M.Des is an abbreviation for “Master of Design.” It is a postgraduate, specialized design degree program. The admissions process and costs for Master of Design programs differ per university. Some institutions require entrance tests, while others admit students based on their high school results.
The Master of Design program is a two-year postgraduate degree. As an advanced degree in the field of design, an M.Des degree allows you to specialize and conduct research in a variety of disciplines such as Craft, Textiles, Publications, Media, Lifestyle Products, Graphics, and User Experience Design are just a few examples. Students from any discipline can pursue M.Des, but they must have a fundamental grasp of the relevant design discipline in which they choose to study M.Des. Students with an M.Des degree can apply for careers in a variety of sectors, including Industrial Engineering and Design, Product Research Analyst, Communication Design, Product Design, and Engineering, Visual Design, Animation, and Automotive Designing, among others.
M.Des admission is based on an entrance examination. To get admission to one of the best MDes institutions, students must pass an entrance test as well as a personal interview phase. Candidates can apply for jobs in both the public and private sectors. After successfully finishing the MDes degree, candidates may earn an average income of INR 3 to 8 lakhs. Graduates can work in industries such as fashion, design, craft, textile, special needs, publication, media, and lifestyle goods, among others. Interior designer, fashion designer, and other popular M.Des job profiles include.
Course Highlights
| Particulars | Values |
| Course Type | Postgraduate |
| Course | Master of Design |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in M.P.Ed. with a 50% average |
| Admission Process | Entrance Examination |
| Semester Wise/ Year Wise | Semester Wise |
| Entrance Examination | CEED, NID DAT, NIFT test, GATE, IICD, and IIAD |
| Average Fee | Rs. 2,00,000 – Rs. 3,00,000 per year |
| Career Opportunities | Graphic designer Fashion stylist Fashion designer Art/Set director Design manager Many more.. |
| Average Annual Salary | Rs. 3 LPA – Rs. 5 LPA |
Also Read: Top Engineering Colleges in India
Specialization
There are several specializations available because the Master of Design degree is given in a variety of topics. The key specialties are shown in the table below.
| Leather Design | Lifestyle Accessory Design |
| Fashion Design | Textile Design |
| Game Design | Multimedia Design |
| Jewellery Design | Interior Design |
| Graphics Design | Ceramic Design |
| Automotive Design |
Eligibility Criteria
Admission to the Master of Design program is granted only if the student meets the university/eligibility institute’s requirements. Universities will not admit a student if he or she does not meet the eligibility requirements. Each university has its own set of M.Des qualifying requirements. In general, the M.Des qualifying criteria are listed below.
- The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in Design or a related field from a recognized university with a minimum GPA of 50%.
- They should have passed the admission exams for the design courses.
- Candidates applying for the programs usually have no upper age limit.
- Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Engineering may also apply.
Admission Procedure
The M.Des Admission Process has been explained using the following points:
Entrance Exam: Most top institutes admit students through a standard entrance examination known as the CEED. Some institutes, such as the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, and others, have their examinations, such as NIFT, IICD, UPES DAT, and so on.
Registration: Candidates must register with the various institutions or admission examination boards and generate a login ID. Then they must complete the application form, upload the needed papers, and pay the application costs.
Attend the Entrance Exam: Candidates must do well in the entrance exam.
Application: After passing the entrance tests and completing the eligibility criteria for the stream in which one wishes to enroll, an application for a specific institute must be completed.
Personal Interview: After successfully completing the entry and application processes, institutions will conduct a personal interview.
Entrance exams/Selection Process
The following are the examinations that are necessary for admission to M.Des:
The Common Entrance Test for Design (CEED) is an entrance examination for the M.Des program. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture/Engineering/Design before taking the Common Entrance Examination for Design. The CEED examination is given in English. The paper will be divided in half. Part A of the document has objective-type questions, whereas Part B contains design and hand-drawn type problems.
Fee Structure
Candidates for the M.Des program must have a qualifying degree in Design/Architecture/Interior design/Fine arts or any other field with at least 50% marks from a recognized university. The typical yearly price for the M.Des program is between INR 1 and 3 lakhs. The M.Des curriculum is organized into four semesters. It includes topics like Introduction to Industry Practices, Sustainable Systems and Craft Studies, Industry Guided Project Proposal, Brand Communication, and so on.
Subjects & Syllabus
The Master of Design program is available in a variety of specializations. Each design institute’s course program may differ. The four-semester degree includes advanced design topics rather than knowledge-based fundamentals. Check out the Master of Design school curriculum for popular design specializations. Before enrolling in any university or college, candidates should review the degree curriculum to acquire a sense of the disciplines included in the course. The Master of Design syllabus is shown below.
Master of Design | Typography Digital Human Modelling and Simulation in Product Automobile Design Representation Techniques for Animation Design: An Introduction Visual Design: Principles and Application Ergonomics Design Methods Thesis Projects Environmental and Experimental Design Product Detailing Creativity and Innovation Graphic Design Design Projects Product Design Prototyping and Advanced Manufacturing Interaction Design Graphic Design Studio Interaction with Toy Design Usability Engineering System Analysis and Information Design Creativity Innovation and Design Management Collaborative Design Methods for New Product Development New Media Studies Interaction Design Tangible User Interfaces Ergonomics of Industrial Manufacturing System Design For Sustainability Furniture and Future Lighting Design Digital Human Modelling and Simulation in Product Automobile Design Representation Techniques for Animation |
| Master of Design in Integrated Product Design | Digital Interaction, Business Research & Entrepreneurship, Branding, form & semioticsMaterials, Manufacturing & Design, Internet of Things, Envisioning systems, Digital avatars & media strategy, Professional practice Immersive technologies, Consumer robotics, Design methods and constructs, Digital visualization, Aesthetics & Semantics, |
| Fashion Management and Marketing Master of Design | Supply Chain Management Fashion Supply Chain Management Retail Management Introduction to Retail Fashion Buying and Merchandising Visual Merchandising Introduction to E-Commerce and M-Commerce business Fashion Orientation Fashion Studies Merchandising Fashion Forecasting Digital Marketing and Prototyping: Web Application Business Fundamentals Market Research and Marketing Research Methodology Economics and Financial Accounting Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Fashion Marketing and Promotion Business Models Market Study Business Model Canvas Developing Market and consumer Entrepreneurship Financial Management Preparing for Leadership Mall Management Customer Relationship Management Data Analytics Data synthesis and interpretation for Fashion businesses Practical assignment |
| Master of Design in Graphic Designing | Data Analytics Data synthesis and interpretation for Fashion businesses Practical assignment Business Models Market Study Business Model Canvas Developing Market and consumer Entrepreneurship Financial Management Preparing for Leadership Economics and Financial Accounting Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Fashion Marketing and Promotion Supply Chain Management Fashion Supply Chain Management Fashion Orientation Fashion Studies Merchandising Fashion Forecasting Digital Marketing and Prototyping: Web Application Business Fundamentals Research Methodology Retail Management Introduction to Retail Fashion Buying and Merchandising Visual Merchandising Introduction to E-Commerce and M-Commerce business Mall Management Customer Relationship Management |
| Master of Design in Fashion and Textile | Fashion E Retailing Professional Communication Skills Professional Competencies and Career Development Advanced Fashion Merchandising Product Development for Fashion Industry Design Marketing Interactive Strategy Visual Merchandising Cross Culture Communication and Global Competence Leadership and Managing Excellence Fashion Illustration History of Fashion Introduction to The Fashion and Textile Industry Principles of Fashion Marketing and Merchandising Raw Materials of Fashion Apparel Production Planning and Control Introduction to Apparel Manufacturing Health & Safety in the Apparel Industry Fashion and Retail Industry Computer Applications Design Project Elements of Design Fashion Merchandising Principles and Techniques Principles and Practices of Management Fashion and Retail Industry Computer Applications Design Project Fashion Marketing Research Raw Materials of Fashion Visual Merchandising Communication for Employment Conflict Resolution and Management Advanced Fashion Merchandising Apparel Quality Control and Production Management Design Portfolio Fashion Forecasting Pattern Appreciation Visual Merchandising & Display Global Perspective on Entrepreneurship Development and Venture Creation |
| Master of Design in Interior | Space & Form Studies Digital Methods Space and Form Studies Space Design Systems Thinking and System Design Design and Business Digital Methods Design Process Project – Furniture Design Inter Design Studies Environment Studies Design context: Habitat & Design History, Furniture History Furniture Technology: Mechanisms, Structures, and Joineries Design Overview Design Drawing – Freehand, Perspective, Visualisation Parallel-line Color, Geometry, Materials & Processes, Form, Space & Structures are the fundamentals of design. |
| Master of Design in Communication Design | Approaches to Culture & Communication Fundamentals of Design Object-Oriented Programming Principles of Interaction Design Research Methodologies – Ethnography and its Applications Introduction to Narratology Web Design: Applications, Inter-connectivity Animation Information Design Research Application: Constructing Narratives |
Placement
Holders of an M.Des degree can find work in significant fashion, design, or business companies in sectors such as craft, textile, special needs, publication, media, lifestyle goods, graphics, user experience design, and so on. The student’s route in the design industry sector will be determined by their expertise. These people can find jobs in both the private and public sectors, with yearly earnings ranging from INR 3 to 8 lakhs. Here are some of the most common occupations available to Master of Design students. The salary of a designer is determined by their talents and experience. Employers compensate employees differently depending on their job position. However, for your convenience, the average salary for some of the job descriptions is listed below.
| Jobs | Description | Average Annual Salary(INR) |
| Graphic Designer | Graphic designers use computer software to produce visual designs that express an idea to inform, inspire, and fascinate the customer. They can work in design businesses, publishing and advertising firms, public relations firms, and so on. | 3,00,000 |
| Design Thinking experts | Experts in design thinking are concerned with finding creative and inventive solutions to challenges. To discover alternate techniques and solutions, they attempt to understand the user, question preconceptions, and reframe challenges. | 3,55,000 |
| Industrial Designer | Automobiles, home appliances, food packaging, electronics, medical equipment, and other commodities are all created, planned, and manufactured by industrial designers. They collaborate with other professionals to enhance existing items and to develop new ones. | 6,00,000 |
| Interior designers | Make indoor or interior areas beautiful, safe, and practical by analyzing the needs of the various places and selecting necessary and ornamental materials. They can find work in specialized design services, architecture, and engineering. | 4,00,000 |
| User Experience Designer | The UX designer’s job is to make a product or technology usable, entertaining, and accessible to humans. They often serve as a conduit between the user, the development team, and the business stakeholders. | 8.00,000 |
Course Scope
After completing the degree, one can either work for a top private company or begin studying for exams to work in the government sector. However, pursuing a Ph.D. in a related field is also strongly advised for these aspirants.
Government Sector
Top government recruiters such as the National Handloom Development Corporation, the National Jute Manufacturers Corporation, the National Textile Corporation Limited, the Handicrafts and Handlooms Export Corporation, and others hire these professionals by paying them well and recognizing their achievements.
Ph.D. in Design
A Ph.D. in design will assist applicants in improving and developing a strong understanding of new and creative techniques for corporate productivity.
Working hard to gain a government position in the design business or earning a higher degree can both improve one’s professional prospects and open the door to exploring a foreign industry.
What happens after M.Des?
While pursuing the Master of Design degree, candidates increase their research talents, knowledge, and experimental practice. If you want to work in design, you may choose from a variety of specialized courses. The following are the most common M.Des specializations.
Option 1 – M.Des (Master of Design) graduates can start their careers as Web Developers, Graphic Designers, Art Designers, Graphic Design Instructors, Visual Designers, and Computer Graphics Artists, with an annual income of around Rs. 6,00,000.
Option 2 – After receiving their M.Des, students can continue their education by pursuing an M.Phil. or Ph.D. (Master of Design).
FAQ’s Related to M.Des.
Q. What is the typical M.Des fee?
Ans. The cost of a master’s degree in design varies by university. Private universities may charge exorbitant tuition for M.Des admission, while government institutions may charge very little. An M.Des (Master of Design) degree would cost between Rs. 2,00,000 and Rs. 3,00,000 each year.
Q. What are the best M.Des employers?
Ans. Orient Craft, Snapdeal, Oracle, Pantaloon, Shoppers Stop, Amazon, Benetton, Disney, Mumbai Dyeing, and Pearl Global are among the top M.Des employers.
Q. What are the best M.Des recruiters for recent graduates?
Ans. Top M.Des recruiters: corporate houses, furniture production, garment manufacturing units, shopping malls, boutiques.
Q. Is an M.Des degree comparable to an MA or MSc degree in design?
Ans. All of these degree programs have a similar topic of study, however, the Master of Arts emphasizes aesthetic talents, while the Master of Science concentrates on the technical components of any product or piece of equipment. M.Des, on the other hand, focuses on design methodologies and problem-solving inventive talents.
Q. What are my professional choices after earning my M.Des?
Ans. Graduates can work in a variety of sectors, including automotive, textile, and media creation. They can work as industrial designers, graphic designers, landscape architects, interior decorators, fashion designers, design engineers, product designers, art directors, product managers, art production designers, and material engineers, among other things.