Career Options After MDes in India: MDes graduates in India find numerous job opportunities in high-end design firms and the fashion industry. A degree in Master of Design (MDes) opens doors to a lot of creative and strategic career paths across industries such as technology, fashion, media, and consumer goods. Depending on the chosen discipline during the MDes program, candidates can pursue various career options in different design fields. With the growing importance of design, user experience, and brand identity, MDes graduates often secure high-paying roles and leadership positions in top organizations.
After completing MDes, graduates wonder what job roles or opportunities are available. But with the design field growing so tremendously in the past few years, many career options have opened up for the MDes graduates, such as Product, Fashion, Industrial, Graphic Design, etc. Select your specialization that aligns with your interests and pursue jobs that contribute to your abilities. Some of the career options in India after MDes are mentioned below.
1. UI/UX Designer: They enhance the usability and aesthetics of digital products like websites and mobile apps. UI/UX designers focus on user research, wireframing, prototyping, and interface design to create seamless and engaging user experiences.
2. Product Designer: It is another popular career option after MDes that requires graduates that use their creative skills to develop products to solve real-world problems. They are involved in concept development, prototyping, and ensuring the product meets both user needs and business goals.
3. Industrial Designer: Industrial designers create and improve products that are both functional and visually appealing, considering factors such as materials, manufacturing processes, and sustainability. They often work in sectors like automotive, electronics, and consumer goods.
4. Fashion Designers: Fashion designing is another creative field for MDes graduates who are interested in creating clothing, accessories, and footwear as per trends. They work for fashion houses, retail brands, or as independent designers, often involved in trend forecasting and collection development.
5. Interior Designer: This is a highly rewarding career option after MDes, requiring candidates to design functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing indoor spaces for homes, offices, and commercial establishments. Their work involves space planning, material selection, and collaborating with architects and contractors.
6. Graphic Designer: Candidates who have an interest in topography, visual communication, and digital artistry, Graphic Design is their calling. Graphic designers craft visual content for branding, advertising, packaging, and digital media.
7. Design Manager: Design managers oversee creative teams and manage design projects from conception to completion. They ensure the design vision aligns with business objectives and coordinate between clients, designers, and other stakeholders.
8. Design Educator/Faculty: MDes graduates who are inclined toward teaching can be Design Educators. They teach at design institutes or universities, sharing their expertise with the next generation of designers.
With growing demand across various industries, MDes graduates tend to earn attractive salaries depending on their role and company status. Salaries can vary widely depending on the sector, job profile, and individual expertise. As the Indian design industry continues to expand, MDes graduates can expect robust earning potential and career growth. The following table mentions the salary prospects for MDes graduates in India.
A Master of Design (MDes) offers excellent career scope abroad, with global demand for skilled design professionals across industries like technology, fashion, architecture, and digital media. Candidates with an MDes in Game Design or Multimedia Design can particularly find lucrative job opportunities as these specialisations are popular outside India. Candidates must be well aware of the latest technologies applicable to design fields to land a job outside India.
Graduates can pursue careers as UX/UI Designers, Product Designers, Fashion Designers, Design Researchers, Design Managers, Communication Designers, or even work in the user experience, branding, and animation industries.
Yes. M.Des graduates specializing in Interaction Design or UX/UI are often hired by tech companies like Google, Infosys, Microsoft, and TCS.
You can apply for roles in public sector undertakings (PSUs), design roles in DRDO/ISRO, the Ministry of Textiles, or work with national innovation and craft councils.
The average starting salary for MDes graduates in India is around ₹8–9 lakh per annum, but it varies by specialization, employer, and experience.
Yes, graduates can pursue a PhD in Design to enter academia or research roles, or to qualify for faculty positions at universities and research institutes.