Master of design or M.Des is a postgraduate degree program of 2 years and is pursued by aspirants having a keen interest in the artistic field and who want to achieve the pinnacle standard in the field of design.
The eligibility criteria of the M.Des course is that the candidates must have a qualifying degree in Design/Architecture/ Interior design/ Fine arts or in any stream with at least 50% marks from a recognized university. The average annual fee required to study the MDes program ranges from INR 1 to 3 lakhs. MDes Syllabus is divided into 4 semesters. It consists of the subjects such as Introduction to Industry Practices, Sustainable systems, and craft studies, Industry guided project proposal, Brand communication, etc.
M.Des Admission is done on the basis of an entrance examination. In order to obtain admission to one of the top MDes colleges candidates must clear the entrance exam along with a personal interview round to get through the admission process. Candidates can pursue jobs in both government and private sectors. Candidates can earn an average salary from INR 3 to 8 lakhs after successfully completing the MDes course, Graduates can work in the industries like fashion, design, craft, textile, special needs, publication, media, and lifestyle products, etc. Popular MDes Job Profiles include interior designer, fashion designer, etc.
3.2 Admission 2023
3.3 Entrance Exams
7.1 Maharashtra
7.2 Delhi NCR
7.3 Rajasthan
7.4 Uttar Pradesh
Master of Design: Course Highlights
Some of the important highlights of M.Des are tabulated below.
Course level | Postgraduate |
Full-Form | Master of Design |
Duration | 2 years |
Examination type | Semester |
Eligibility | Bachelor's degree in Design/Architecture/ Interior design/ Fine arts or in any stream with at least 50% marks from a recognized degree. |
Admission Process | Through Entrance examination and personal interview |
Course Fee | INR 1 to 3 annually |
Average Salary | INR 3 to 8 lakhs per annum |
Top Recruiting Companies | Wipro Technologies Ltd, Eaton Corporation, Godrej & Boyce, Honeywell International Inc, Infosys Limited, Think Design, Craft Canvas, Lotus Design, etc par |
Job Positions | Visual Designer, Design Evangelist, Insight Officer, Design Thinker, Sustainable Development Officer, User Experience Designer, CSR Executive, Trend Analyst, Social & Cultural Executive. |
Why pursue the Master of Design Course?
Explore the mentioned below points to know why a Master of Design can be a course full of worth:
- Increased Job Opportunities: A report from McKinsey suggests that the net worth of the Indian Apparel Market would be worth USD 59.3 Billion by the end of 2022, thus making it the sixth largest in the world after Germany and UK. This will provide the MDes Graduate with employment opportunities.
- Good compensation and other benefits: According to the website payscale the MDes Graduates in India India earn an average salary of INR 982,635 per annum. Apart from the salary, the MDes graduates are entitled to various perks such as PF, medical insurance, traveling expenses, etc. Top recruiters like Wipro Technologies Ltd, Eaton Corporation, Godrej & Boyce, Honeywell International IncThink Design, Craft Canvas, Lotus Design, etc hire large numbers of these graduates.
- Chance to work in a growing Industry: According to reports by the various Indian media outlets the Indian Fashion Industry is expected to grow at a rate of 10-12% in the coming few years. By 2022 there would be over 300 new brands that are expected to open shops in India, and thus are expected to hire design candidates
- Chance to work in a large number of industries: Master of Design provides scope in almost every industry, as every industry needs designing. One pursuing this course has the opportunity to explore flourishing industries like Fashion, Interior, Web, Gaming, Graphic, Animation, etc.
- Ability to be an entrepreneur: The course allows the candidates to turn entrepreneurs after the completion of the course or after gaining sufficient experience. There are numerous alumni that have opened up their own clothing lines after the completion of the course.
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The designing course will teach the students to ensure that the product’s usability, functionality, and appearance remain intact while they design any product.
Who Should Study M.Des Course?
- Candidates who wish to enter the fashion industry should take up the course
- Candidates who wish to become fashion designers should take up the course. The Candidates are required to take up MDes (Fashion Design ) courses.
- The course is also ideal for candidates who want to become a game developer. They are required to undertake the MDes in Game Design Course.
- The candidates who want to become interior designers can take up the course.
- Candidates who have completed their B.Des Course can take up the M.Des program for the overall upliftment of their career
- Similarly, candidates who want to become an entrepreneur, especially in the fashion industry should take up the course.
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Candidates who are open to traveling should take up the course as it would require the candidates to travel frequently.
Master of Design Admission Process
The admission process to the various MDes courses is done on the basis of the entrance examination conducted by the different universities.
Master of Design Eligibility Criteria
Students wanting to pursue a postgraduate degree in the design field should fulfill the following criteria before applying.
- The applicant should hold a bachelor’s degree in Design or in any stream from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
- They should have qualified for the entrance examination conducted for the design courses.
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There is generally no upper age limit for the candidates applying for the programs.
MDes Admission 2023
The MDes Admission Process has been explained with help of the following points:
- Entrance Test: Most of the top institutes conduct admission through the common entrance examination called CEED. Some of the institutes like the Indian Institute Of Crafts And Design, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, and more also conduct their own examinations like NIFT, IICD, UPES DAT, etc.
- Registration: The candidates are required to register themselves with the various universities or the entrance examination bodies and create a login ID. Then they are required to fill up the application form, upload the necessary documents and submit the application fees.
- Appear for Entrance: The candidates are required to score well in the entrance exam.
- Application: Post qualifying for the entrance exams and meeting the eligibility criteria of the stream one wants to apply to, filling up an application for a specific institute is to be done.
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Personal Interview: This is the last and final step of selection by universities post successfully clearing the entrance and application.
Master of Design Entrance Exams
Tabulated below are the popular M.Des entrance exams that are conducted by different bodies in India every year.
Entrance Exam | Registration Date | Examination Date |
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NIFT EE | November 1, 2022 – 1st week of January 2023 | February 5, 2023 |
CEED | September 30, 2022 – November 9, 2022 | January 22, 2023 |
AIEED | December 24, 2022 – January 10, 2023 | January 15 – 30, 2023 (March Session II) |
NID DAT | October 22, 2022 – December 22, 2022 |
Prelims: January 08, 2023 Main: March 20, 2023- April 23, 2023 |
Master of Design Specializations
Master of Design has various specializations in the field of fashion & textile, communication, etc. Some of the popular specializations are mentioned below:
M.Des in Fashion Designing
This is one of the design courses that deals with the fashion and industry and one who is fascinated with designing clothes and apparel can pursue this course.
Average Annual Fees | INR 1 to 3 lakhs |
Average Annual Salary | INR 5 to 8 lakhs |
Top M.Des in Fashion Designing colleges |
M.Des in Interior Designing
Interior designing revolves around generating creative ideas to design and decorate the interiors of the house. The students interested in this career can move ahead with this course.
Average Annual Fees | INR 1 to 2 lakhs |
Average Annual Salary | INR 2 to 5 lakhs |
Top M.Des in Interior Designing colleges |
M.Des in Communication Studies
Communication is a broad concept and has various patterns to follow. The one who is eager enough to indulge in designing various communication patterns can take up this course.
Average Annual Fees | INR 2 to 3 lakhs |
Average Annual Salary | INR 4 to 5 lakhs |
Top M.Des in Communication Studies colleges |
M.Des in Industrial Design
Industrial design deals with the study of curating products that are to be manufactured for market use.
Average Annual Fees | INR 1.50 to 2.50 lakhs |
Average Annual Salary | INR 5 to 6 lakhs |
Top M.Des in Industrial Design colleges |
M.Des in Game Design
This is one of the most popular design courses as every day new games are launched in the market. From creating the structure of the game to designing the software, aspiring gaming designers will have to do it all.
Average Annual Fees | INR 3 to 4 lakhs |
Average Annual Salary | INR 6 to 8 lakhs |
Top M.Des in Game Design colleges |
Check some more M.Des Specialization Colleges:
Top M.Des in Textile Design Colleges | Top M.Des in Automobile Design Colleges |
Top M.Des in Jewellery Design Colleges | Top M.Des in Information Design Colleges |
Master of Design Syllabus
Some of the common subjects covered during the Master of Design Syllabus courses duration are mentioned below:
Introduction to Industry Practices | Visualization and Digital Representation |
Sustainable systems and craft studies | Design thinking and methods |
Introduction to social design | Industry-guided project proposal |
Design for sustainability & craft | Design research methods |
Trend research & forecasting | Design as a luxury (floating) |
Introduction to Experience design | Brand positioning and Curatorial practices |
Strategy design management | Design philosophy & critique |
Information design | Brand communication |
MDes Course Comparison
We have drawn the table below to differentiate between M Des (Master in Design) and MTech in Design (Master of Technology in Design) for students to have a clear understanding of both.
Parameters | Master in Design (M Des) | Master of Technology in Design (MTech in Design) |
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Objective | The focus of the course is to invent and create designs that are a forever part of the millennium, by using technology. | The program is designed to make candidates familiar with the requisite skills needed in synthesis design, and analysis of a wide variety of mechanical engineering systems. |
Specializations | Fashion, Interior, Web, Gaming, Graphic, Animation, etc. | No Specializations are available. |
Average Annual Fees | INR1,00,000 to 3,00,000 | INR 50,000 to 2,00,000 |
Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
Eligibility | Bachelor's degree in Design/Architecture/ Interior design/ Fine arts or in any stream with at least 50% marks from a recognized degree | Bachelor’s or equivalent degree |
Admission Process | Entrance examination and personal interview | Entrance examination |
Top Colleges | National Institute of Design [NID] Ahmedabad, National Institute of Design (NID) Gandhinagar, National Institute of Fashion Technology Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute Of Technology, etc. | BITM, Dr. MGR Educational, and Research Institute, GLA University, Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology, etc. |
Job Roles | Visual Designer, Design Evangelist, Insight Officer, Design Thinker, Sustainable Development Officer, User Experience Designer, etc. | Design Engineer, Lecturer, Design Consultant, Service Engineer, etc |
Average Annual Salary | INR 3 to 8 lakhs per annum | INR 2 to 6 lakhs per annum |
Source: University Websites and Payscale
Top Master of Design Colleges in India
Tabulated below are some of the top MDes colleges in India, along with the location and average fees charged.
College Name | City | Annual Average Fee (INR) |
---|---|---|
National Institute of Design [NID] | Gandhinagar | 3,18,000 |
National Institute of Design (NID) | Ahmadabad | 3,26,000 |
National Institute of Fashion Technology | Mumbai | 2,24,000 |
Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute Of Technology | Mumbai | 82,000 |
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) | Hyderabad | 2,24,700 |
Centre for Environment Planning and Technology (CEPT) | Ahmadabad | 3,78,000 |
National Institute of Fashion Technology | New Delhi | 2,24,700 |
National Institute of Fashion Technology | Kanpur | 2,24,700 |
Srishti School of Art, Design, and Technology, Bangalore (Srishti College) | Bangalore | 5,18,000 |
Indian Institute of Technology | Kanpur | 64,050 |
MDes Colleges in Maharashtra
The following is the list of MDes Colleges in Maharashtra with fees structure
College Name | Average Fees |
---|---|
NIFT Navi Mumbai | INR 224,700 |
School of Fashion Technology (SOFT), Pune | INR 250,000 |
Panache International School Of Design | - |
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University | - |
Vijaybhoomi University | INR 400,000 |
MDes Colleges in Delhi NCR
The Following are some of the MDes Colleges in the Colleges in the Delhi NCR
College Name | Average Fees |
---|---|
NIFT Delhi | INR 224,700 |
Shiv Nadar University | INR 300,000 |
GD Goenka University (GDGU), Gurgaon | INR 229,000 |
SGT University | INR 162,500 |
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi | INR 113,500 |
MDes Colleges in Rajasthan
The Following are the MDes Colleges in Rajasthan with their fees Structure
College Name | Average Fees |
---|---|
Banasthali Vidyapith University, Jaipur | INR 161,500 |
Amity University, Jaipur | INR 150,000 |
NIMS University Jaipur | INR 100,000 |
University of Technology, Jaipur | INR 80,000 |
Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD), Jaipur | INR 307,500 |
MDes Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
The following is the list of MDes Colleges in Uttar Pradesh with fees structure
College Name | Average Fees |
---|---|
IIT Kanpur | INR 64,050 |
Shiv Nadar University | INR 300,000 |
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University | INR 73,800 |
The Design Village | INR 450,000 |
UP Institute of Design | INR 73,800 |
College Comparison
The table drawn below shows the comparison made between the top M.Des colleges in India, that any willing aspirant can have a look on.
Parameters | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur | National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad | National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai |
---|---|---|---|
Overview | IIT Kanpur is one of the participating institutes in CEED. They train students to synthesize technology and aesthetics in the service of human needs. | Established in the year 1961, NIID today is known as one of the finest design institutes in the country. It offers design courses at the bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. levels. | It is one of the premier institutes for fashion and design that keeps evolving according to the changing market. |
Location | Kanpur | Ahmadabad | Mumbai |
Eligibility | 55 % in the bachelor's degree. | Bachelor’s Degree in Design or in any any discipline from a recognized Institute/University | Graduates in any discipline with an aptitude towards crafts, fashion or design. |
Admission Process | Score of CEED/ GATE entrance exam followed by Written Test/ Personal Interview | Entrance exams followed by a personal interview. | Based on GAT and GD/PI. |
Average Annual Fees (INR) | INR 64,050 | INR 3,26,000 | INR 2,24,000 |
Top companies visited | Samsung, TCS, Cognizant, Oracle, Elephant Design, Forbes Marshall, Godrej, DC Studio, JCB, Hero Honda, LG, Videocon, Bajaj, Nokia, etc | H&M, Gupta & Company, Go Colors, Fashion Lifestyle Pvt Ltd, Raymond Limited, Reliance Brand Limited, Story | Zara, Benetton, Hidesign, Fossil, Ti-cycles, Renault, Royal Enfield, Anita Dongre, Arvind Mills, Welspun, Times of India, Hindustan Unilever, Future Group, TCS, Tata Elxsi, Titan, L&T Infotech. |
Study MDes Abroad
Candidates often prefer to carry on with their education in foreign universities. The reason behind this logic is that the foreign colleges/universities offer better infrastructure, research opportunities as well as better pay after the completion of the course.
However, the candidates must keep the following things in mind before applying for the Design courses in foreign universities and colleges.
- The candidates need to pass the BDes or Equivalent course from a recognized university.
- Admission to the course requires the candidates to appear in English proficiency tests such as the IELTS, TOEFL, etc. The minimum scores are declared by the individual colleges.
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The candidates are often required to produce evidence of their financial capabilities (Bank Statements), letter(s) of recommendation, work experience, medical certificate, statement of purpose, etc
USA
The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in the USA.
College Name | Average Fees (In INR) |
---|---|
Parsons School of Design at The New School | 4,050,173 |
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) | 8,028,903 |
School of Art Institute of Chicago | 8,851,486 |
Pratt Institute | 8,265,680 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 6,265,600 |
UK
The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in the UK.
College Name | Average Fees (In INR) |
---|---|
University College London | 1,282,211 |
University Of Edinburgh | 1,439,597 |
Imperial College London | 2,069,455 |
The University Of Manchester | 1,566,074 |
University Of Leeds | 1,379,576 |
Canada
The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in Canada.
College Name | Average Fees (In INR) |
---|---|
University of Alberta | 1,566,391 |
Concordia University | 2,822,114 |
York University | 4,580,876 |
Carleton University | 2,809,650 |
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) | 2,113,128 |
Australia
The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in Australia
College Name | Average Fees (In INR) |
---|---|
Monash University | INR 20,73,917 |
RMIT University | INR 17,90,237 |
University of New South Wales | INR 21,02,172 |
Griffith University | INR 19,49,595 |
University of Technology, Sydney | INR 22,59,496 |
Master of Design Job And Salary
The M.Des degree holders can get jobs in large fashion, design, or corporate houses in the areas of craft, textile, special needs, publication, media, lifestyle products, graphics, user experience design, etc. The specialization will decide the student’s pathway in the design industry domain.
These professionals can bag a job in both private and government sectors with an average salary ranging from INR 3 to 8 lakhs per annum. Here are some of the most popular jobs offered to students with a Master of Design degree.
Job Role | Job Description | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
---|---|---|
Graphic Designer | Graphic designers create visual concepts using computer software to communicate the idea to inform, inspire, and captivate the customer. They can get jobs in specialized design service companies, publishing or advertising companies, public relations industries, etc. | 3,00,000 |
Design Thinking expert | Design thinking experts focus on solving problems in a creative and innovative way. They try to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions. | 3,55,000 |
Industrial Designer | Industrial designers create, plan, and manufacture goods that include automobiles, household products, food packaging, electronics, medical equipment, etc. They work with other specialists to improve the existing product and to introduce new products. | 6,00,000 |
Interior Designer | Interior designers make the indoor or interior spaces beautiful, safe, and functional by determining the requirements in the different spaces and selecting essential and decorative items. They can get jobs in specialized design services, architectural, and engineering-related services. | 4,00,000 |
User Experience Designer | The work of the UX designer is to make the product or technology usable, enjoyable, and accessible for humans. They usually bridge the gap between the user, the development team, and the business stakeholders. | 8.00,000 |
Source: Payscale
Master of Design Future Scope
Successfully completing the degree, one can either work in a top private company or may start preparing for exams to get a job in the government sector. However, Moving ahead with a Ph.D. in a related field is also highly recommended to these aspirants.
- Government Sector- Top government recruiters like National Handloom Development Corporation, National Jute Manufacturers Corporation, National Textile Corporation Limited, Handicrafts & Handlooms Export Corporation, etc hire these professionals by offering them a good pay and recognition.
- Ph.D. in Design- A Ph.D. in Design will help candidates to enhance and develop a strong sense of innovative and creative approaches for business productivity.
Be it working hard to bag a government job in the design industry or getting an additional higher degree, both will increase one’s career prospect and will also open the gates for exploring in the foreign industry.
Master of Design FAQ
Ques What is the Master of Design (M.Des)?
Ques: Is an M.Des degree similar to MA and MSc degrees in a design course?
Ques . What are the career options after M.Des?
Ques. What is the average salary that can be expected after completion of a Master of Design?
Ques: How are the admissions conducted for Master of Design?
Ques: Who is eligible for the Master of Design?
Ques. What are the top institutes for Master of Design?