Our five-pronged approach focuses on your individual strengths to develop your unique qualities towards making you an exemplary pi- designer.
Saili Sawant
27/12/2024
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Overview:
Looking for a good graphic design institute to get your journey started as a designer? Some of the best colleges for graphic design in India include National Institute of Design, Indian Institute of Art and Design, Acharya School of Design, and UPES. These colleges help students realise their creative aspirations through a comprehensive curriculum, lucrative job opportunities, and strong alumni network.
Table of contents
From your favourite apps to eye-catching brand campaigns, graphic design is everywhere. As industries continue to channel the power of visual storytelling to influence consumers, the demand for skilled designers is growing by the day, making India a hotspot for aspiring graphic designers.
But how does one navigate the journey of becoming a successful graphic designer in India? Well, it all starts with a handful of designing skills coupled with a reputed institution that supports your aspirations.
With offbeat career options like graphic designing coming forward, India is now brimming with great graphic design institutes that offer both top-notch programmes and amazing opportunities for young designers. India is the perfect place for you to make the most of these opportunities and establish yourself as a successful professional in the graphic design domain. Here is everything that you need to know about the best graphic design colleges in India.
The National Institute of Design is one of the most popular and sought-after institutes for graphic design courses. Recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, NID is internationally acclaimed for its unique curriculum and revolutionary education philosophy.
As one of the top graphic design colleges in India, it has also been declared “Institution of National Importance” by the act of Parliament, under the National Institute of Design Act 2014.
Established: 1961 Location:Paldi, Ahmedabad Notable Alumni: Orijit Sen, Sujata Keshavan, Aditya Vikram Sengupta, and others.
NID offers a BDes. (Bachelor of Design) in Graphic Design under the Communication Design specialisation. The institute also offers a graphic design course at Masters level.
Programmes
Duration
Total Tuition Fee
Graphic Design (B.Des)
4 Years
₹16.84 Lakhs
Graphic Design (M.Des)
30 Months
₹12.22 Lakhs
Step 1: Fill out the NID application form 2025. Step 2: NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) Exam. Step 3: NID DAT Mains Exam.
As one of the top ten graphic design colleges in India, NID is known for its amazing placement record, especially for students with a graphic design degree. Students from graphic design courses can achieve opportunities associated with big names like Myntra, Adidas Group India, Raw Mango, Tanishq, Rangoli, and Adobe.
When it comes to offering an emerging Indian platform for young innovators and explorers, IIAD counts among the best graphic design colleges in India. As we know, communication design is the umbrella of graphic design, we focus on nurturing skills that could be helpful for the future. As a leading design institute, IIAD aims at bridging the gaps between design, society, and industry, by channeling the transformative power of design.
IIAD’s comprehensive curriculum blends creativity, technicality, and industry relevance, preparing students for the ever-evolving future of design. The institute’s international association with leading design schools and associations like Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID), and the Association of Designers India (ADI), helps students fine-tune their design skills and secure lucrative opportunities on a global scale.
Established: 2015 Location: Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi Notable Alumni: Samiya Sayeed, Abhiniti Arora, Deepak Gupta, and others.
IIAD offers an undergraduate programme in graphic design under the communication design specialisation. The course is designed to help students understand graphic design trends in depth and address the needs of a hyperconnected world through a wide range of visual media.
Communication Design (UG)
₹18.98 Lakhs
Step 1: Registration at IIAD’s online application portal. Last date to fill out the application: 20 December, 2024. Step 2: Design Aptitude Test (iDAT) for entrance screening. Step 3: If shortlisted, appear for the DAT Mains Exam.
As one among the best graphic design colleges in India, IIAD leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that its students secure lucrative opportunities with industry giants through their well-designed graphic design portfolios. Some of the top recruiters for the graphic design course include Digital Jalebi, the Crayons Network, Gartner, and Gutenberg.
Known for moulding young designers ever since its inception in 2004, Symbiosis Institute of Design is a premier design institute for graphic design courses, nestled in the Indian state of Maharashtra. With robust curriculum, dynamic faculty, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the institute offers a wide range of career possibilities for students.
The graphic design course at Symbiosis Institute of Design equips students with the necessary skills to excel in visual communication through typography, photography, and illustration, making it one of the best colleges for graphic design.
Established: 2004 Location: Viman Nagar, Pune Notable Alumni: Shashank Nimkar, Anay Kshirsagar, Shraddha Majumder and others.
SID offers a holistic graphic design course that integrates advanced software and technology, enabling students to create strong and impactful visual messages. The curriculum covers key areas like graphic design fundamentals, typography, brand identity, and user interface design, among others.
₹18.7 Lakhs
Step 1: Fill out the online application form, SEED 2025. Opened on: 16 August, 2024. Step 2: SEED Entrance Exam: 12 January, 2025. Step 3: Portfolio review and personal interaction.
Placement in top companies coupled with a strong alumni network are some aspects that help students with a graphic design degree from SID establish themselves as successful designers. With over 200+ recruiters, placements are primarily awarded by companies like Adobe, Maruti Suzuki, IBM, Codewalla, and Infosys.
MIT Institute of Design boasts an educational ecosystem that nurtures young design aspirants to become future-ready professionals in their respective industries. The institute’s multi-disciplinary learning environment integrated with meaningful collaborations and an innovative pedagogical approach, make it a top graphic design college in India.
Established: 2015 Location: Loni Kalbhor, Pune Notable Alumni: Hemant Wangikar, Sohnit Kumar, Amit Nanda, and others.
The Graphic Design course at MITID focuses on the essence of strategic design thinking and nurturing design values that can facilitate the betterment of the society at large. The institute offers both an undergraduate and postgraduate graphic design course for students to prepare themselves in depth for the industry-related challenges.
₹17 Lakhs
2 Years
₹8.5 Lakhs
Step 1: Fill out the online application form. Last date: 28 February, 2025. Step 2: MITID-DET for entrance screening: 06 April 2025. Step 3: Studio test and personal interview.
MITID encompasses a dedicated Industry Relation Department that holds an excellent track record of getting students placed in reputed firms and companies. The major recruiters for the graphic design course include Loreal, Sansung, Hero, Google, and TATA Consultancy Services.
With over two decades of experience in educating artists, designers, and practitioners, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology remains ahead of the curve as a top graphic design college in India. Through a pragmatic, practice-based approach, the institute combines design thinking, problem-solving, project-based, and place-based learning adopting new age technology.
Established: 1996 Location:Yelahanka, Bengaluru Notable Alumni: Jasmeen Patheja, Shilo Shiv Suleman, Vikas Khanna, and others.
Through the graphic design course at the institute, students are equipped to make meaningful contributions to the publishing industry through their expertise in communication design and visual storytelling. The course offers two different pathways that include graphic design and illustration.
Graphic Arts and Design Practices (B.Voc)
3 Years
₹2.78 Lakhs
Step 1: Fill out the online SMEAT 2025 application form. Opens in: January 2025. Step 2: SMEAT 2025 Exam: First week of April 2025. Step 3: Portfolio Review and Counseling.
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology collaborates with top-notch and reputed companies to ensure great placement opportunities for the students. Based on their capabilities, students from the graphic design course are placed with industry giants such as IMB, Microsoft, and Bosch.
Acclaimed as not just a premier design institute in Bangalore but a top graphic design college in India, Acharya School of Design fosters a global learning environment for all its students. Through its NEP-complaint design curriculum, the institute is well-known for preparing its students to establish a successful career in sought-after design roles.
Established: 1990 Location: Thammenahalli Village, Bengaluru Notable Alumni: Surbhi Shankar, Shantanu Roy, Principe Goyal, and others.
A graphic design degree from Acharya Institute of Design takes students through a detailed introduction of visual communication and helps them explore the finest aspects of design strategy. The institute offers a B.Des in Graphic and Communication Design that helps students gain access to a diverse range of design opportunities.
Graphic Design (B.V.A)
₹4.41 Lakhs
Admission Process
Step 1: Visit the campus and get in touch with their counsellors. Step 2: Check the eligibility criteria for the graphic design course and admission requirements. Step 3: Finish the admission formalities and complete the fee payment.
Placement
Some of the top recruiters that collaborate with Acharya School of Design to put forward promising placement opportunities for students include Godrej, Indiamart, Spectrum, Voltas, and MITC.
Established in 2003 as a deemed-to-be-university, DY Patil University is a popular name in the education industry. The institute aims at serving talented minds and design aspirants who are inquisitive, curious, and believe in making a mark through their creative visions. The institute’s practical approach regarding technology combined with the industrial acumen helps students achieve a hands-on knowledge of their profession before they actually step foot into the industry.
Established: 1983 Location: Pimpri, Pune Notable Alumni: Foram Suchak, Anubhav Kumar, Himani Sharma, and others.
The university’s graphic design course developed under the visual communication specialisation majorly focuses on visual communication, graphic design, and advertising.
₹9.20 Lakhs
Step 1: Fill the application form. Last date: 20 February, 2025. Step 2: Appear for the DPU Design Aptitude Test: 13 April, 2025. Step 3: Studio test and personal interview.
Some of the leading recruiters contributing to the university's outstanding placement record include big names like Vero Moda, Dulux, ArchiLab, Allen Solly, and Krimson.
The Indian School of Design and Innovation is vested in nurturing young designers and innovators by helping them combine their creativity with practical skills. Through its extensive industry connections and global tie-ups, the institute offers top-notch growth opportunities for students and professionals alike, making it one of the best graphic design colleges in India.
Established: 2013 Location: Kurla West, Mumbai Notable Alumni: Medha Sharma, Abhishta Lalwani, Vamsi Madhava, and others.
The 4-year undergraduate course in graphic design curated by the institute falls under the communication design specialisation. Through proven teaching methods, ISDI helps students gain access to a global contemporary curriculum.
₹26.80 Lakhs
Step 1: Fill your application along with a statement of purpose. Step 2: Upload your portfolio or complete the given design project. Last date: 7 December, 2024. Step 3: Take the design aptitude test. Scheduled dates: 9 December, 2024 - 15 December, 2024 . Step 4: Appear for the online interview.
Through well-curated industry interactions and events like Career Connect, ISDI ensures the successful placement of students in well-established companies like Cognizant, Landor, IBM, Infosys, and Schbang.
With over two decades of legacy in multidisciplinary and holistic learning, UPES is one of the top graphic design colleges in India, nestled in the scenic environs of Dehradun.
With esteemed faculty from IITs, IISc, and Ivy League Universities, UPES is one of its kind considering its tie-ups with global universities that facilitate top-notch international opportunities for aspiring graphic designers.
Established: 2003 Location: Bidholi, Dehradun Notable Alumni: Jharna Joshi, Prasun Chakraborty, Siddhartha Mukherjee, and others.
With strong emphasis on the development of core design values and an understanding of emerging graphic design trends, the graphic design course at UPES prepares students for the augmenting competition in the industry.
Graphics and Communication Design (B.Des)
₹43.74 Lakhs
Communication Design (M.Des)
₹12.50 Lakhs
Step 1: Fill out the application form and submit it along with the necessary documents specified by the institute. Step 2: Appear for the entrance exam/ personal interview as informed. Step 3: Portfolio Presentation and Interview. Step 4: Admission Confirmation.
With its stronghold in the graphic design industry and various international tie-ups, UPES offers promising career opportunities for its students after the completion of their course. Some of the primary ones among the 590+ on-campus recruiters of the institute include Maruti Suzuki, BIBA, Accenture, and Amazon.
A graphic design course helps students develop the necessary design skills required to create visual representations that convey messages effectively.
To become a graphic designer, you need to complete 12th with a minimum of 50% marks. After completing 12th, you can take up a diploma, certification, or undergraduate degree course in graphic design.
Since the demand for effective visuals is increasing in various industries like advertising, marketing, fashion, and entertainment, graphic design is a good career to pursue in India.
Building basic skills, taking up good online courses, and growing your network within the graphic design industry are some ways of pursuing graphic design.
Learning graphic design from a reputed college, building a good portfolio, and enhancing your software skills can help you become a graphic designer.
Graphic designers curate visual representations that help communicate ideas to inform or attract consumers.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a graphic designer in India ranges between ₹12,000 to ₹35,000 per month.
According to Glassdoor, the highest salary of a graphic designer in India is ₹42,500 per month.
While AI can help automate some of the aspects of graphic designing, it cannot replace the problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative abilities of a graphic designer.
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in graphic design is the best course for graphic design.
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About The Author
An Architect turned Writer, Saili has worked as an Architectural Writer, Marketer, & Curator. For the past three years, she has collaborated with multimedia publication houses, firms, studios, organisations, luxury brands and educational inst ... itutions; both national and international to communicate and market the AEC industry as an Architect in Marketing. She is a commentator on the design industry’s upkeep through her social handles while also being an avid reader and traveller.
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