Common Mistakes to Avoid in NID Studio Test 2025

Congratulations students, on clearing the first round of the NID Exam. As we move closer to the Final stage (Studio Test), this is your chance to demonstrate your creativity, originality, and passion for design thinking.This article will celebrate your success with tips to help you avoid some common mistakes that are usually made by students in the DAT Studio Test. With the right strategies and tips to optimise your performance for bringing out your best in the NID Studio Test.

Some Common Mistakes to Avoid in NID Studio Test 2025

Here are some tips and strategies that students can use in their preparation for the NID Studio Test and score high.

1. Let the Concepts Lead

Not thinking, “Why” does it matter? Keeping ‘Why” in mind. How should each element you are integrating support your concept? The most common mistake is forgetting the “Why” part of the question before jumping to any execution.

Before beginning, frame a simple one-line idea about what you suggest, sketching and finally building. Think “Idea first”, execution second for a successful approach.

2. Embracing Adaptability

Challenge : What to do. This is not working as I thought it would!

Design challenges often make us confront surprises, where sometimes aspirants tend to lose confidence and compromise the idea & its presentation in case of any ambiguity. If your first idea doesn’t work or fit the context, shifting gears to respond creatively without getting restless is the only way out.

3. Limitation for Material Skills

Struggling with neatness while handling clay, wire foam board, etc. for model making is very common. Understanding the material and based properties is critical to understanding their strengths and weaknesses. Anyone interacting or manipulating the material for the first time may face challenges in the following aspects.

• Making joint Connections

• Clean Cutting, Disassembly, etc.

• Organising the Overall Workable Model

Before appearing in the exam, try sample questions and previous year's Model-making based questions to enrich your dexterous skills. Practise open-ended questions that could help you boost spontaneous acting!

4. Avoid Murky Ideas

Not getting what to do? Sketch your dilemma. Let’s try to understand the same with some examples as shown below:

Often, while sketching or communicating ideas, students forget to mark, label, etc. It is crucial to effectively communicate without undermining the requirement for highlighting the functional statics of the idea.

“Great Concept/idea is not only about creation but also about communication”.

5. Poor Sense of Scale and Proportion

Often, during studio tests, students struggle to produce sketched or modelled outcomes with the right proportions, which creates an awkward imbalance of size. This gives an impression of an individual's lack of attention or aptitude. This skill set is crucial for reflecting a correct understanding of the real-world dimension and contextually fitting in the real world.

In everyday life, try to understand the proportional understanding of objects, humans, and interaction (human-opening door handles).

6. Untidy Finish and Presentation of Work

Rushed finishing and inappropriate handling of materials in model-making give an unprofessional final look. Let’s Try to understand the reference model:

Keep at least 10-15 minutes to clean edges and smooth surfaces and check neatness. Carry a masking tape, sandpaper, cutter and extra glue to fix minor flaws spontaneously.

7. Forgetting the User or Human-Context

As designers, our focus is on real-life scale solutions that fit the user's needs contextually. Always Think, “Who will use it”?

Let’s try to understand this with examples of scissors, where the user is a kid and a grown-up person, which are two different use case scenarios and their application based on the understanding of the end-user and application.

8. Avoid Fixing on One-Idea

Students waste a lot of time trying to achieve the idea that comes to their mind, which is primarily impractical or less feasible. Also, the first idea is a very generalised approach that may be very common with everyone, without any uniqueness.

It is advised to brainstorm at least 2-3 ideas through quick ideation and “simplify the approach” for more practical and feasible ideas in the given time and material limits. “Always try to score 2-3 ideas , before fixing to one as the proposed solution”

9. Missing Key-Instructions

Ignoring specific instructions often leads to negative marks, disqualification and losing marks; this is a repeated challenge usually faced by students appearing in the Studio Test Exam due to nervousness or hurry.

Commonly missed details or specifics are as follows:

• Not reading the instructions carefully, like not using the colours

• Wrong or unintended use of material for model-making

• Missing Questions of Specific Instructions

• Marking Related instructions

• Representation or Any other instructions

It is advised to recheck the rules or instructions before final submissions quickly.

Conclusion

In any design aptitude test, examiners are looking for originality; some Frugality, ideas flowing mind to hand. Focus on the process, clarity and creativity, ideas. Remember, simplicity, storytelling, time management, and User Empathy is your greatest ally. Each step to refine these core skills will bring you closer to standing out in your NID Studio Test or any design entrance examination.

• Think First, Then Make: Always plan your approach briefly before executing.

• Prioritise Simplicity + Clarity: Clear, neat designs resonate better with examiners.

• Manage Your Time Smartly: Respect each phase: plan, create, refine.

• Explore Materials: Even simple materials can tell great stories when cared for.

• Tell a Story Through Your Design: Your design should communicate an idea, feeling, or solution.