M.Des (Master of Design): Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Duration: 2 Years
Avg Fees: ₹50K - 3.2 LPA
Sakshi Chaudhary
Sakshi Chaudhary

Updated on - Feb 16, 2024

Latest Updates for M.Des

  • 14 March 2024 :

    UCEED Counselling 2024 registration is ongoing. The last date to register is Mar 31, 2024.

  • 12 March 2024 :

    UCEED 2024 Scorecard is out. The last date to download the scorecard is Jun 12, 2024.

  • 12 March 2024 :

    CEED 2024 Scorecard is out. The last date to download the scorecard is Jun 12, 2024.

  • 04 March 2024 :

    NID DAT Exam Date 2024 for M.Des course has been scheduled from Mar 4 - Apr 4, 2024.

M.Des or Master of Design, is a 2-year postgraduate degree that deals with the study of design principles, techniques, cultural impact of design, and ethical considerations in design practice. The core M.Des subjects include design thinking and innovation, materials and processes, digital design tools, history of design, etc.

MDes Admission requires students to have a minimum of 50% in their B.Des degree and qualify with the required cut-off marks in MDes entrance exams such as CEED, GATE, NID DAT, etc. The annual M.Des fees is in the range of INR 10,000-5,50,000, the fees vary depending on private and government colleges, facilities, etc. Colleges like IIT, Guwahati have an annual fee of INR 57,150, whereas NID, Ahmedabad has an annual fee of INR 4,56,000.

M.Des Course Details

Degree Masters
Full Form Master of Design
Duration 2 Years
Age No age limit
Minimum Percentage 50% in Undergraduate Degrees. The score requirement is subjected to the college of choice.
Average Fees ₹50K - 3.2 LPA
Average Salary INR 9 LPA [Source: Payscale]
Employment Roles User Experience Designer, UX Designer, Senior User Experience Designer, Industrial Designer, Design Manager, Interior Designer, Product Designer, Sr UX Designer, Graphic Designer, Design Architect etc

What is M.Des Course?

M.Des full form stands for Master of Design, a postgraduate degree that focuses on aspects related to design theory, design research methods, design history, practical design projects, etc. M.Des course also offers various specializations like fashion design, interior design, industrial design, communication design, etc.

MDes course provides students opportunities to work in top companies like Liv Space, Amazon, Myntra, Wipro Digital, etc., in different roles like UX Designer, Industrial Designer, Product Manager, Market Researcher, etc. The average salary of an M.Des graduate is INR 4 LPA (Sources: Payscale & Ambition Box)

Table of Contents

M.Des Eligibility Criteria

MDes admission requires a candidate to fulfill a certain set of parameters like additional certifications, minimum percentage, entrance exam score, etc. Below are the M.Des courses eligibility criteria:

  • Admission for the M.Des courses requires the candidate to complete their B.Des in Architecture/Engineering/Design/Interior Design or any equivalent degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks for the general category and 45% for SC/ST/OBC or any reserved category students. In addition, students must have cleared the standard entrance examinations such as CEED, NID DAT, UPESDAT, etc.
  • There is no upper age limit to enroll in the course.

Why Choose M.Des Course?

M.Des is a course designed to help students who want to pursue a career in design. It aims to help aspirants learn all the essential and essential skills to become employable. The course gives aspirants specialized qualifications to focus on both the artistic and technical aspects of visual media and design. Below listed are a few insights regarding why one should choose MDes course:

  • Graduates from this role can get titles such as UX Designer, Front-end Designer, Product Designer, Fashion Designer, and Interior Designer.
  • As per Knowledge Hut Report 2023, the demand for UX designers is expected to grow at a CAGR of 37.5% by 2027.
  • The global industrial design market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.07% by the year 2027, leading to a higher demand for industrial designers. (As per Market Research Report, 2023)

M.Des Admission 2024

The MDes admission is done based on entrance exams and merit score in top colleges like IIT Bombay, Pearl Academy, NIDs, NIFTs, etc. Below listed is the general MDes admission procedure:

  • Step 1: The students have to appear for entrance examinations to qualify for the M.Des courses.
  • Step 2: Further the student needs to fill out the college application form online or offline mode.
  • Step 3: Further, the candidate is called for a CAD (creative ability test), interview, or GD process, after which a final merit list is published.
  • Step 4: Students need to provide valid documents for the document verification process such as identity proof, mark sheets, certification, exam score card, etc., after getting selected and paying the fees.

M.Des entrance exams are conducted at the national level and institute level in order to evaluate students' aptitude, domain knowledge and general awareness. Below listed are a few entrance exams for M.Des course along with the registration date and accepting college:

MDes Entrance Exam

Exam Date

Accepting College

NID DAT Mar 3- Apr 28, 2024 (Mains) NID Ahmedabad, NID Banaglore, etc.
CEED Jan 21, 2024 (Closed) IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, etc.
UPESDAT Apr 7, 2024 UPES
NIFT Entrance Exam Feb 5, 2024 (Closed) NIFT Delhi, NIFT Varanasi, etc.
GATE Feb 3-Feb 11, 2024 (Closed) Indian Institute of Science

M.Des Specializations

Students can pursue Master of Design course in various domains as per their expertise and domain knowledge ranging from fashion design to interior design. Below listed are a few common M.Des specialization list:

  • M.Des in Apparel Design
  • M.Des in Fashion Design
  • M.Des in Fashion Communication
  • M.Des in Communication Design
  • M.Des in Fashion Styling
  • M.Des in Interior Design
  • M.Des in Graphic Design
  • M.Des in Product Design
  • M.Des Industrial Design

Top M.Des Colleges in India with Fees

M.Des course is offered by various prominent government and private colleges in India such as IIT Delhi, NIFTs, World University of Design, etc. The annual M.Des fees in India are between INR 10,000-5,50,000. 

The below list contains the top M.Des colleges in India as per IIRF ranking 2023 with annual fee breakdowns:

IIRF Ranking 2023

College Name

Type of Institution

Average Tuition Fees Per Year

Admission Fees

Miscellaneous Fees Per Year

1 NID Ahmedabad Government INR 4,56,000 - INR 35,000
2 NID Bangalore Government INR 4,56,000 INR 10,000 INR 35,000
3 IIT Delhi Government INR 25,000 INR 8,150 -
4 IIT Bombay Government INR 30,850 INR 2,200 INR 27,000
5 IIT Guwahati Government INR 57,150 INR1,500 INR 8,000-10,000
1 UID Ahmedabad
Karnavati University
Private INR 5,50,000 INR 25,000 -
2 Amity School of Fashion Technology Noida Private INR 2,16,000 INR 20,000 -
3 Pearl Academy Mumbai Private INR 1,40,000 INR 70,000 INR 4,82,500
4 Pearl Academy Delhi Private INR 1,40,000 INR 70,000 INR 4,82,500
5 MAEER’S MIT Pune Private INR 3,42,000 INR 15,000 INR 2,94,500

Top City-Wise Master of Design Colleges in India

Below listed are location-wise M.Des colleges in India with the average annual fees:

Location

Average Annual MDes Fees 

MDes Colleges in Delhi INR 25,000-2,00,000
M.Des Colleges in Bangalore INR 1,00,000-2,00,000
M.Des Colleges in Mumbai INR 30,000-2,50,000
M.Des Colleges in Pune INR 1,00,000-3,50,000
M.Des Colleges in Ahmedabad INR 1,50,000-5,50,000
M.Des Colleges in Jaipur INR 75,000-1,50,000
M.Des Colleges in Chennai INR 2,00,000-3,00,000
M.Des Colleges in Kolkata INR 80,000-2,00,000

M.Des Syllabus and Subjects

M.Des syllabus focuses on topics like design thinking, design research methodologies, visual communication, typography, color theory, product design, sustainability in design, design history, design management, etc. Listed below is the M.Des syllabus semester wise:

Semester I Semester II
Design - An Introduction Graphic Design
Design Methods Form Studies
Visual Design Principles and Technology User Research Methods
UI Design Elective-I
Ergonomics Elective-II
Semester III Semester IV
Elective-III Elective-IV
Design Project Thesis Project - Phase I
Design Project II Thesis Project - Phase II

Read More: M.Des Syllabus and Subjects

M.Des vs MFM

M.Des program emphasizes the creative and artistic aspects of design, whereas, MFM focuses on business and management aspects of the fashion industry. Below is a detailed comparison of the two courses.

Full-Form

Master in Design MFM

Course Duration

2 Years

Master of Fashion Management

Course Overview

The course curriculum focuses on different types of design theory, research methods, etc. The course curriculum focuses on the process of garment manufacturing, fashion marketing and merchandising fashion styling and photography, and the fashion design process.

Eligibility

A minimum of 50% marks in bachelor's degree A minimum 50-55% marks in bachelor's degree

Course Fee Per Year

INR 10,000-5,50,000 INR 50,000-4,00,000

Average Salary

INR 4 LPA INR 3-8 LPA

Entrance Exam

CEED, CUET-PG, etc. NIFT GAT, AIEED, etc.

Top Colleges

IIT Delhi, NIFT Delhi, IITDM Jabalpur, etc. NIFT, IIFT Bangalore, MIT-Pune, etc.

Job Roles

UX Designer, Product Designer, Graphic Designer, etc. Social Media Manager, Fashion Merchandiser, Fabric Quality Control Manager, etc.

Courses After M.Des

After obtaining an M.Des, aspirants can do certification courses abroad, which can help them get a job in the country or do diplomas, which can also further help them with a brighter plan. Different courses students can pursue include:

  • PhD
  • MBA
  • Certificate Course in Design
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion Management
  • Advanced Courses in Sustainable Design
  • Master's in Fine Arts (MFA)

Career Options After M.Des Graduation

After completing their Master’s in Design, an individual can choose to work for a private firm or an agency based on their preference. Below is the list of top M.Des job roles offered to graduates:

MDes Job Roles Job Description
Product Designer
  • Make prototypes and refine designs in response to user input
  • Assist manufacturers and engineers closely to guarantee the viability of the product
UX/UI Designer
  • Create user interfaces for digital platforms, apps, and websites
  • Test usability and collect user input
Graphic Designer
  • Create visual concepts and visuals for branding, advertising campaigns, and marketing collateral
  • Utilise graphic design software to produce visually captivating and visually appealing content
Fashion Designer
  • Produce unique designs for apparel and accessories
  • Create prototypes, patterns, and sketches for fashion shows
Interior Designer
  • Make thorough design plans that include furniture selections, colour palettes, and layouts
  • Locate and choose furniture, supplies, and décor
Design Manager
  • Oversee several design projects, making sure that deadlines and quality requirements are fulfilled
  • Work together with stakeholders to match business objectives with design concepts
Innovation Strategist
  • Develop and implement strategies to foster a culture of innovation within an organization
  • Identify opportunities for product or process improvement through research and analysis
Digital Marketing and Branding Specialist
  • Improve brand visibility by managing social media accounts
  • Examine marketing analytics and statistics to determine the success of your campaigns

Top Recruiters for M.Des

M.Des scope is vast as graduates are recruited by companies in areas like product design, graphic design, UX/UI design, fashion design, interior design, etc. Below listed are a few top recruiters for graduates:

TCS Larsen & Turbo Zomato
Amazon Aditya Birla Group HUL
Liv Space Titan Company Flipkart
Wipro Digital Infosys Adobe
Zara Raheja Group Nestle India

[Sources: Payscale & Ambition Box]

M.Des Salary In India

The entry-level M.Des salary in India on average is INR 4 LPA [Source: Payscale]. Graduates after having three-plus years of experience can earn more than INR 10 LPA. Below listed are job roles for M.Des graduates along with their average entry-level salaries:

M.Des Jobs

Entry Level Average Salary

Salary After 3 Years of Experience

UX Designer INR 4-4.5 LPA INR 7-9 LPA
Product Designer INR 4-6 LPA INR 8.5-11 LPA
Lead UX Designer INR 5 LPA INR 8-10 LPA
Industrial Designer INR 3.92 LPA INR 7-9 LPA
Graphic Designer INR 3-4 LPA INR 6-7 LPA
UX Researcher INR 3.5 LPA INR 6-9.36 LPA
Visual Designer INR 3-4 LPA INR 7-9 LPA

Skills To Excel as an M.Des Graduate

Just like every profession, Designers need to have a set of soft and hard skills that will help them succeed in their professional life. Some of these skills include:

  • Creative thinking skills
  • Verbal Communication Skills
  • Written Communication Skills
  • The Ability to Work Under Pressure
  • Interpersonal Skills

M.Des Fee Structure

FAQs

What is the qualification for MDes?

MDes admission requires students to have a minimum of 50% in their B.Des degree and qualify with the required cut-off marks in MDes entrance exams such as CEED, GATE, NID DAT, etc

Is MDes a good career option?

Yes, students can work in different industries like architecture, advertising, branding, e-commerce, etc.

Can I do MDes after 12th?

No, students need to complete their undergraduate degree in order to pursue an M.Des degree.

Which IIT is best for MDes?

IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Guhwati are the best IITs to pursue MDes.

What job roles are available after MDes?

Graduates can work in roles like UX designer, Researcher, industrial designer, graphic designer, etc.

Can individuals from non-design backgrounds apply for M.Des programs?

Yes, individuals from non-design backgrounds can apply for M.Des courses, as some colleges welcome students from diverse academic backgrounds.

What specializations are available in M.Des?

Specializations in M.Des include Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Product Design, etc.

How important is a portfolio for M.Des admission?

The portfolio is important for M.Des admission as few colleges like NIDs and IITs may also evaluate students based on a variety of projects and well-researched design methods.

Is it possible to pursue a Ph.D. after completing an M.Des?

Yes, depending on their research interests and the availability of doctoral programs in design at particular institutions, individuals can pursue a Ph.D. in Design after M.Des.

How can I prepare for M.Des entrance exams?

Students should focus on design thinking abilities, practicing sketching or prototyping, keeping up with the latest developments in design, along with awareness about current events in the world.

Are there scholarships available for M.Des students?

Yes, students can look for scholarships like JK Lakshmipat University scholarship, UPES scholarship, QIP scholarship by IIT Bombay, etc.

See Various M.Des Colleges in India

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