Know more in detail about the NID DAT – National Institute of Design - Design Aptitude Test

01 September,2022  |  By Brainwonders

Table of Contents:

–About NID DAT Exam

–NID DAT Exam Highlights

–Eligibility Criteria for 2023

–NID Entrance Exam Pattern

• B.Des Exam Pattern
• M.Des Exam Pattern

–NID DAT Syllabus 

• B.Des Prelims Syllabus
• B.Des Mains Syllabus
• M.Des Prelims Syllabus
• M.Des Mains Syllabus

–NID DAT Reservation 

About NID DAT Exam

NID Design Aptitude Test is a National Institute of Design; national-level entrance exam conducted to provide candidates for the Bachelor of Design and Master of Design courses. The DAT (Design Aptitude Test) comprises two steps:

1. DAT Prelims - The individual first appears in prelim exams
2. DAT Mains -  The DAT Prelims score is used to shortlist candidates for DAT Mains.

In order to get admission to the B.Des or M.Des, it is compulsory to appear in both DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. Candidates are required to qualify for both Prelims and Mains in order to gain admission into NIDs. 

NID DAT Exam Highlights

Features	Details
Exam name	National Institute of Design - Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT)
Conducting body	NID
Exam frequency	Once a year
Exam purpose	NIDs and some private colleges offer admission to design programmes.
Courses offered	BDes, MDes
Eligibility	BDes – Class 12 MDes – Graduation
Exam fee	Rs 3,000 (General category)  Rs 1,500 (Reserved categories)
Exam mode	Offline
Exam duration	BDes: 180 minutes MDes: 150 minutes
NID DAT pattern	BDes & MDes Prelims – Subjective & Objective questions of 100 marks Mains – Drawing/model-making questions of 100 marks
Helpdesk email ID	[email protected], [email protected]
Official website	https://admissions.nid.edu

Eligibility Criteria for 2023

The National Institute of Design will release the eligibility requirements for the B.Des and M.Des programs. Check out the program-wise NID-DAT eligibility requirement.

Parameters	B.Des	M.Des
Age Limit	The applicant needs to be 20 years of age as of 30th June, 2023 Relaxation in upper age limit: OBC-NCL, SC, and ST - 3 years PwD - 5 years	The applicant must be born on or after 1st July, 1993 Relaxation in age limit: OBC-NCL, SC, and ST - 3 years PwD - 5 years
Educational Qualification	Candidates who have passed 10+2 in any discipline (Science, Commerce, Arts, etc) from any recognised board.	Bachelor's degree of at least four years duration.

NID Entrance Exam Pattern

1. A) B.Des Exam Pattern
2. Prelims Exam Pattern:

Test Duration	180 minutes
Exam mode	Offline
Total number of questions	26
Total marks	100
Number of sections	2
Number of questions per section	Section A: 22 Section B: 04
Types of questions	Section A: Objective type questions  Section B: Subjective type questions
Section A Marking Scheme	Question 1 to 14: 1 mark Question 15 to 22: 2 marks
Section B Marking Scheme	Q.23: 15 marks Q.24: 20 marks Q.25: 15 marks Q.26: 20 marks

1. Mains Exam Pattern: 

Candidates shortlisted for NID DAT Mains have to upload a Theme Poster, size not excluding 10 MB.

The poster can be done in any media and should be photographed/ scanned/ digitally created on an A3 size sheet. 

Additionally, candidates must upload their design portfolio merged in a single PDF file,  size not excluding 10 MB.

Candidates will get a mail with the Theme Poster topics, and they will be given a period of one week; they have to submit their work within that week. 

1. B) M.Des Exam Pattern
2. Prelim Exam Pattern

Test Duration	150 minutes
Exam Mode	Offline
Total Number of Questions	Multiple
Total Marks	100
Number of Sections	2
Types of Questions	Section A: Objective type questions (30 marks) Section B: Subjective type questions (70 marks)

2. Mains Exam Pattern

Particulars	Details
Mode of exam	Offline (Generally) Online ( NID admission 2021) HYBRID Mode (NID admission 2022-23) HYBRID Mode (Expected)
Duration of exam	3 hours (Not specified in 2021, 2022, and 2023)
Total marks	100
Language of question paper	English
Type of questions	Studio test SoP and portfolio submission Personal Interview

Candidates must submit the Statement of Purpose; the word count should not exceed 300. They have to mail the SoP after Prelims. The SoP should be submitted and typed as a PDF file, size not exceeding 2 MB. 

NID DAT Syllabus 

B.Des Prelims Syllabus

Innovation in design	Theme development	Exercises on imagination	Graphics & pictograms
Principles of composition	Design Theory	Optical illusion	Form & function
Inspiration & design development	Natural & geometrical form	Colour, pattern & texture	Drawing fundamentals
Lateral thinking	Design Awareness	Creative thinking & writing	Ornaments & motifs
Imagination & doodling	Understanding light & shade	Elements & principles of design	Colour psychology & optical illusions
3D visualisation	Lettering	Developing observation	Good design vs. bad design
Optical illusion	Outline for beginners	Memory drawing	Innovation & Creation
Mood, theme & colour inter-relationship	Visual logic	Colour terminology	Presentation techniques
Picture analysis	Story pictures	Usage of colour in compositions	Natural & geometrical form
Use of measurements, scale & proportions	Story pictures	Developing themes & colour associations	Foreshortening & perspective
Inspiration & Creativity

B.Des Mains Syllabus

Model making	Questions generally asked in an interview	Material manipulation	Mock interview
Audio-visual exercises	Evolving ideas	Importance of body language	Doodling
Past studio test & interview questions	Interview tips	Creative thinking	Guidance on portfolio making

M.Des Prelims Syllabus

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

M.Des Mains Syllabus

Model Making	Doodling	How to evolve ideas
Audio – Visual Exercises	Material Manipulation	Creative Thinking

NID DAT Reservation 

The National Institute of Design follows the reservation rules for all design courses offered by them. The category-wise reservation of seats for all the courses as per NID Reservation policy is as mentioned below:

Category	Reservation (in %)
Economically Weaker Section	10
Other Backward Class	27
SC	15
ST	7.5

Candidates with a disability will be provided with a 5% horizontal reservation of seats from the main category in each program across all creamy and non-creamy categories.

This blog is a guide map for all students willing to make a career in the design field. We hope this blog has provided you with detailed information about the NID DAT competitive exam.

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