Design Thinking vs Drawing Skills: Which Has More Weightage in NID?

What NID 2027 Exam Actually Test: Exam Overview

It was seen in the NID 2026 question paper that it did not have any Part-A section and questions were only based on creative ability. All the questions were based on drawing and design thinking aptitude. Although NID is famous for its experimental format and uncertainty, we cannot say for sure that the NID 2027 Exam will not contain any Part-A based questions and therefore it is smart to prepare for both keeping drawing and design aptitude as main focus.

As per the revised selection process and NID DAT Exam Pattern , the NID DAT prelims result will not have any weightage in the final selection of candidates for B.Des and M.Des programmes. NID Mains exam will have 60% weightage for studio test and 40% weightage for in person interview for NID B.Des selection.

It is also important for students to understand NID Exam Syllabus before starting with the preparations as given below:

NID-DAT is a design aptitude exam, and by aptitude we mean some who can do the following :

• Identify Meaningful Challenges (Understanding user and contexts)

• Observe the Interaction (Product, people and environment by large)

• Respond Timely in a Creative Approach (Time bounded Evaluation)

• Reflect and Communicate (through Visuals and sketches)

• Gather feedback and Evolve (Someone who not only propose but test ideas)

Let’s understand this with an example, based on conflict resolution for a real life situation though "Design Thinking” as the approach.

Now this formally requires the right mindset to assess the situation and reflect creatively. You should ask the right question before sketching to solve the question.

• What could be the proposed and alternative interventions?

• How will the solution work?

• Who and how will it be operated to overcome the challenge ?

• How does the proposed solution preserve the tree ?

• Is it addressing the challenge of cleaning the garden?

• Is it a prevention or cure to the given situation ?

Students should also check:

• NID Preparation Books, Best Books for NID Entrance Exam

• NID DAT Study Material: Best Books, Preparation Tips and Syllabus

• How to Prepare for NID (Mains & Prelims): Check Preparation Strategy

• NID DAT E-books and Sample Papers

Design Thinking Section for NID 2027 Exam

In the NID exam, Design Thinking and Drawing Skills are not two separate sections and both skills are tested together through questions that require students to think creatively, solve problems, and communicate their ideas visually.

However, Design Thinking has been seen to take priority over the analysis of NID DAT Previous Year Question Papers. A student may have excellent drawing skills, but if the idea is not original, practical, or relevant to the question, the drawing may not make a strong impression.

For NID 2027 preparation, students should therefore focus on developing design thinking, creativity, observation, problem-solving, and visual communication, along with regular drawing practice. The goal is not to create the most beautiful sketch but to communicate a strong design idea clearly through the drawing.

Example : Designing a Water Bottle for Hospital Patients who can drink while lying in the bed.

Comparison of two candidates approach :

It is one of the most important exercises for students preparing for the NID DAT exam to solve NID sample papers and NID mock tests as it would develop the understanding of the language of the paper and insights on what are important areas of focus and Most Asked Questions in NID prelims for candidates and also boost candidates' confidence for the exam and help with the stress and anxiety for the actual exam.

Related Articles:

• How to Score Well in NID DAT Drawing Section

• Most Asked Questions in NID prelims

• Topics with high Reward and low Risk factors to Attempt in the design entrance exams for success

• Top 10 Skills Required to Crack NID DAT Exam

Drawing Skills Section for NID 2027 Exam

It is often incorrect to conclude that drawing is not so important, where the drawing language is the ability of the aspirant to maintain clarity through sketch, good composition. The NID includes the following attributes:

Let’s try to understand the same through an example of a :

Foldable Seat for buses for elderly passengers. Right question should be asked as:

1. Where and how the seats are installed?

2. How does it open, closes and organises ?

3. How do elderly people use it?

4. How will it ensure a passenger flow in the bus ?

So, from the example it is clear that a simple drawing can be highly effective if the examiner can immediately understand what the student is trying to convey. In simple words, the purpose of your sketch is to make your thinking visible. The drawing does not have to look like a photograph; it needs to make your idea easy to understand, practical, and visually consistent.

Understating the technicals and balancing with the "Originality in Thinking” is the right way to create a good sketch in the NID. Let’s try to understand this with an example:

“ Draw the classroom, from the point-of-view” of a mouse who is looking at the classroom”

This question examines candidate’s

• Creativity skills

• Visualisation Ability

• Perspective Understanding

• Composition

Although it is not always about “Problem Solving”, it is equally the evaluation of the creative abilities of a student.

Therefore a good workflow for such questions according to the experts could be:

User Needs → Challenge/Design Challenge → Requirements → Idea→ Visual Explanation

Students are advised to go through How to Score Well in NID DAT Drawing Section and How to Master the Art of Drawing and Sketching Skills for better understanding and preparation plan.

Related Articles:

• Color Theory, Color Wheel for Designers

• Design Principles / Gestalt Theory

• Visualisation Analogy

• Current Affairs question for NID

How to Balance the NID Preparation

A time tested and proposed model of the NID 2027 exam preparation as curated by the experts and students over the years is as follows:

• 60% Weightage of Efforts : Practicing on Observation, Ideation and Looking

• 40% Weightage of Efforts : Drawing, Composition and Presentation

Conclusion

Design thinking has a greater strategic weightage, but the good presentation skills are equally important. When combining the both makes the most strong representation of your unique personality in the proposed solutions. Below we have provided a “time-tested” mantra for performing and excelling in the examinations.

Strong Idea+ Concise-Drawing Skills = Success in DAT

For this you need not to be a professional illustrator but a visual thinker and a person who knows what works best when it comes to visual communication.

Students are also advised to check:

• How to Prepare for NID and UCEED Entrance Exams Together?

• How Class 12 Students can Crack NID DAT in Their First Attempt

• How to Prepare for NID 2027 Without Coaching