Tips to Tackle Drawing Questions for NID 2026

Understanding the NID DAT 2026 New Pattern

The spike in the weightage for NID DAT is to focus on the ‘Skill’ and ability to visually ‘Communicate’ as a problem solver.

The 4 Pillars of the NID Drawing Questions

Analysis according to the NID 2026 DAT Exam Syllabus and NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern suggest a pattern in the topics and type of questions as follows:

1. Question based on Observation & Scene Drawing

E.g. Scene of busy market, Railway platform focussed on details like shops, human interactions and other happenings of the scene.

2. Product Solution/Experience Design

E.g. Rethinking and designing the Lunch-Box for a kid 05 years old going

to school in context to Indian Food Habits

3. Storyboard and Process-based Questions

E.g. Question based on the 03 to 06 frames showing the process like making tea in 06 frames.

4. Visual Communications

E.g. A poster making on the ‘E-Waste Awareness.’

Tip: For scoring in the Drawing Aptitude Part of the NID Exam, work on “Clarity of Communication' avoiding working on ‘Photorealistic’ sketching

Related articles that students may also check:

• NID DAT Study Material 2026

• NID DAT Preparation Books

• NID GK Questions

• Tips to tackle drawing questions for NID

• How to Score Well in NID DAT Drawing Section

Strategies to Tackle the Sketching/Drawing-based Questions for NID 2026

In design, we follow a 4D process, which would also be the backbone for all the drawing-based questions for NID 2026 asked as follows:

• D1: Ideation (Based on Requirement)

• D2: Planned Execution (Exploring the best possible Idea)

• D3: Annotation or Labelling (For the proposed Solution)

• D4: Write-up (Short and simple for supporting the idea)

Lets discuss this one by one, for the 10 marks question based on Product Solution/Experience Design theme as asked in the NID DAT previous year question papers with time management as reference guide for you:

Ques: Using a minimum number of objects from daily life, suggest a self-watering system(clearly sketched) that takes care of the plant's water needs for a minimum of 02 days in case of emergency.

Also, Explain the underlying working/science principle used to make it function in the given space(max 70 words).

• Uniqueness in the idea

• Quality of Sketch

• Overall Compositions Marks : 10

Solution: Based on the above question requirement, we can break down the question into 4D plan as follows:
D1: Ideation (2 minutes)
(Ask the question, What could be the possible materials and objects for making the self-watering system, which are rigid enough, easy to work on, and lasting)

Analyse: Working/Material/Limitations/User etc

• The working principle is possible like Capillary Action/ Gravity Drip/ condensation, etc.

• Possible Materials Required: Plastic bottles/ Materials for Wicking Action, like cloth/string connecting to the water and soil?

Ideas: Suppose let us take the discarded old cold-drink bottles.

D2: Planned Execution (05 minutes)

(How should sketch or communicate the idea of turning discarded cold drink bottles into self watering systems) for example choosing the right angle of depiction and assisting hands to show the process.

Objective: Visualise the working and mechanism if any very clearly, the examiner must be able to see the action in the sketch proposed.
D3: Annotation and Labelling (02 minutes)

Keep all the labels aligned either in a chronological manner or radiating out to avoid any cluttering.

Objective: To guide eyes and confirm the materials and mechanisms to the eye of the viewer.

D4: Writeup (01 minute)
Short and Simple Description to support the idea for any additional information, e.g

The proposed system here utilizes the Capillary Action, where adhesive forces allow the water to travel upwards against the gravity through a porous medium like cotton wick; the dry soil creates a moisture gradient to draw the water from the reservoir, ensuring consistent water supply.

How to Develop the Thinking Ability for NID DAT 2026

A common mistake done by the NID aspirants is to copy the drawing from the pinterest and getting demotivated in an attempt to make a picture-perfect sketch, whereas earlier mentioned the NID looks for empathy and problem solving approach. NID DAT High Weightage Topics majorly include sketching/ drawing questions.

Exercise 01: ‘The Market Watch Exercise’

Why: To develop Empathy and an eye for observation for daily life interactions.

How: Go to a grocery store, watch how a short person reaches the high self, or how an elderly person holds a heavy bag, and Sketch both the experiences quickly in a notebook.

Exercise 02: ‘Problem solving’

In a crowded Train, solving the Washbasin problem.

Q1: In the Indian long-distance trains, washbasin areas become filthy, cluttered, and difficult to use during the crowded times. Water splashes on the floor, soap spills and other things accumulate around.

Task: Design an improved wash basin zone for Indian Railways

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.

NID 2026 - Other Useful Study Resources - Free PDF Download

Students are advised to also check these important free resource pdfs curated to help them in their NID 2026 preparation and score high below: