The Master of Design course is a higher study opportunity for many students in India. Several colleges conduct MDes entrance exams to choose the best candidates for the course. For the aspirants it is of utmost importance to know the M.Des entrance exams syllabus to prepare well. With the help of MDes exam syllabus, candidates can know topics that they need to study to qualify the paper. Get the full details on syllabus of MDes entrance exams by reading this article.
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M.Des Entrance Exams Syllabus
There are several popular MDes entrance exams conducted every year to select students for the top design colleges in India. The syllabus for most of these MDes entrance exams in India is similar. The students must check out the M.Des entrance exams syllabus 2025 of the preferred exam on the official website for more clarity on the subjects. The option of M.Des entrance exam syllabus 2025 pdf download is available on most of the official websites of the exams that are discussed below.
MDes Entrance Exam Syllabus: Overview
Some of the top entrance exams are conducted at a national level for MDes admissions. However, there are some popular MDes entrance exams that students must be aware of at the state and university level as well. The M.Des entrance exams syllabus 2025 for most of these exams are discussed below which will provide the students with a generous idea of what to expect in a MDes entrance exam.
NIFT MDes Entrance Exam Syllabus
The MDes NIFT entrance exam is one of the most competitive entrance exams which thousands of students appear for. Conducted by NTA this is a national level exam. The MDes aspirants must understand the NIFT exam syllabus carefully to score well. The students who apply for NIFT MDes program need to appear NIFT entrance exam consisting of two papers. The first exam is a written exam which consists of GAT and CAT, the former of which consists of MCQ and is a computer-based test. The latter required the candidates to use paper and draw their answers. The GAT exam requires the students to have a knowledge of Communication Ability and English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Current Affairs, General Knowledge etc. A table regarding the MDes syllabus for NIFT GAT exam is given below.
Section | Topics asked in NIFT GAT question paper | |
Quantitative Ability | Students need to practice Addition, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Multiplication, Ratio and Proportion, Division, Work and Task, Distance, etc. | |
Communication Ability and English Comprehension | Proficiency and clarity of meaning in Synonyms, Words with corresponding meanings, Antonyms, Singular, Plural, Idioms and phrases, One-word Substitutes, Correct spellings, Comprehending a situation from the given passage | |
Analytical Ability and Logical Ability | Students must have creative and lateral thinking are likely to be useful. Practicing questions related to General Assertion Reasons, Statement Conclusions, Series, Statements Correct/Incorrect, Blood Relation, One Liner Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense | |
General Knowledge and Current Affairs | Knowledge of Fashion Industry GK, Static GK and current GK | |
Case Study | Read and understand the case given to answer simple questions |
For the CAT exam the students need to prepare themselves with drawing skills and understand concepts like colour theory, perspective, composition, etc. The common requirements of the NIFT CAT questions are listed below.
Design Theory | Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Elements & Principles of Design | Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship |
Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
Creative thinking & writing | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
Visual Logic | Form & Function | Colour, Pattern & Texture |
Theme Development | Drawing Fundamentals | Picture Analysis |
Memory Drawing | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & motifs |
Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Optical Illusion | Foreshortening & Perspective |
Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Imagination & Doodling |
3D Visualisation | Presentation Techniques | Expression & Emotion |
Exercises on imagination | Lateral Thinking | Story Pictures |
Graphics & Pictograms | Innovation & Creation | Design Awareness |
The students who qualify these exams must appear the NIFT group discussion and personal interview round conducted to select the best students. The NFT group discussion and personal interview assesses the communication abilities, leadership qualities, problem solving abilities etc. The students must be well prepared with the history of fashion, current trends in fashion and the latest happenings of the world to perform better. Along with that having an impeccable communication skill is necessary.
CEED MDes Entrance Exams Syllabus 2025
CEED entrance stands for the Common Entrance Exam for Design which is conducted by the IIT Bombay at a national level to select the best students for MDes in top IITs. The CEED exam consists of two parts- Part A and Part B. The part A of the CEED syllabus tests the student’s scientific knowledge, design aptitude, observational skills, etc. The details of CEED MDes part A syllabus are given below.
Visualization and spatial reasoning | Ability to visualize and transform 2D shapes and 3D objects and their spatial relationships. |
Practical and scientific knowledge | Know-how of scientific principles and everyday objects. |
Observation and design sensitivity | Capacity to detect concealed properties in day-to-day life and think critically about them. Attention to detail, classification, analysis, inference, and prediction. |
Environment and society | General awareness of environmental, social, and cultural connections with design. |
Analytical and logical reasoning | Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative information. |
Language | Proficiency in reading and comprehending Standard English. |
Creativity | Grasp verbal and non-verbal analogies, metaphors, signs, and symbols. |
Art and Design knowledge | Awareness about art/artifact/product, artists/designers, art/design history, and trends. |
Design methods and practices | Knowledge of media, materials, production processes, and ergonomics. |
The CEED Part B questions aim to test the artistic and creative skills of the students. The students need to draw the answers as per the instructions given in the question based on which they shall be evaluated. The MDes exam syllabus for CEED Part B is given below for the students to check out.
Drawing | Ability to draw products, people, or scenes in proportion with good line quality, composition, proportion, perspective, and shading. |
Design aptitude | Capability to respond to problems/situations practically and appropriately with ingenuity and empathy. |
Creativity | Capacity to think out of the box and come up with unique as well as diverse solutions. |
Communication | Skills to communicate concepts and ideas clearly with the help of text and visuals. |
Problem identification | Capability to understand the user and the context, knowledge of properties of materials, and their appropriate use in design. |
After qualifying the CEED entrance exam 2025 to get an MDes seat the students must apply to each IIT they prefer where they will be tested again with an entrance test and a personal interview round. The students who qualify all these will be selected for the entrance exam.
Pearl Academy MDes Entrance Exams Syllabus
The Pearl Academy is one of the finest private design institutes in India which provides world class education to the students. The MDes syllabus for Pearl Academy entrance consists of the GPT and DAT exam. The students must appear for both general proficiency test and design Aptitude Test along with having a personal interview and a Portfolio showcase. The general proficiency test is conducted to check the English language proficiency, logical reasoning abilities, quantitative abilities etc. of the students. The details of GPT for MDes entrance exam of Pearl Academy are given below.
English Language | This section tests the candidates’ grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and verbal ability. The topics include synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases, sentence correction, fill in the blanks, reading comprehension, etc. |
Logical Reasoning | This section tests the candidates’ analytical and problem-solving skills. The topics include series, patterns, analogies, classifications, coding-decoding, blood relations, directions, syllogisms, etc. |
Quantitative Ability | This section tests the candidates’ numerical and mathematical skills. The topics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, percentages, ratios, averages, etc. |
For the design aptitude test the students must use their creativity and imagination to subjectively draw the answers to the questions given. For this the students must practice drawing and sketching as well as be aware of theories related to colour, design principles, visual communication etc. the students can find a detailed section about the Pearl Academy DAT exam syllabus below.
Drawing and Sketching | This section tests the candidates’ ability to draw and sketch objects, scenes, perspectives, proportions, etc. with accuracy and clarity. |
Colour Theory | This section tests the candidates’ knowledge of colours, their properties, combinations, contrasts, harmony, etc. |
Design Principles | This section tests the candidates’ understanding of design elements such as line, shape, form, texture, space, etc. and design principles such as balance, rhythm, emphasis, unity, etc. |
Visual Communication | This section tests the candidates’ ability to communicate ideas and messages through visual means such as symbols, icons, logos, posters, etc. |
Creativity and Innovation | This section tests the candidates’ ability to generate original and innovative solutions to design problems or challenges. |
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NID MDes Entrance Exams Syllabus 2025
The National Institute of Design is one of the most repeated design colleges in India. Students who want to study in this institution must ensure that they practice well before the entrance exam to score well. Knowing and understanding the MDes exam syllabus of NID DAT can be beneficial for the students who want to apply for this exam. The National Institute of Design conducts the NID DAT exam to select the best students in the entire country. The NID DAT exam consists of two parts for MDes - Prelims and Mains. The NID DAT Prelims exam tests the knowledge of design theory, colour terminology, design awareness etc. the details of NID DAT MDes exam syllabus are given below.
Design Outline for Beginners | Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship | Design Theory | Elements & Principles Of Design |
Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
Lettering | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Form & Function | Colour, Pattern & Texture |
Theme Development | Creative Thinking & Writing | Picture Analysis |
Visual Logic | Good Design vs Bad Design | Drawing Fundamentals |
Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Optical Illusion | Foreshortening & Perspective |
Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & Motifs |
Memory Drawing | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Expression & Emotion |
Exercises on Imagination | Lateral Thinking | Story Pictures |
Presentation Techniques | Imagination & Doodling | 3D Visualisation |
Graphics & Pictograms | Innovation & Creation | Design Awareness |
Developing Observation | ||
Only those students to qualify the NID DAT Prelims exam are selected for the mains exam. The NID DAT Mains exam consists of questions which test the student's model making skills, doodling skills, material manipulation etc. The NID DAT Mains syllabus is given below.
Model Making | Doodling | How to evolve ideas |
Audio – Visual Exercises | Material Manipulation | Creative Thinking |
AIEED M.Des Entrance Exams Syllabus
The Arch College of Design and Business conducts the AIEED exam for the students to join the MDes course. The full form of the AIEED exam is All India Entrance Examination for Design. The exam consists of a general aptitude test and creative ability test. The general aptitude test syllabus assesses the student's design related awareness, logical reasoning, design sensibilities etc. followed by this the creative ability test whose syllabus analyses the student’s awareness about the various design principles and articulation of visual and written skills. Followed by this the students also have to go through a Portfolio review and personal interview round. For this, the students must have a good communication skill along with knowledge about the design field.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Entrance exams for MDes include NIFT, NID, CEED etc.
NIFT entrance exam includes GAT exam which consists of Communication Ability and English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Current Affairs and General Knowledge etc. The CAT exam consists of drawing questions.
MDes is a good career option for higher studies. It has a good placement opportunity and steady salary.
Some of the top design colleges in India accept entrance exam for admission to MDes courses.
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Application Date:22 November,2024 - 06 January,2025
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Questions related to M.Des
Hello there,
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) conducts two different exams for their postgraduate programs: M.F.Tech (Master of Fashion Technology) GAT (General Aptitude Test) and M.Des (Master of Design) GAT. Although both exams assess general aptitude, they cater to different courses and have variations in their specific focus areas. Here are the differences between M.F.Tech GAT and M.Des GAT:
M.F.Tech GAT: Focuses more on technical and engineering aspects related to fashion technology. Includes sections on quantitative ability, communication ability, English comprehension, analytical ability, and general knowledge.
M.Des GAT: Focuses on design-related aptitude and creative ability. Includes sections on quantitative ability, communication ability, English comprehension, analytical ability, and general knowledge, with additional emphasis on creativity and design thinking.
Hey Viraj,
It's a must that you solve the previous year papers and sample papers if you preparing for the exam. This will make you familiar with the pattern, marking scheme, etc.
You can visit https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-sample-papers for PYQs and sample papers.
Hope this helps you. All the best!
Hello,
Maybe, because When it comes to eligibility for the CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design), having backlogs in your undergraduate program may not necessarily disqualify you from appearing for the exam. However, it is important to note that each institute has its own specific eligibility criteria for admission to their MDes programs. Some institutes may consider backlogs as a factor during the admission process, while others may not.
Hope this helps you,
Thank you
https://www.google.com/amp/s/design.careers360.com/exams/ceed/amp
Hello aspirant,
Hope you are doing well...!!!!
If you have any desire to take B des course in movement After twelfth class and after B des, M des configuration course in activity then you need to show up for entrance test like NIFT entrance, UCEED,CEED,NID entrance, NATA,. Plan in activity with a decent stamps and need to get ready for an intrigued like NID entrance with regards to NIFT entrance, CEED,UCEED. Can you ought to be graduate in planning course or designing course after that he needs to show up for assistants test for M plan in movement. The choice for confirmation is done on the legitimacy premise and stamps got in entrance tests.
Hope this information helps you!!!!
All the best!!!
Under CEED Institute which offered M.des to the candidates with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Architecture / Design/ Interior Design or equivalent (4 years duration after 10+2) not allowed candidates with B.A or b.sc but you can do Mdes in IIT Hyderabad they offer course after completing Master’s degree in Arts / Science / Computer Applications (2 year programme after10+2+3).
Hopr its helpful!!!
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