An Interview with Prof. Nien Siao, Dean at JS Institute of Design, Delhi

JS Institute of Design, Delhi is a private institution that offers a wide range of programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. JSID was awarded as the Emerging Design Institute (National) and for Innovation in Curriculum for Design & Creative Studies at the Elets World Education Summit 2025.

Careers360 presents you with an interview with Professor Nien Siao, who is a professor & Dean of the JS Institute of Design. She highlights the USPs of the campus, programmes offered and its specialisation and facilities available at JSID, placements and the selection criteria of the programmes. To know more, go through the interview.

Careers360: Tell us something about the institute; when it was set up, vision and mission.

Prof. Nien: JS Institute of Design (JSID), located in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, was established in 2019 by the founders of Jagdish Store, a name associated with home décor and interiors in India for over 50 years.

The institute was created with the idea of combining design education with practical industry exposure. At JSID, we focus on helping students build creative thinking, technical understanding, and professional skills through project-based learning and industry interaction.

Our approach is centred on experiential learning, mentorship, and exposure to real-world design practices. We aim to prepare students for careers in interior design and related creative fields through a balance of conceptual learning and practical application.

Also See: JSID New Delhi Admissions

Careers360: Tell us something about the admission process.

Prof. Nien: The admission process at JS Institute of Design is designed to understand a student’s interest, aptitude, and potential for the design domain and its application.

Students can apply through the online or offline application process. Eligible candidates go through an evaluation that may include an aptitude assessment, portfolio review, and personal interaction.

We encourage students to present portfolios that may consist of sketches, photography, creative projects, or any work that reflects their interest in design and visual thinking.

The process helps us understand the student’s creativity, communication skills, and willingness to learn. We also offer scholarship opportunities including merit-based, means-based, early bird, and Dean’s scholarships.

Careers360: What kind of infrastructure can students expect at the institute? Please elaborate.

Prof. Nien: JS Institute of Design offers a studio-based learning environment with facilities that support both academic learning and practical training.

The campus includes classrooms, design studios, computer labs, and collaborative workspaces. Students work with industry-standard software such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, Photoshop, and other visualisation tools as part of their coursework.

The institute also focuses on hands-on learning through workshops, styling exercises, live projects, presentations, and portfolio development.

In addition to classroom learning, students are exposed to industry visits, exhibitions, and design-related experiences. International exposure opportunities include visits to design exhibitions such as Salone del Mobile in Milan, Index Dubai, and CIFF Shanghai.

The campus is centrally located in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, and soon shifting to a new 5-acre, 350,000 sq ft. campus at Knowledge Park V, Greater Noida, with easy metro and road connectivity.

Careers360: There is a lot of stress that is being made with regard to interaction with the industry as well as companies that recruit. What are the steps being taken by the institute in this direction?

Prof. Nien: Industry interaction is an important part of the academic approach at JS Institute of Design.

Students regularly engage with industry professionals through workshops, guest lectures, live projects, studio interactions, and portfolio mentoring sessions.

The curriculum also includes projects across residential, retail, hospitality, exhibition, and commercial spaces so that students gain exposure to different areas of the design industry.

Several programme modules are delivered by practising professionals and industry experts. Students also participate in design exhibitions, industry visits, and collaborative learning experiences.

The institute works closely with design studios, creative agencies, and industry professionals to help students build practical understanding and professional exposure during their academic journey.

Careers360: Internships are now mandatory as per AICTE guidelines. Does the institute help students with this? If yes, how?

Prof. Nien: Yes. Internships are integrated into the academic structure at JS Institute of Design and form an important part of the learning process.

Students receive internship support through the placement and industry relations team. The institute assists students with portfolio preparation, resume development, interview guidance, and industry connections.

Depending on the programme, students undergo both short-term and long-term internships. These experiences help students understand studio practices, client interaction, project execution, and professional workflows.

Students also get opportunities to work with design studios and organisations across residential, retail, hospitality, exhibition, and commercial design sectors.

Careers360: Can you please share details if there is any collaboration with universities abroad?

Prof. Nien: JS Institute of Design has an academic alliance with France’s École Intuit Lab, which has expanded the institute’s international exposure and learning environment.

Through this collaboration, students gain exposure to global design perspectives, creative practices, and interdisciplinary learning approaches.

The institute also provides opportunities for students to experience international design exhibitions and industry events in cities such as Milan, Dubai, and Shanghai.

These experiences help students understand global design trends and different approaches to design education and practice.

Careers360: Please share placement statistics with information on the average package, highest and lowest package, number of students placed and details of companies that have recruited.

Prof. Nien: At JS Institute of Design, placements and internships are supported through industry interaction, project-based learning, and portfolio development.

Students have received opportunities with organisations and studios such as:

● Netflix

● Tata 1mg

● Oneify

● Boat

● Smoothound

● Cyberpeace

● The Caravan

● Wtvision

● Studio MESO

● Lila Games

● Second Quest

● Boketto

● Livspace

● Design One by Nidhi

● Studio Arcs

● Royal Touch Interiors

● Soniqs Luxury Design

● Orphic Design Studio

● Home Living

● Fab Interiors

● Stone Head Films

● Abaxial Design

● The Greenish Affair

● Meraki Dezine

● Yellow Worldwide

● Anagram Studio

● 1 Decimal Studio

The institute focuses on helping students build practical skills, technical understanding, and professional portfolios through live projects and industry exposure.

Students also receive support through portfolio mentoring, interview preparation, and internship assistance.

● Highest Package: 12 Lacs CTC

● Average Package: 6 Lacs - 7 Lacs CTC

● Lowest Package: 4 Lacs

● Students Placed: 70 students

● Placement Percentage: 100%

Closing Statement

At JS Institute of Design, our focus is on creating a learning environment that combines creativity, technical learning, and practical industry exposure.

Through project-based learning, mentorship, internships, and industry interaction, we aim to help students develop the skills and understanding required for professional careers in design.

We continue to work towards building a learning ecosystem that supports creativity, collaboration, and responsible design practice.

Disclaimer: This content was distributed by JS Institute of Design and has been published as part of Careers360’s marketing initiative.