The National Institute of Design (NID) does not release any official syllabus for the NID DAT exam. To help the candidate abide by the syllabus for the NID DAT entrance exam, this article has listed the important topics to prepare for the exam.
The NID entrance exam is a two-step process, the first step is the DAT Prelims and the second is DAT Mains.
The DAT Mains consists of a Studio Test for the B.Des program, whereas it comprises a Studio Test and an Online Interview for the M.Des program.
The NID DAT syllabus is different for the B.Des and M.Des programs.
NID Entrance Exam Syllabus for BDes Admission
Below is the syllabus for NID DAT Prelims for BDes/GDPD:
| Design Outline for Beginners | Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
| Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship | Design Theory | Elements & Principles Of Design |
| Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
| Lettering | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
| Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Form & Function | Colour, Pattern & Texture |
| Theme Development | Creative thinking & writing | Picture Analysis |
| Visual Logic | Good Design vs Bad Design | Drawing Fundamentals |
| Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Optical Illusion | Foreshortening & Perspective |
| Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & motifs |
| Memory Drawing | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Expression & Emotion |
| Exercises on imagination | Lateral Thinking | Story Pictures |
| Presentation Techniques | Imagination & Doodling | 3D Visualisation |
| Graphics & Pictograms | Innovation & Creation | Design Awareness |
| Developing Observation | ||
NID Studio Test Syllabus for BDes Admission
Candidates can go through topics for the NID Studio Test below:
| Model Making | Doodling | Meeting with Students who Qualified for NID DAT |
| How to Evolve Ideas | Audio – Visual Exercises | Material Manipulation |
| Creative Thinking | ||
NID Entrance Exam Syllabus for MDes Admission
Aspirants can go through topics, that are appearing for NID DAT Prelims for M.Des in the below table:
| Design Outline for Beginners | Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
| Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship | Design Theory | Elements & Principles Of Design |
| Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
| Lettering | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
| Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Form & Function | Colour, Pattern & Texture |
| Theme Development | Creative Thinking & Writing | Picture Analysis |
| Visual Logic | Good Design vs Bad Design | Drawing Fundamentals |
| Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Optical Illusion | Foreshortening & Perspective |
| Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & Motifs |
| Memory Drawing | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Expression & Emotion |
| Exercises on Imagination | Lateral Thinking | Story Pictures |
| Presentation Techniques | Imagination & Doodling | 3D Visualisation |
| Graphics & Pictograms | Innovation & Creation | Design Awareness |
| Developing Observation | ||
NID Studio Test Syllabus for MDes Admission
Aspirants can go through important topics, who are appearing for NID DAT Mains for MDes course.
| Model Making | Doodling | How to evolve ideas |
| Audio – Visual Exercises | Material Manipulation | Creative Thinking |