Bachelor of Design [B.Des] in Communication Design is a 4-year full time (or equivalent part time) undergraduate course. The programme is divided into 8 semesters of six months each.

Graphic Design is a specialised branch of communication design, and candidates wishing to specialise in this need to start out with a degree in communication design, which would allow them to specialise in graphic design after second year. The entrance test for this course involves objective questions on colour, geometry, visual observations, creative thinking abilities, general design awareness, awareness on Indian culture, craft and traditions, etc. The test covers topics such as visualisation of 2D and 3D geometric shapes, observational, perceptual and reasoning abilities, creative and problem solving abilities, application of basic knowledge of science and mathematics, art, craft, culture, design, and environment.

The course is best suited for those who are interested in seeking a career in anything from marketing companies to government agencies.

Having a bachelors in communication design opens the gateway to being a graphic artist, merchandiser, creative director or website designer. One may work in industries including media, public relations, communications, education and business.

Projects in this line of work include customized web-design for various merchandisers, creating advertisements for small businesses, developing magazine layouts or graphic designing for video games among other things. Some standard skills required for the aforementioned careers include creativity, knowledge of design techniques, familiarity with various multimedia and other relevant technical skills. Any design course fundamentally caters to those creatively inclined and left-brain oriented, equipping them with the necessary skills to make a career out of essentially thinking outside the box.

Top Institutes offering B.Des. (Graphic Design)

• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
• Industrial Design Centre, Mumbai
• Pearl Academy
• National Institute of Fashion Design, Delhi
• Srishthi School of Art Design and Technology

The average full time fee charged for the course in India ranges between INR 30,000 to 3.1 lakhs, and the average salary offered to such professionals’ ranges between INR 274,572 per year, increasing with experience and expertise.

B.Des in Graphic Design: Course Highlights

B.Des in Graphic Design: What is it about?

The program has been designed to offer the eligible students a course that concentrates on the conceptualisation, ‘design’, and execution of an idea. It can range from an advertisement to a movie, anything at all which needs to be graphically designed, the technology and software’s associated with it. The study of the course includes subjects like typography, colour theory, and layout theory. A B.Des degree in Graphic introduces a student to the industry of graphic design, understanding its history and its future, and to the technology and equipment required to design something. It focuses on the principles of design such as balance, contrast, movement and rhythm, etc., on typography, creating images for web and print, editing images, and ultimately leadership skills required to lead a team with your idea in this industry.  

This line of design is growing relevance in contemporary times. Everything today from education to markets of all types have now gained either a secondary digital presence, or operate solely in the digital space. Not only has digitization allowed producers to find wider markets but also allowed niche producers to find consumers that fit their specific demographic. Digitisation has eliminated, in various cases, costs associated with commute and thus made web-designing and digital branding critical to commerce today. Thus graduates in graphic design definitely are fit for the current ‘virtual market’ age. In fact, they have become quite indispensable in almost all industries today.

To sustain in this field one must be equipped with exceptional analytical skills and consumer insight to cater designs to consumer sensibility as well as the client’s brand image. Their artistic ability must undoubtedly be of a high grade and they should have the computer skills to translate their art into a graphic design, with a strong sense of creativity. They must be able communicators so they can understand the client’s needs and communicate his or her vision, as well as be good at time management since in this field an employee is required to work on multiple projects at the same time.

B.Des in Communication Design: Top Institutes offering the Course

Eligibility for B.Des in Graphic Design

Candidates wishing to apply for the course need to have passed their Higher Secondary Certificate with a minimum of 50% marks in any stream, from a recognized board. After application, some colleges/institutes may hold an entrance test followed by an interview to judge the eligibility of the candidate for the course.

B.Des in Graphic Design: Admission Process

In most institutes for design, candidates that fulfil the eligibility criteria have to sit for a written entrance test is conducted and in some cases shortlisted candidates are called in for a second studio test, followed by a personal interview.

Some such entrance tests held in the country for admission are:

• National Institute of Design, Ahemedabad
• Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune

B.Des in Graphic Design: Syllabus and Course Description

A semester-wise breakup of a communication design course, with a specialisation in graphic design from semester 5 is as tabulated below:

B.Des in Graphic Design: Career Prospects

Bachelors of Design in Communication Design graduates may have job opportunities both in the private and the government sector due to changing nature of the economy in this digital age. Today everything is seen through a web interface, exists solely on a web interface, or expands through a web interface. Furthermore, advertising campaigns and branding have become exceedingly digitized and much more intricate in design. Thus graduates in this course have a plethora of job opportunities on offer. Manufacturing units, marketing agencies, fashion media, boutiques, hotels, etc. are examples of the various private sector enterprises that hire graphic design graduates.

In the government sector, for careers in nationalized banks, railways or defense services, the candidate’s need to clear the requisite exams organized by different governmental organizations such as SSC, PSC, UPSC, among others.

Job profiles for both these sectors includes graphic designers that are concerned with the conceptualization, sketching, and creation of designs keeping in mind the needs of the clients and consumer susceptibility. Similarly Web designers are occupied with the creation of websites, and more specialized job profiles in this field include interaction designers, communications designers, service designers, and etc.  

The market today is perfect for a graphic design graduate considering their need across multiple industries. Most business and enterprises today, as well as government agencies require designers in order to make them accessible in this age of marketing and digitization.

Some of the popular professional avenues open to successful graduates of the course are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.