National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad facts for kids
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1961 |
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Academic affiliations
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| Director | Praveen Nahar |
| Undergraduates | ~120 |
| Postgraduates | ~350 |
| 5 (full-time), 8 (part-time) | |
| Location | |
| Campus | Urban |
| Language | English |
The National Institute of Design (NID) is a top public university in India where you can study design. It has its main campus in Ahmedabad, with other campuses in Gandhinagar and Bengaluru. Many people see NID as one of the best design schools in Asia. In 2022, it was ranked among the top 51-100 art and design schools worldwide by QS.
NID is an independent school that works under the Government of India. It's recognized as an Institute of National Importance. This means it's a very important institution for the country.
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How NID Started
NID was created because the Government of India wanted to help small businesses. In 1956, they asked famous designers Charles and Ray Eames to suggest a design program for India. Based on their ideas, called The India Report, NID was set up in 1961. It was meant to be a national place for learning, research, and training in design.
The Sarabhai family, especially Gautam Sarabhai and Gira Sarabhai, played a big part in starting NID. Dashrath Patel, a designer and sculptor, was its first secretary. H. Kumar Vyas was NID's first full-time professor. Both were honored for their work.
Early Days and Global Connections
The Sarabhai family helped NID grow by inviting many designers, architects, and artists from other countries. In the 1950s, people like Frei Otto and Louis Kahn visited NID. They shared ideas and worked with students.
NID also had unique collaborations. For example, the first Moog synthesizers (electronic music instruments) came to India through NID. In the 1970s, Lowell Cross, a friend of famous musician John Cage, taught electronic music at NID.
NID's Logo and Name
The well-known NID logo was designed by Adrian Frutiger. He was a Swiss type-designer who visited NID in the 1960s. The institute's name changed a few times. It was first called the 'National Institute of Industrial Design'. Then it became the 'National Design Institute'. In the 1970s, it finally got its current name, 'National Institute of Design'.
NID Campuses
NID has its main campus in Ahmedabad. It also has two other campuses, which are like branches, in Gandhinagar and Bengaluru.
| Name | Started | State/UT |
|---|---|---|
| Main campus, Ahmedabad | 1961 | Gujarat |
| PG campus, Gandhinagar | 19 July 2004 | Gujarat |
| PG and R&D campus, Bengaluru | 31 March 2006 | Karnataka |
Main Campus in Ahmedabad
When the Eames team suggested a design school, Gira Sarabhai and Gautam Sarabhai thought Ahmedabad was the best place. It was known for its architecture and textile industry.
The main campus in Paldi, Ahmedabad, offers both undergraduate (first degree) and postgraduate (advanced degree) courses in many design subjects.
Designing the Campus Buildings
NID first started in a building loaned by the Sarabhai family. Later, it moved to a building designed by Le Corbusier, a famous architect. Eventually, a large piece of land was given for the NID campus for a very small fee.
The buildings were designed to be simple and practical. Gautam and Gira Sarabhai worked on the building plans. They wanted the architecture to be modern and functional. The idea was that the building's design, structure, and how it was built should all work together.
Inside the Ahmedabad Campus
The NID building is built on stilts, which means it's raised off the ground. The ground floor was used for common areas and a canteen. Workshops and labs were on the first floor. There were separate areas for photography, wood, metal, plastics, ceramics, and glass workshops. All these areas were connected to the main building.
Drafting studios, seminar rooms, and the library were on the second floor. Special windows allowed students to watch work happening in the workshops without being disturbed by machine noise. The classrooms at NID are flexible and open. This shows NID's main idea of "learning by doing."
Gandhinagar Campus
The 'PG campus' in Gandhinagar is an extension of NID. It opened in July 2004. This campus mainly offers postgraduate courses in different design fields.
Bengaluru Campus
Another NID campus was planned for Yeshwantpur, near Bengaluru. This new campus opened on March 31, 2006. It cost about 7.5 crore Indian rupees to build.
The 'PG and Research & Development campus' in Bengaluru has extra facilities for industrial design and research. It offers advanced doctoral courses (PhD) in design, as well as postgraduate courses.
How to Get Into NID
NID is very hard to get into because it has very few spots. Only about 1% of applicants are accepted! To get in, you need to take the NID Design Aptitude Test (NID-DAT). This is a national exam held every year.
The test has two parts:
- NID-DAT Prelims: This is a written test that checks your design and general skills.
- NID-DAT Mains: This is usually a design test done in a studio. It might also include a personal interview and a review of your creative work (portfolio).
These tests check how well you can imagine things, your creativity, observation skills, knowledge, and how you solve problems.
What You Can Study at NID
NID offers many different design courses. These include:
- Graphic design (like making logos and posters)
- Product design (designing everyday items)
- Interior design (designing indoor spaces)
- Filmmaking
- Animation
- Photography
You can study for a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.), a Master of Design (M.Des.), or even a PhD (doctoral programs). NID also has international programs and basic foundation courses.
Famous People Who Studied at NID
Many talented people have studied at NID, including:
- Prateek A. Sethi, a communication designer and TV personality
- Dayanita Singh, a photographer and artist
- Lekha Washington, an actress, artist, and product designer
- Harun Robert, an artist and TV personality
- Orijit Sen, a graphic designer
- Aditya Vikram Sengupta, a film director
- Pan Nalin, a filmmaker
- Prasoon Pandey, a filmmaker and advertisement designer
- Rahul Mishra, a fashion designer
- Aditya Pande, an artist
- Sujata Keshavan, a graphic designer
- Ishu Patel, a filmmaker
- Nina Sabnani
- Pandu (actor), a comedian
- M. P. Ranjan
Notable Teachers at NID
Some important teachers who have worked at NID include:
- Dashrath Patel
- Helena Perheentupa
- Nina Sabnani
- Nelly Sethna
- Aditi Ranjan
- M. P. Ranjan
See also
- Other National Institutes of Design
- The India Report
- The Sarabhai family
- Calico Museum of Textiles
- Sanskar Kendra
- IIT Bombay IDC School of Design
