves limited options for freshers. This makes it twice as important to learn what percentage of placements an institute is recording every year and if the institute offers pre-placement training to students. Design institutions like Lovely Professional University (LPU), University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, not only offer 100% placements but also make sure that students are well-trained to land a lucrative job.

Reviews and Ranking: Deciding on which institute to get your design degree from would probably be one of the major decisions that you would have to make in your life. So, while you are at it, it is better to gain an upper hand by looking at the college reviews posted by the institutes' former students. In addition, every institute in India is ranked by various organisations, methodologies or publications such as National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), QS World University Rankings, India Today, The Financial Express, etc. 

Recognition and Accreditation: It is always better to get admission in an institute that is recognised by Indian regulatory bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), Council of Architecture (COA), Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), etc. Colleges in India are further assessed and accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Industry Exposure: A designer needs to have theoretical knowledge about the field along with practical exposure. Without industry exposure, the designer will not be able to understand the real-world practical application. So, students should consider researching about the projects and internships offered at the design school before signing up for it.

Culture and the Environment: Examine the surrounding environment and the overall culture of the university. You'll be there for up to four years, so it's critical that the environment feels safe and comfortable to you.

Graduate Guidance: Investigate alumni and the breadth of support available to graduates. Schools with a strong support system demonstrate their concern for past, present, and future students.

Location, Infrastructure and Campus Life: Location plays an undeniably major role in your college experience. The city, its size, and the local community will impact your days at a design school and a field like design will certainly be affected by the college location. The location of your college will also greatly affect your expenses. Another thing to keep in mind while exploring the campus is to find out what kinds of exclusive facilities for design the institute offers besides the usual benefits. Be sure to pay close attention to the same along with the campus environment in order to acquire both theoretical and practical experience.

Scholarship Availability/ Financial Assistance: A lot of private colleges in India offering scholarship for design admission based on both merit and means to attract more students and give an equal opportunity to every aspirant. While there is a perception that scholarships are available only for students who are in direct need of it, you must certainly apply for it to reduce your tuition costs. Some institutes conduct common entrance exams for the same and others ask for separate registration.

Also Read: Design Career in India

Top Design Schools in India

There are many top design schools in India offering wide exposure across different courses such as BDes, MDes, BFTech and more. We are here with the list of design schools with their fees below:

Also Read: Best Designing Courses in India

Designing is a creative field, and candidates must know about the features to be considered before choosing a design school. From the industry exposure of the design school to the facilities, placement, infrastructure, course curriculum and structure everything must be kept in mind while finalising a design school.

To ensure a hassle-free application process to these leading design institutes, you can fill our Common Application Form (CAF) or reach out to us or call our toll-free number 1800-572-9877 in case you need further assistance. Our team will guide you through the admission process. If you have any queries, drop them on the QnA zone.

For more informative details regarding the Design stream, stay tuned to CollegeDekho!