NID M.Des 2026 Changes
Here’s a complete breakdown of what’s new, why NID made these changes, and how you should plan your preparation.
If you’re preparing for the NID 2026 entrance exams, listen carefully.
This year, NID has announced major changes in its exam structure – and these changes can completely alter how you should prepare.
Just memorizing or practicing old questions won’t work anymore. What you’ll actually need is strong design thinking.
Let’s break it down step by step – what has changed, why it has changed, and how you should prepare.
Part 1 – Structural Changes
The first change: selection will now happen at the faculty level.
Earlier, students could directly apply to specific disciplines like Animation, Product Design, Textile, or Ceramic. But now, NID has grouped these disciplines into broader faculties (departments).
- Communication Design
- Industrial Design
- IT Integrated Design
- Interdisciplinary Design
- Textile & Apparel
Each faculty contains multiple disciplines.
For example, Product Design falls under Industrial Design, while Information Design belongs to IT-Integrated Design.
This year, you will first select a faculty/department and then choose two disciplines within it.
That means if you pick Industrial Design, your two options must come from that department alone. Same goes for Communication Design or any other faculty.
👉 The takeaway: aspirants now need clarity from the very beginning about which faculty they are most aligned with.
Part 2 – Common Prelims Paper
The second major change: there will now be one common prelims paper for everyone.
Earlier, the pattern was different:
- Part-I was a common test for all aspirants.
- Part-II was discipline-specific (2.5 hours for each discipline). If you applied for two disciplines, you wrote two discipline-specific papers.
Now, that’s gone. Only one prelims paper exists – no matter which discipline you apply for. Something similar to the CEED format.
The focus will only be on General Design Aptitude.
That means your:
- Observation skills
- Creativity
- Logical problem-solving
- Visualization abilities
No technical jargon. No stream-wise preparation. No memorization.
👉 NID now wants to see how original your thinking is and how you approach real-world problems.
Part 3 – No Weightage for Prelims
The third and most shocking change: Prelims will carry zero weightage in final selection. Yes, you read that right – 0% in your final rank.
Prelims is now only qualifying. If you clear it, you get the chance to appear for Mains, but prelims marks will not carry forward.
The final selection will depend completely on:
- Studio Test = 40%
- Interview = 60%
This means the real game is no longer just about creating good designs.
It’s about:
- How clearly you can present your ideas
- How confidently you can answer questions
- How effectively you can explain your design process
👉 Communication and presentation skills now matter more than ever before.
Part 4 – Changes in Mains
This year, even the Mains format has changed. Earlier, you had to give two studio tests if you applied for two disciplines.
Now:
- You will give one studio test based on your faculty/department.
- But you will still give two interviews (if you have applied for two disciplines within the faculty).
👉 Summary: One studio test (faculty-based) + Two interviews (discipline-based).
This shift means:
- The Studio Test will check your faculty-level design intelligence.
- The Interview will test your discipline-specific passion and fit.
Why has NID introduced this? Let’s explore.
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Part 5 – Why These Changes?
Before I share my thoughts – let’s be clear: these are my interpretations, not official NID statements. Take them as insights, not rules.
1. To filter out rote-learners and coaching students
NID doesn’t want students who survive only on coaching material or memorized patterns. They want original and raw thinkers – students who can observe, question, and create. That’s why the pattern changes every few years: to ensure that coaching shortcuts don’t dominate.
2. To discourage “brand-only” applicants
In recent years, many students started applying strategically to “low-competition” streams just to enter NID. For example: applying to Toy & Game Design or Ceramic Design, while ultimately planning to work in UX/UI. The problem? These students often lack passion for their selected discipline. Some even drop out, while others move to unrelated jobs. This creates a loss for NID, because specialized courses don’t get truly passionate students, and resources are underutilized.
👉 With the new structure, students must show genuine interest in their chosen faculty and disciplines.
3. To align with global design education
Across the world, design schools emphasize:
- Your ability to make (Studio Test)
- Your ability to communicate ideas (Interview + Portfolio)
NID’s new pyramid reflects this:
- Core Design Skills → tested in Prelims
- Faculty Skills → tested in the Studio Test
- Portfolio & Communication → tested in the Interview
Everything builds layer by layer.
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