In Conversation with Dr. Sanjeevani Ayachit (Director) at Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune

In this exclusive conversation with Careers360, Dr. Sanjeevani Ayachit, Director at Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) Pune shares insights. She has spoken about the vision, mission, admission process, selection process, internships, and facilities of Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune.

Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune is a private college established in the year 2004. SID Pune courses include B.Des in different specialisations. For SID Pune admissions, students should satisfy the specific eligibility criteria for their chosen specialisations. Read the interview below to learn more about Symbiosis Institute of Design.

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

Dr. Ayachit: Constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune, set up in 2004; is a premier institution that equips aspiring designers with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to succeed in the ever-evolving world of design.

By creating an enabling atmosphere for students with the right bent of mind to hone their skills and capabilities to turn them into competitive professional designers, SID stands as a beacon of creativity and innovation in the realm of design education. We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of designers through a blend of rigorous academics and hands-on experience.

The institute offers programmes at both undergraduate as wells as postgraduate level. The four-year Bachelor of Design (B. Des.) programme is offered in four disciplines Communication Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design and Fashion Communication. The Master of Design (M. Des.) programme is offered with a specialization in User Experience Design. Our multidisciplinary campus offers opportunities to students of different streams to share ideas, brainstorm solutions and catalyze each other’s thinking. The work ambience enables one to build on one’s conventional skills and is complimented with modern tools and techniques allowing the student to be on the cutting edge of Design.

The design curriculum at SID generates avenues to incubate original thoughts and implement design knowledge and skills on a creative platform. The simulative environment galvanizes students to imbibe contemporary skills while exploring non-conventional techniques to achieve design goals. The curriculum aims at creating professionals who with their creative impulse and skillful ability participate and contribute to the highly dynamic and competitive world of design.

This is ensured by a team of professional faculty who instruct, inspire and mentor students utilizing their technical and design expertise while also encouraging the development of individual style. The well-stocked library, access to the latest research databases, state-of-the-art infrastructure, labs, studios and workshops ensure a conducive learning environment where students can nurture their creative ideas to fruition. This has ensured that SID holds a coveted position among the top design schools in the country.

Several courses are supported by leading industry practitioners and many others have well-known visiting lecturers. Internships and design projects are built into the curriculum to ensure industry exposure and field trips and industrial visits add to the professional experience. An active Industry Interaction Cell ensures a continuous dialogue with the industry and assists students in securing internships and placement opportunities.

SID is also a member of several national as well as international professional networks which benefit the students in terms of opportunities for participation in design competitions, design events, conferences and seminars thus enhancing their outlook towards the dynamic nature of the design field. This approach ensures that graduates are not only skilled designers but also adept at navigating the professional landscape. The vibrant campus life, combined with Pune's rich cultural heritage, makes SID a stimulating place to study and grow as a designer.

Careers360: Tell us something about the admission process?

Dr. Ayachit: All Indian students are required to take the online Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED), which will be held on January 12th 2025. No candidate is entitled to seek admission to SID without a valid SEED score. The validity of the SEED score is for one year only.

Careers360: How to appear for SEED?

Dr. Ayachit: Register online for SEED at www.sid.edu.in. Facility of payment of SEED fee and printing of Admit Card is available online. A student aspiring to pursue an undergraduate programme at Symbiosis needs to follow the steps mentioned below:

Careers360: How to Apply?

Dr. Ayachit: Register online on our website till 25th December 2024, Wednesday. Admission to B.Des programme of SID will be according to the following process.

Level 1: Online Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED). The result of SEED will be put up on the SID website as per the schedule. If a candidate qualifies SEED, he/she would be eligible to appear for SID’s Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction (PRPI). Shortlisting for admission will be based only by specialization selected during online registration.

Level 2: Upload the Portfolio on the portal a day before the PRPI.

Level 3: Perform the PRPI Task. This will be shared 3 days before the chosen date of online PRPI. Upload the PRPI Task on the portal a day before the PRPI.

Level 4: Appear for the online Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction (PRPI)

Final selection would be based on the cumulative performance of the candidate in the Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED), Portfolio Review, PRPI Task and Personal Interaction as well as on the basis of the information provided by the candidate in the application form and the chosen specialization.

Mode of SEED Exam: Online Proctored (PC/Laptop based exam)

Exam timings: One hour between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on the test day.

SEED Exam test structure: The SEED will be a 60-minute exam having 60 questions. The questions could be MCQ, Match the Columns, Fill in the blanks, image-based and comprehension-based. The paper will contain a mix of questions related to Visual Sensitivity and Judgement, Observational, Perceptual and Reasoning abilities, Problem Solving, Basic knowledge of Logic of Science and Mathematics, Art, Craft and Culture, Design and Environment.

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

Dr. Ayachit: Studying at Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) offers a unique blend of creativity, innovation, and academic excellence. The institute boasts cutting-edge facilities, including advanced design studios, laboratories, and workshops, creating an environment conducive to learning and creativity. The design studios are enhanced by the presence of the design minds who come together to mix their talents and design a creation greater than the sum of its parts. These dedicated learners work with full enthusiasm reflected in the upshot of their design process.

Our dedicated workshop, labs and studio spaces include Classical Animation, Digital Animation, Photography, Graphic Design, Sketching and Drawing, Film Making, Editing and Sound Recording Studios, Usability Lab, Model making in Metal Working, Plastic, Wood and Clay Studios, Digital Simulation Studio, Material Store, Library, Draping Studio, Garment Manufacturing, Pattern Making and Fashion CAD Labs.

All the Computer Labs have branded computers with many of the specialized application software titles that design students need to be successful in their academic careers. There are also high-quality colour and black-and-white laser printers and scanners available.

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?

Dr. Ayachit: The institute has strong ties with leading companies and professionals in the design industry, facilitating internships, projects, and SID Pune placement opportunities for students. Several courses are supported by leading industry practitioners and many others have well-known visiting lecturers. Internships and design projects are built into the curriculum to ensure industry exposure and field trips and industrial visits add to the professional experience. An active Industry Interaction Cell ensures a continuous dialogue with the industry and assists students in securing internships and placement opportunities.

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

Dr. Ayachit: Our Bachelor of Design Programme includes three types of internships. Graduation Project Internship: This internship is of 4-month duration. Final-year students are expected to go for an Industry Internship during the last semester (8th Semester) The timelines of the Internship are usually from Dec-April.

Summer Internship: The summer Internship is for 2 months; usually between late May or early June to mid July. UG Students are expected to go for their Summer Internships after the completion of their third-year examinations. This internship is aimed to provide short-term supervised work experience usually related to a student’s specific field of study or career aspirations.

Craft Internship: This 7 to 10-day internship is taken up by 2nd year students in the summer break where they visit different craft clusters in India; interact with the artisans, observe the craft techniques, materials and processes and experience the entire craft ecosystem. The students use this experience to design meaningful design interventions for their artisan collaborators.

The objective of embedding internship experiences within the curriculum framework is to create an opportunity for the professional development of students to gain experience and prepare themselves for industry standards. Continuous monitoring and evaluation by the mentor faculty are provided to ensure added value while doing internships. At the end of the internship programme, the internship work is scrutinized and evaluated.

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

Dr. Ayachit: The SID International Cell is formed to facilitate internationalization at the institute, under which a lot of initiatives are undertaken which offer international programmes to all students at SID. The objectives of the International cell at SID are aligned with the Vision of Symbiosis International (Deemed) University of Promoting international understanding through quality education through inculcating the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family), promotion of cross-cultural sensitization and developing global competencies amongst students.

SID International Cell facilitates Student Exchange and Study Abroad programmes for the students at SID where students from 3rd year and 4th years take up to one semester study at the international partner Universities of SIU. SID sent students for semester exchange to our partner institutes and universities across Europe, the UK, Japan and Australia.

SID International Cell also organizes international guest faculty sessions or project or studio sessions with international experts like Adrien Roberts (International Director of Education – Academia Costume and Moda), Carlo D'Amario (CEO - Vivienne Westwood), and Dr. Rimi Khan (Senior Lecturer - National University of Singapore). Our students get the benefit of international classrooms at home by way of engaging in these international sessions which provides them with rich experience of international curriculum and best global practices.

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.

Dr. Ayachit: Symbiosis Institute of Design has an Internship & Placement Assistance/ Industry Interaction Cell which facilitates coordination between the industry recruiters and the students. The cell operates all year round and communicates the best opportunities to our students for their summer internships, degree project internships and final placements. The cell also organizes various activities to develop student capabilities to meet the Industry recruitment standards.

We have a year-on-year rise in the number of well-known companies connected with SID for absorbing our students; today there are over 250 design studios and companies associated with us. We are proud to maintain our high placement statistics and the fact that our alumni are working with reputed design firms in India & abroad. The highest salary bagged by our graduates is Rs. 18 LPA while the average salary is Rs. 6 to 8 LPA. Details about our recruiters can be found on our website.

Disclaimer: This article has been published as a marketing initiative between Careers360 and Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune