Designers’ Perceptions of Design Education in India

Design education and design as a profession in India have grown exponentially in recent years. It is due to factors such as alternate career opportunities, affordability of higher education, employment opportunities, significance of designer perspectives and approaches with cross-disciplines, international collaborations with Indian design institutions, and government interventions. However, there is a need to understand and enhance how the current design programmes in India fulfil the industry requirements of designers. This study presents valuable insights generated from design alumni of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) regarding the inputs for design curriculum, contents, industry-institute collaborations, and critical skills required for design education and design practices in India. The findings of this study were based on focus group, personal interview, and survey conducted with certified and professional designers. It highlights the prime factors at a distinctive programme and educational level that should be enhanced to enable effective design education in India. This study will act as a guideline and add value to academics, prospective designers, design practitioners and those involved in setting strategy and policy.