Master of Design (M.Des): Syllabus, Courses, Admissions, Specializations, Fees, Colleges, Salary, Jobs 2023

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Sounak Banerjee

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Master of design or M.Des is a postgraduate degree program of 2 years and is pursued by aspirants having a keen interest in the artistic field and who want to achieve the pinnacle standard in the field of design.

The eligibility criteria of the M.Des course is that the candidates must have a qualifying degree in Design/Architecture/ Interior design/ Fine arts or in any stream with at least 50% marks from a recognized university. The average annual fee required to study the MDes program ranges from INR 1 to 3 lakhs. MDes Syllabus is divided into 4 semesters. It consists of the subjects such as Introduction to Industry Practices, Sustainable systems, and craft studies, Industry guided project proposal, Brand communication, etc. 

M.Des Admission is done on the basis of an entrance examination. In order to obtain admission to one of the top MDes colleges candidates must clear the entrance exam along with a personal interview round to get through the admission process. Candidates can pursue jobs in both government and private sectors. Candidates can earn an average salary from INR 3 to 8 lakhs after successfully completing the MDes course, Graduates can work in the industries like fashion, design, craft, textile, special needs, publication, media, and lifestyle products, etc. Popular MDes Job Profiles include interior designer, fashion designer, etc.

Master of Design: Course Highlights

Some of the important highlights of M.Des are tabulated below.

Course level Postgraduate
Full-Form Master of Design
Duration 2 years
Examination type Semester
Eligibility Bachelor's degree in Design/Architecture/ Interior design/ Fine arts or in any stream with at least 50% marks from a recognized degree.
Admission Process Through Entrance examination and personal interview 
Course Fee INR 1 to 3 annually
Average Salary INR 3 to 8 lakhs per annum
Top Recruiting Companies Wipro Technologies Ltd, Eaton Corporation, Godrej & Boyce, Honeywell International Inc, Infosys Limited, Think Design, Craft Canvas, Lotus Design, etc par 
Job Positions Visual Designer, Design Evangelist, Insight Officer, Design Thinker, Sustainable Development Officer, User Experience Designer, CSR Executive, Trend Analyst, Social & Cultural Executive.

Why pursue the Master of Design Course?

Explore the mentioned below points to know why a Master of Design can be a course full of worth:

  • Increased Job Opportunities: A report from McKinsey suggests that the net worth of the Indian Apparel Market would be worth USD 59.3 Billion by the end of 2022, thus making it the sixth largest in the world after Germany and UK. This will provide the MDes Graduate with employment opportunities.
  • Good compensation and other benefits: According to the website payscale the MDes Graduates in India India earn an average salary of INR 982,635 per annum. Apart from the salary, the MDes graduates are entitled to various perks such as PF, medical insurance, traveling expenses, etc. Top recruiters like Wipro Technologies Ltd, Eaton Corporation, Godrej & Boyce, Honeywell International IncThink Design, Craft Canvas, Lotus Design, etc hire large numbers of these graduates.
  • Chance to work in a growing Industry: According to reports by the various Indian media outlets the Indian Fashion Industry is expected to grow at a rate of 10-12% in the coming few years. By 2022 there would be over 300 new brands that are expected to open shops in India, and thus are expected to hire design candidates
  • Chance to work in a large number of industries: Master of Design provides scope in almost every industry, as every industry needs designing. One pursuing this course has the opportunity to explore flourishing industries like Fashion, Interior, Web, Gaming, Graphic, Animation, etc.
  • Ability to be an entrepreneur: The course allows the candidates to turn entrepreneurs after the completion of the course or after gaining sufficient experience. There are numerous alumni that have opened up their own clothing lines after the completion of the course.
  • The designing course will teach the students to ensure that the product’s usability, functionality, and appearance remain intact while they design any product.

Who Should Study M.Des Course?

  • Candidates who wish to enter the fashion industry should take up the course 
  • Candidates who wish to become fashion designers should take up the course. The Candidates are required to take up MDes (Fashion Design ) courses.
  • The course is also ideal for candidates who want to become a game developer. They are required to undertake the MDes in Game Design Course.
  • The candidates who want to become interior designers can take up the course.
  • Candidates who have completed their B.Des Course can take up the M.Des program for the overall upliftment of their career
  • Similarly, candidates who want to become an entrepreneur, especially in the fashion industry should take up the course.
  • Candidates who are open to traveling should take up the course as it would require the candidates to travel frequently. 

Master of Design Admission Process

The admission process to the various MDes courses is done on the basis of the entrance examination conducted by the different universities.

Master of Design Eligibility Criteria

Students wanting to pursue a postgraduate degree in the design field should fulfill the following criteria before applying.

  • The applicant should hold a bachelor’s degree in Design or in any stream from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 50%. 
  • They should have qualified for the entrance examination conducted for the design courses.
  • There is generally no upper age limit for the candidates applying for the programs.

MDes Admission 2023

The MDes Admission Process has been explained with help of the following points:

  • Entrance Test: Most of the top institutes conduct admission through the common entrance examination called CEED. Some of the institutes like the Indian Institute Of Crafts And Design, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, and more also conduct their own examinations like NIFT, IICD, UPES DAT, etc.
  • Registration: The candidates are required to register themselves with the various universities or the entrance examination bodies and create a login ID. Then they are required to fill up the application form, upload the necessary documents and submit the application fees.
  • Appear for Entrance: The candidates are required to score well in the entrance exam. 
  • Application: Post qualifying for the entrance exams and meeting the eligibility criteria of the stream one wants to apply to, filling up an application for a specific institute is to be done. 
  • Personal Interview: This is the last and final step of selection by universities post successfully clearing the entrance and application.

Master of Design Entrance Exams

Tabulated below are the popular M.Des entrance exams that are conducted by different bodies in India every year.

Entrance Exam Registration Date Examination Date
NIFT EE November 1, 2022 – 1st week of January 2023 February 5, 2023
CEED September 30, 2022 – November 9, 2022 January 22, 2023
AIEED December 24, 2022  – January 10, 2023 January 15 – 30, 2023  (March Session II)
NID DAT October 22, 2022 – December 22, 2022 

Prelims: January 08, 2023

Main: March 20, 2023- April 23, 2023

Master of Design Specializations

Master of Design has various specializations in the field of fashion & textile, communication, etc. Some of the popular specializations are mentioned below: 

M.Des in Fashion Designing

This is one of the design courses that deals with the fashion and industry and one who is fascinated with designing clothes and apparel can pursue this course.

Average Annual Fees INR 1 to 3 lakhs
Average Annual Salary INR 5 to 8 lakhs
Top M.Des in Fashion Designing colleges

M.Des in Interior Designing

Interior designing revolves around generating creative ideas to design and decorate the interiors of the house. The students interested in this career can move ahead with this course.

Average Annual Fees  INR 1 to 2 lakhs
Average Annual Salary  INR 2 to 5 lakhs
Top M.Des in Interior Designing colleges

M.Des in Communication Studies

Communication is a broad concept and has various patterns to follow. The one who is eager enough to indulge in designing various communication patterns can take up this course.

Average Annual Fees  INR 2 to 3 lakhs
Average Annual Salary INR 4 to 5 lakhs
Top M.Des in Communication Studies colleges

M.Des in Industrial Design

Industrial design deals with the study of curating products that are to be manufactured for market use.

Average Annual Fees  INR 1.50 to 2.50 lakhs
Average Annual Salary  INR 5 to 6 lakhs
Top M.Des in Industrial Design colleges

M.Des in Game Design

This is one of the most popular design courses as every day new games are launched in the market. From creating the structure of the game to designing the software, aspiring gaming designers will have to do it all.

Average Annual Fees  INR 3 to 4 lakhs
Average Annual Salary  INR 6 to 8 lakhs
Top M.Des in Game Design colleges

Check some more M.Des Specialization Colleges:

Master of Design Syllabus

Some of the common subjects covered during the  Master of Design Syllabus courses duration are mentioned below:

Introduction to Industry Practices Visualization and Digital Representation
Sustainable systems and craft studies Design thinking and methods
Introduction to social design Industry-guided project proposal
Design for sustainability & craft Design research methods
Trend research & forecasting Design as a luxury (floating)
Introduction to Experience design Brand positioning and Curatorial practices
Strategy design management Design philosophy & critique
Information design Brand communication

MDes Course Comparison

We have drawn the table below to differentiate between M Des (Master in Design) and MTech in Design (Master of Technology in Design) for students to have a clear understanding of both.

Parameters Master in Design (M Des) Master of Technology in Design (MTech in Design)
Objective The focus of the course is to invent and create designs that are a forever part of the millennium, by using technology. The program is designed to make candidates familiar with the requisite skills needed in synthesis design, and analysis of a wide variety of mechanical engineering systems.
Specializations Fashion, Interior, Web, Gaming, Graphic, Animation, etc. No Specializations are available.
Average Annual Fees  INR1,00,000 to 3,00,000 INR 50,000 to 2,00,000
Duration 2 years 2 years
Eligibility Bachelor's degree in Design/Architecture/ Interior design/ Fine arts or in any stream with at least 50% marks from a recognized degree Bachelor’s or equivalent degree
Admission Process Entrance examination and personal interview  Entrance examination 
Top Colleges National Institute of Design [NID] Ahmedabad, National Institute of Design (NID) Gandhinagar, National Institute of Fashion Technology Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute Of Technology, etc. BITM, Dr. MGR Educational, and Research Institute, GLA University, Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology, etc.
Job Roles Visual Designer, Design Evangelist, Insight Officer, Design Thinker, Sustainable Development Officer, User Experience Designer, etc. Design Engineer, Lecturer, Design Consultant, Service Engineer, etc
Average Annual Salary  INR 3 to 8 lakhs per annum INR 2 to 6 lakhs per annum
 MDes Course Comparison

Source: University Websites and Payscale

Top Master of Design Colleges in India

Tabulated below are some of the top MDes colleges in India, along with the location and average fees charged.

MDes Colleges in Maharashtra

The following is the list of MDes Colleges in Maharashtra with fees structure

MDes Colleges in Delhi NCR

The Following are some of the MDes Colleges in the Colleges in the Delhi NCR 

College Name  Average Fees
NIFT Delhi INR 224,700
Shiv Nadar University INR 300,000
GD Goenka University (GDGU), Gurgaon INR 229,000
SGT University INR 162,500
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi  INR 113,500

MDes Colleges in Rajasthan

The Following are the MDes Colleges in Rajasthan with their fees Structure

MDes Colleges in Uttar Pradesh

The following is the list of MDes Colleges in Uttar Pradesh with fees structure

College Name  Average Fees
IIT Kanpur INR 64,050
Shiv Nadar University INR 300,000
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University INR 73,800
The Design Village INR 450,000
UP Institute of Design INR 73,800

College Comparison

The table drawn below shows the comparison made between the top M.Des colleges in India, that any willing aspirant can have a look on.

Parameters Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai
Overview IIT Kanpur is one of the participating institutes in CEED. They train students to synthesize technology and aesthetics in the service of human needs. Established in the year 1961, NIID today is known as one of the finest design institutes in the country. It offers design courses at the bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. levels. It is one of the premier institutes for fashion and design that keeps evolving according to the changing market.
Location Kanpur Ahmadabad Mumbai
Eligibility 55 % in the bachelor's degree. Bachelor’s Degree in Design or in any any discipline from a recognized Institute/University Graduates in any discipline with an aptitude towards crafts, fashion or design.
Admission Process Score of CEED/ GATE entrance exam followed by Written Test/ Personal Interview Entrance exams followed by a personal interview. Based on GAT and GD/PI.
Average Annual Fees (INR) INR 64,050 INR 3,26,000 INR 2,24,000
Top companies visited Samsung, TCS, Cognizant, Oracle, Elephant Design, Forbes Marshall, Godrej, DC Studio, JCB, Hero Honda, LG, Videocon, Bajaj, Nokia, etc H&M, Gupta & Company, Go Colors, Fashion Lifestyle Pvt Ltd, Raymond Limited, Reliance Brand Limited, Story Zara, Benetton, Hidesign, Fossil, Ti-cycles, Renault, Royal Enfield, Anita Dongre, Arvind Mills, Welspun, Times of India, Hindustan Unilever, Future Group, TCS, Tata Elxsi, Titan, L&T Infotech.

Study MDes Abroad

Candidates often prefer to carry on with their education in foreign universities. The reason behind this logic is that the foreign colleges/universities offer better infrastructure, research opportunities as well as better pay after the completion of the course. 

However, the candidates must keep the following things in mind before applying for the Design courses in foreign universities and colleges. 

  • The candidates need to pass the BDes or Equivalent course from a recognized university.
  • Admission to the course requires the candidates to appear in English proficiency tests such as the IELTS, TOEFL, etc. The minimum scores are declared by the individual colleges.
  •  The candidates are often required to produce evidence of their financial capabilities (Bank Statements), letter(s) of recommendation, work experience, medical certificate, statement of purpose, etc

USA

The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in the USA.

UK

The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in the UK.

College Name Average Fees (In INR)
University College London 1,282,211
University Of Edinburgh 1,439,597
Imperial College London 2,069,455
The University Of Manchester 1,566,074
University Of Leeds 1,379,576

Canada

The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in Canada.

College Name Average Fees (In INR)
University of Alberta 1,566,391
Concordia University 2,822,114
York University 4,580,876
Carleton University 2,809,650
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) 2,113,128

Australia

The following is a list of some colleges and their fees that offer MDes or similar courses in Australia 

College Name Average Fees (In INR)
Monash University INR 20,73,917
RMIT University INR 17,90,237
University of New South Wales INR 21,02,172
Griffith University INR 19,49,595
University of Technology, Sydney INR 22,59,496

Master of Design Job And Salary

The M.Des degree holders can get jobs in large fashion, design, or corporate houses in the areas of craft, textile, special needs, publication, media, lifestyle products, graphics, user experience design, etc. The specialization will decide the student’s pathway in the design industry domain. 

These professionals can bag a job in both private and government sectors with an average salary ranging from INR  3 to 8 lakhs per annum. Here are some of the most popular jobs offered to students with a Master of Design degree.

Job Role Job Description Average Annual Salary (INR)
Graphic Designer Graphic designers create visual concepts using computer software to communicate the idea to inform, inspire, and captivate the customer. They can get jobs in specialized design service companies, publishing or advertising companies, public relations industries, etc. 3,00,000
Design Thinking expert Design thinking experts focus on solving problems in a creative and innovative way. They try to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions.  3,55,000
Industrial Designer Industrial designers create, plan, and manufacture goods that include automobiles, household products, food packaging, electronics, medical equipment, etc. They work with other specialists to improve the existing product and to introduce new products. 6,00,000
Interior Designer Interior designers make the indoor or interior spaces beautiful, safe, and functional by determining the requirements in the different spaces and selecting essential and decorative items. They can get jobs in specialized design services, architectural, and engineering-related services. 4,00,000
User Experience Designer The work of the UX designer is to make the product or technology usable, enjoyable, and accessible for humans. They usually bridge the gap between the user, the development team, and the business stakeholders. 8.00,000
Salary

Source: Payscale

Master of Design Future Scope

Successfully completing the degree, one can either work in a top private company or may start preparing for exams to get a job in the government sector. However, Moving ahead with a Ph.D. in a related field is also highly recommended to these aspirants.

  • Government Sector- Top government recruiters like National Handloom Development Corporation, National Jute Manufacturers Corporation, National Textile Corporation Limited, Handicrafts & Handlooms Export Corporation, etc hire these professionals by offering them a good pay and recognition.
  • Ph.D. in Design- A Ph.D. in Design will help candidates to enhance and develop a strong sense of innovative and creative approaches for business productivity.

Be it working hard to bag a government job in the  design industry  or  getting an additional higher degree, both will increase one’s career prospect and will also open the gates for exploring in the foreign industry.

Master of Design FAQ

Ques What is the Master of Design (M.Des)?

Ans. M.Des is a postgraduate degree program that involves understanding of design methods and practical applications of creative skills in a variety of industries. The students cover topics in various areas of design like User Experience & Interaction Design, Industrial Design, and Visual Communication and learn innovative ways of solving problems to human needs.

Ques: Is an M.Des degree similar to MA and MSc degrees in a design course?

Ans. The field of study is similar in all these degree programs, but Master of Arts focuses more on artistic skills, and Master of Science focuses on the technical aspects of any product or equipment. Whereas M.Des focuses on design methods and problem-solving innovative skills.

Ques . What are the career options after M.Des?

Ans. The graduates can work in various industries like automobile, textile, media production, etc. They can get jobs as Industrial designer, Graphic designer, Landscape architects, Interior decorators, Fashion designers, Design engineer, Product designers, Art directors, product manager, Art production designer, Material engineer, etc.

Ques. What is the average salary that can be expected after completion of a Master of Design?

Ans. A graduate can expect an average salary of INR 3 to 8 lakhs.

Ques: How are the admissions conducted for Master of Design?

Ans. The admissions of M.Des is conducted through a Common Entrance examination called CEED. Top colleges including IITs select students through CEED, whereas some of the colleges like NIFT conduct their own exams.

Ques: Who is eligible for the Master of Design?

Ans. One who holds a bachelor's degree in the field of Design, Engineering, Architecture, Interior Design, and Fine Arts or in any stream is eligible for a Master of Design. Though some of the colleges do not consider bachelor’s degrees in Interior Design and Fine arts eligible for this program.

Ques. What are the top institutes for Master of Design?

Ans. IITs and NIFTs are among the top institutes for Master of Design. The top institutes among IITs and NIFTs are IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, NIFT Delhi, and NIFT Mumbai.

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