NID DAT Syllabus 2026: B.Des and M.Des Prelims and Mains Topics
NID DAT Syllabus 2026 covers Prelims and Mains for B.Des and M.Des, testing creativity, design aptitude, and analytical skills. Prelims include design awareness, GK, and visualization, while Mains focus on sketching, model-making, and portfolio presentation through studio tasks.
Ananya Gupta31 Oct, 2025
NID DAT Syllabus 2026: National Institute of Design Aptitude Test 2026 is a highly competitive entrance exam for aspiring designers aiming to pursue BDes and M.Des programs at NID campuses.
To succeed in this exam, candidates must have a clear understanding of the syllabus, which evaluates both creative and analytical abilities. The syllabus is divided into two stages: Prelims, which tests design awareness, visualization, drawing skills, and general aptitude and Mains, which focuses on hands-on studio tasks like model making, sketching and portfolio development. Familiarity with the syllabus allows candidates to plan their preparation effectively and maximize their chances of securing admission.
NID DAT Syllabus 2026 Overview
NID DAT 2026 exam evaluates candidates on creativity, design skills and problem-solving abilities. Below is an overview of the exam structure, question types, syllabus topics and weightage for both BDes and M.Des programs.
|
NID DAT Syllabus 2026 Overview |
|
|
Exam Name |
National Institute of Design (NID) Design Aptitude Test (DAT) |
|
Stages |
Prelims, Mains |
|
Types of Questions in Prelims |
Subjective & Objective Questions |
|
Question Type in Mains |
Drawing, Sketching, Model Making, and Studio-Based Exercises |
|
Syllabus Topics |
Design Awareness, Creativity, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Analytical Ability, Lateral Thinking |
|
Exam Weightage |
B.Des: Prelims – 30–40%, Mains – 60–70% M.Des: Prelims – 30%, Mains – 70% |
NID DAT Bdes Prelims Syllabus
NID B.Des DAT 2026 Prelims syllabus evaluates your creative ability, design cognition and problem-solving capacity.
|
NID DAT Bdes Prelims Syllabus |
|
|
Topic Category |
Topics Covered |
|
Design & Creativity |
Innovation in design, Theme development, Exercises on imagination, Creative thinking & writing, Imagination & doodling, Innovation & creation |
|
Graphics & Visualization |
Graphics & pictograms, Drawing fundamentals, 3D visualization, Lettering, Visual logic, Foreshortening & perspective |
|
Design Principles |
Principles of composition, Design Theory, Form & function, Inspiration & design development, Elements & Principles of Design, Good design vs. bad design |
|
Colour & Texture |
Colour, pattern & texture, Colour psychology & optical illusions, Mood, theme & colour inter-relationship, Usage of colour in compositions, Colour terminology |
|
Observation & Analysis |
Understanding light & shade, Developing observation, Memory drawing, Presentation techniques, Picture analysis, Story pictures |
|
Mathematics & Measurement |
Natural & geometrical form, Use of measurements, scale & proportions, Expression & emotion, Developing themes & colour associations |
|
Problem-Solving & Thinking |
Lateral thinking, Optical illusion, Outline for beginners |
NID Prelims Syllabus High Weightage Topics
NID DAT 2026 Prelims includes sections on General Knowledge and Analytical Ability, but some topics appear more frequently and carry higher weight. The table below highlights these high-weightage topics to help candidates focus their preparation effectively.
|
NID Prelims Syllabus High Weightage Topics |
|
| Sections |
High Weightage Topics |
|
General Knowledge & Current Affairs |
Indian Geography, World Geography, IT & Computers, Sports, Environmental Awareness, Ecology, Books & Authors, Business Awareness, General Awareness |
|
Analytical Ability |
Coding & Decoding, Series – Non-Verbal, Mirror & Water Images, Embedded/Hidden Images, Cubes & Dice, Venn Diagram, Figure Counting, Direction & Distance Test, Paper Cutting & Folding, Linear/Circular Arrangement |
NID DAT Mains Syllabus for Entrance Exam
NID DAT Mains 2026 is the second option phase of the entrance exam and assesses a candidate's practical design ability and design creativity. Also considered as the Studio Test, this phase assesses aspirants ability to apply their design knowledge in real-world situations. Understanding the Mains syllabus is important to perform well in assessments where you may be given tasks such as model making, sketching or presenting your portfolio.
|
NID DAT Mains Syllabus for Entrance Exam |
|
|
Topic Category |
Topics Covered |
|
Model Making & Material Skills |
Model making, Material manipulation |
|
Drawing & Creative Exercises |
Doodling, Creative sketching, Evolving ideas, Creative thinking |
|
Observation & Analysis |
Audio-visual exercises, Past studio test questions |
|
Interview & Presentation Skills |
Mock interview, Questions generally asked in an interview, Importance of body language, Interview tips |
|
Portfolio Guidance |
Guidance on portfolio making |
NID DAT Prelims Mdes Syllabus
NID M.Des DAT 2026 Prelims takes into account your creativity, design skills and problem-solving ability. Here is the main focus areas that you should focus on to prepare well.
|
NID DAT Prelims Mdes Syllabus |
|
|
Topic Category |
Topics Covered |
|
Design & Creativity |
Innovation in Design, Theme Development, Creative Thinking & Writing, Inspiration & Creativity, Innovation & Creation, Imagination & Doodling |
|
Design Principles & Theory |
Design Theory, Elements & Principles of Design, Principles of Composition, Form & Function, Good Design vs Bad Design, Design Awareness |
|
Colour & Visuals |
Colour Terminology, Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship, Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions, Colour, Pattern & Texture, Usage of Colour in Compositions |
|
Drawing & Sketching |
Drawing Fundamentals, Lettering, 3D Visualization, Foreshortening & Perspective, Picture Analysis, Visual Logic, Memory Drawing |
|
Observation & Problem-Solving |
Understanding Light & Shade, Developing Observation, Exercises on Imagination, Lateral Thinking, Story Pictures, Presentation Techniques |
|
Forms & Patterns |
Natural & Geometrical Form, Ornaments & Motifs, Graphics & Pictograms, Use of Measurements, Scale & Proportions, Optical Illusion |
NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern
NID DAT exam has two stages Prelims and Mains assessing both design knowledge and practical creativity.
|
NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern |
||||
|
Stage |
Mode of Exam |
Duration |
Total Marks |
Components / Sections |
|
Prelims (B.Des & M.Des) |
Offline (Pen & Paper) |
3 hours |
100 |
Part 1: Objective-type questions (General Knowledge, Analytical Ability, Design Aptitude) Part 2: Subjective questions (Creativity, Visualization, Design Problem-Solving) |
|
Mains (B.Des & M.Des) |
Studio Test |
3 hours |
- |
Model making, Sketching, Group discussions, Hands-on activities |
How to Prepare for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims)?
To prepare effectively for the NID DAT 2026 Prelims it is important to focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The following points highlight key strategies and resources to maximize your preparation.
-
Understand the NID DAT B.Des Mains Syllabus Studio Test to know the key topics and practical skills required.
-
Solve previous years NID DAT question papers to get familiar with the exam pattern and question types.
-
Focus on high-weightage topics like Design Awareness, Creativity, Analytical Ability and General Knowledge.
-
Practice drawing, sketching and visualization exercises regularly to improve speed and accuracy.
-
Work on time management by attempting mock tests under exam-like conditions.
-
Review mistakes from past papers and refine your problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
-
Combine theoretical preparation with hands-on exercises for both Prelims and Mains stages.
|
Other Related Articles |
|