Top 5 Design Colleges in Bangalore

1. Strate School of Design
Strate School of Design is a leading French institute. Founded in 1993 in France, the school offers design programs for aspiring creatives. Strate School of Design, Paris, partnered with iNurture Education Solutions, Bangalore, a higher education initiative, to bring its advanced, state-of-the-art design program to India.

What makes Strate School of Design “best”?

Strate School of Design, Paris, is one of the most reputed colleges for Design in France. Having over 23 years of experience in the field, it has been ranked among the “60 Best Design Schools in the World” by BusinessWeek/Bloomberg. Besides this, Strate School of Design has consistently produced talent who have made a made a mark across the globe. Many of the school’s alumni, called Stratos, have found a place in top automobile and design companies.

Strate School of Design, Bangalore, was born out of this illustrious legacy. The curriculum, designed by industry veterans and professionals, takes a page out of its parent, offering the same quality of education as in France. The faculty comprises a mix of international and Indian designers, sharing their expertise and offering a truly global design education.

Courses offered

Program: 5-year Integrated Master in Design (M.Des)
Specializations: Product, Transportation, and Interaction
Duration: 5 years full-time

All students, irrespective of their chosen specialization, will participate in the same curriculum for the first two years. It is in the third year that their interests begin to take shape as they begin to delve into the nitty-gritty of their specialization.

Admission process: The admission to Strate School of Design involves,

  • Eligibility: Graduated class 12 or equivalent with an aggregate of at least 50%
  • Completion and submission of the application form
  • Interview with the faculty or Dean
  • Submission of documents along with 10% of the first year’s tuition

There is no entrance test involved in the admission process. However, students will have to sit for an interview with the faculty or Dean to ensure they are passionate about and are rightly qualified to pursue a career in design.

For more information, visit Strate India

2. National Institute of Design (NID)

The National Institute of Design (NID) is one of the pioneers in design education in India. It consists of three campuses across India – Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Bangalore. The Bangalore campus was set up in 2006, with classes commencing from the academic year 2007-08. The campus primarily serves as the Research and Development wing of the institute.

What makes NID “best”?

The National Institute of Design is one of the premier colleges for design education and research in India. It is listed among the top 25 European & Asian programs in the world by BusinessWeek, USA. Though an autonomous institute, NID is recognized by many national and international agencies as a reckoning force in the world of design education.

Courses offered

NID offers 8 Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programs at the Ahmedabad campus and 19 Master of Design (M.Des.) programs across its 3 campuses in India.

The Bachelor programs include Animation Film Design, Ceramic & Glass Design, Film and Video Communication, Furniture and Interior Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, and Textile Design.

The Master’s programs include Apparel Design, Lifestyle Accessory Design, New Media Design, Photography Design, Strategic Design Management, Toy & Game Design, and Transportation & Automobile Design.

The programs offered in Bangalore (Master’s only) include,

  • Design for Retail Experience
  • Digital Game Design
  • Information Design
  • Interaction Design
  • Universal Design

Duration: The Bachelor programs are offered for a duration of 4 years and the Master programs for a duration of 2.5 years.

Admission process: Students who wish to apply for the Master’s (M.Des.) course can apply on the institute’s website directly. The institute conducts a Design Aptitude Test (DAT) for candidates to be considered for admission. The test assesses students’ design knowledge, abilities, and skills. The DAT is conducted in two parts – Prelims and Mains – followed by a personal interview round.

  • Eligibility for the Master’s degree: Possess a 3-year Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline or a 4-year bachelor’s degree or diploma after class 12
  • Register and apply online for your desired course
  • Complete the form, submit documents, and pay the application fees
  • Appear for the DAT and interviews
  • After passing and selection, provide all relevant documents to the institute, pay fees and complete the admission

*For the sake of this article, which mentions only the top design schools in Bangalore, we have considered only the Master’s program from NID offered in Bangalore.

For more information, visit NID

3. Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology

Srishti was founded in 1996 with the aim of “providing art and design education in an environment of creativity to maximize the individual’s potential.” The institute is spread across 5 sprawling campuses in Bangalore. The school has dedicated research and collaboration centres that further the quest for quality education in India. Besides academics, the school also conducts extracurricular activities and festivals for students that add to their creative growth.

What makes Srishti “best”?

Srishti, as one of the oldest design schools in Bangalore, has been one of the driving forces for great design education. Its affiliation with Bangalore Central University, that offers degrees for both B.Des. and M.Des. programs, affirms its credibility within the design education space.

Courses offered

Srishti offers both undergraduate and postgraduate design programs in an array of diverse disciplines. The B.Des. programs serve to build a professional platform for aspiring designers. The M.Des., on the other hand, is a value-add for professionals who wish to expand their portfolio or add to their existing degree.

B.Des. Programs:

  • Business Services and Systems Design
  • Creative and Applied Computation
  • Creative Education
  • Human Centered Design
  • Industrial Arts and Design Practices
  • Information Arts and Information Design Practices
  • Public Space Design
  • Visual Communication and Strategic Branding

M.Des. Programs:

  • Design Computation
  • Design-Led Innovation
  • Digital Humanities
  • Earth Education and Communication
  • Heritage Design, Planning and Management
  • Human Centered Design
  • Industrial Arts and Design Practices
  • Information Arts and Information Design Practices
  • Public Space Design
  • Strategic Design and Brand Leadership

Duration: The undergraduate (B.Des.) programs are offered for a duration of 4 years and the postgraduate (M.Des.) programs for a duration of 2 years. As these are full-time programs, students will be required to set up base in Bangalore.

At the end of the program, students are awarded their respective Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) or Master of Design (M.Des.) degrees by Bangalore Central University.

Admission process: The admission process to the Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology is as follows,

Eligibility: B.Des. programs:

  • Completed their class 12 from a recognized national or international board or institute OR
  • A high school diploma if from USA or Canada OR
  • Completed the NSFQ Certification Level IV

Eligibility: M.Des. programs:

  • Possess either a 4-year UG degree from any national or international university OR
  • A 4-year UG diploma in design from any design institute OR
  • A 5-year UG degree from any professional institute

For both categories of programs, students are required to pass the institute’s entrance test after which there would be a portfolio review and personal interview.

For more information, visit Srishti

4. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)

The National Institute of Fashion Technology was founded over 30 years ago, in 1986, to empower the textile and apparel industry in India. It was made a statutory institute in 2006. Besides fashion education, NIFT has also been a knowledge provider to governments, both state and union, for the development of handlooms and handicrafts. The institute also boasts of highly-talented alumni who have gone on to have successful careers in the design industry. NIFT provides placements to students not only in the fashion industry, but also in technology, media, journalism, consulting, and many more.

What makes NIFT “best”?

The National Institute of Fashion Technology is one of the oldest and most reputed colleges for design in India. It is also one of the first colleges to award degrees in fashion education. Having campuses across the country, and providing degrees in a number of disciplines, makes NIFT a top-of-the-range institute for design education.

Courses offered: NIFT offers programs in both undergraduate and postgraduate design disciplines.

The Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programs include,

  • Fashion Design (FD)
  • Leather Design (LD)
  • Accessory Design (AD)
  • Textile Design (TD)
  • Knitwear Design (KD)
  • Fashion Communication (FC)

The Master of Design (M.Des.) program is a multi-disciplinary avenue where students hone their skills based on their area of interest.

Admission process: The admission process to the National Institute of Fashion Technology is as follows,

Eligibility:

B.Des. programs:

  • Completed their class 12 from a recognized central/state board of secondary examination OR
  • 3 or 4-years diploma recognized by AICTE or a state board of technical education OR
  • Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects OR
  • GCE Examination from London/Cambridge/Sri-Lanka in Advanced (A) level/International Baccalaureate

M.Des. programs:

  • Undergraduate degree in any discipline from any recognized institute/university
  • Undergraduate diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID
  • Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT). Shortlisted B.Des. candidates will also have to appear for a Situation Test.
  • Group discussions
  • Personal interview
  • Upon selection, document submission (either online or offline) and fee payment

For more information, visit NIFT

5. LISAA School of Design

L ‘Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués (LISAA) is a top French design school founded in 1986. The institute was started with only two courses in design, spatial and fashion. Over the years, it has evolved to include other aspects of the design space with programs in graphic design, interior design, and more. The campus in Bangalore was opened in 2013 and has become one of the major players offering design education in India. The school is recognized by the University Of Mysore.

What makes LISAA “best”?

LISAA benefits from having a French foundation in design education. It is recognized by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication as one of the top schools in France. More than 1,00,000 students from LISAA have been placed in top design companies across the globe. With student exchange programs and study trips abroad, LISAA offers a global platform for design right at home.

Courses offered

The first year is the Foundation Year for students of LISAA. Irrespective of their specialization, students are taught fundamental techniques of design. This will form the basis for their specialization later on.

LISAA, Bangalore offers undergraduate programs in,

  • Fashion & Textile Design
  • Interior & Product Design
  • Graphic & Web Design

The school also offers short-term courses in Fashion & Product Management, Interior Design, and Graphic & Web Design.

Duration: The degrees are offered for a duration of 3 years whereas the short-term programs are offered for a duration of 1 year.

Admission process: The admission process for LISAA is as follows,

Eligibility:

Bachelor’s Degree: Graduates from any stream (Science, Commerce & Humanities) who have appeared or passed the Senior Secondary School Examination or equivalent, 10+2 model from any board

One Year Professional Diploma: Anyone with interest in the field of design

  • LISAA CAT – Creative Aptitude Test
  • Personal interview
  • Upon selection, document submission and fee payment

Lateral entry to its degree and diploma programs is also available. Admissions for these are subject to approval from the institute’s Academic Director.

These schools offer a range of options for those aspiring for a career in the design industry. Whether they want to be an interior designer creating beautiful spaces, a web designer building the next big application, or a fashion designer with an eye for colour and pattern, these colleges offer the best platform for their aspirations to come alive.

For more information, visit LISAA

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