IIT BDes Programs awareness material
Contents
IIT BDes Programs awareness material
Choosing the right Bachelor of Design (B.Des) program in India is a big decision for aspiring designers. Among the top options, the IIT B.Des programs have quickly gained recognition for blending creativity with engineering, technology, and real-world problem solving. Unlike traditional design schools, the IITs bring a unique advantage โ access to advanced labs, interdisciplinary research, and strong industry connections.
From the legacy program at IIT Bombay (IDC) to the new thematic curriculum at IIT Indore, each IIT offers distinct fields of specialisation, career opportunities, and learning environments. Admissions are conducted through UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design), making these programs both competitive and prestigious.
This guide provides a detailed institution-wise review, a consolidated comparison matrix, and tier recommendations โ to help you understand which IIT B.Des program aligns best with your aspirations.
Refer the link for detailed view on each institution’s offered programs : A DeepDive
| Institute | Specialisations Overview | Admissions Eligibility | Key Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay (IDC) | Industrial, Communication, Animation, Interaction, Mobility & Vehicle Design | All streams (via UCEED) | Industry roles; dual-degree possible |
| IIT Hyderabad | Product, Visual, Spatial, Interaction, UX Design | All streams | Broad design exposure, diverse career paths |
| IIT Guwahati | Industrial, Communication, Ergonomics, Usability, Design Management | Only Science (PCM) | UX, ergonomics, consultancy |
| IIT Delhi | Product & Visual Design | All streams | Focused creative roles |
| IIT Roorkee | Product, Manufacturing, Ergonomics, UX, Interaction, Visual Design | Only Science (PCM) | Multidisciplinary design |
| IIITDM Jabalpur | Product, Visual, Interaction, Communication, Craft Design | Only Science (PCM) | Design-tech hybrids |
| IIT Indore (new) | Urban Systems, Educational Tech, Healthcare Systems, Sustainable Energy Design | Likely UCEED-based; early cohort | Innovation-driven, interdisciplinary focus |
Opportunities & Career Paths
From IIT design graduates, diverse roles emerge:
- Product Design
- UX/UI Design
- Industrial Design Consultancy
- Animation & Game Design
- Automotive & Mobility Design
- Startups & Entrepreneurship
- Research & Academia
- AI & Smart Systems Design
Eligibility & Admission Process
Entrance Exam: UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design)
- Conducted annually by IIT Bombay
- Open to students across all streams (Science/Arts/Commerce) with Class XII qualification Design Careers 360+15Wikipedia+15Design Careers 360+15
Stream-Specific Eligibility
- Non-Science (Arts/Commerce): Eligible for IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad only.
- Science (PCM): Eligible for IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, IIITDM Jabalpur Design Careers 360+6Opasis+6Design Careers 360+6
Seat Matrix 2025โ26 via UCEED centralized counselling:
-
IIT Bombay: 37 seats
-
IIT Delhi: 20 seats
-
IIT Hyderabad: 26 seats
-
IIT Guwahati: 56 seats
-
IIT Roorkee: 20 seats
-
IIITDM Jabalpur:โฏ66 seats
Below is a consolidated, strong comparison matrix of all the IITs (and IIITDM Jabalpur) offering B.Des programs. This will help you compare focus areas, intake, eligibility, and opportunities side by side.
Consolidated Comparison โ IITs & IIITDM Jabalpur B.Des Programs
| Institute | Seats (approx.) | Eligibility (Stream) | Core Specialisations | Unique Strengths | Limitations / Pitfalls | Career / Recruiter Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay (IDC) | 37 | All Streams | Industrial, Communication, Animation, Interaction, Mobility/Vehicle | Legacy school (oldest), widest range, dual-degree (B.Des+M.Des), strong Mumbai industry connect | Very high cut-off (UCEED Top ~50), portfolio-driven placements, expensive Mumbai living | Recruiters: Google, Adobe, Microsoft, Titan, Tata Motors. Alumni in design leadership roles globally. |
| IIT Guwahati (DoD) | 56 | Science (PCM) only | Industrial, Communication, Ergonomics, Interaction, Design Mgmt | Largest batch size, strong ergonomics + usability, serene campus, research-driven | Remote location, weaker visual/animation exposure, Arts/Commerce not eligible | Recruiters: Adobe, Nutanix, Microsoft, Tata Motors. Strong in UX + ergonomics design. |
| IIT Delhi (DoD) | 20 | All Streams | Product, Visual | Compact batch size, Delhi-NCR design/startup hub, social innovation projects | New program (started 2022), no long alumni history, limited variety | Recruiters: Adobe, Ola Electric, Zomato design, startups. Focus on product + branding. |
| IIT Hyderabad (DoD) | 26 | All Streams | Product, Visual, Spatial, Interaction, UX, Emerging Media | Experimental, AR/VR, AI-driven design, strong tie with T-Hub startup ecosystem | Still evolving, smaller alumni base, less focus on auto/manufacturing | Recruiters: Microsoft, Deloitte, Infosys, Ola Electric, Zomato. Alumni in AR/VR, UX labs. |
| IIT Roorkee (DoD) | 20 | Science (PCM) only | Product, Manufacturing, Ergonomics, UX, Visual | Strong engineeringโdesign integration (manufacturing, materials, ergonomics) | Small batch, remote location, limited creative media scope | Recruiters: Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, Adobe, Samsung. Alumni in auto + product design. |
| IIITDM Jabalpur (Design) | 66 | Science (PCM) only | Product, Visual, Interaction, Communication, Craft | Largest intake, hybrid design+IT+manufacturing, CAD/CAE strong, craft+tech integration | Recruiters skewed to IT services (Infosys/Wipro/TCS Design), creative depth weaker | Recruiters: Infosys Design, Wipro, Samsung, Adobe. Alumni in UX, CAD roles. |
| IIT Indore (DoD, New) | 15โ20 (first batch) | All Streams | Urban Systems, Healthcare, Education Tech, Sustainable Energy | System-level design focus (health, sustainability, smart cities), aligned to UN SDGs | Brand new (2024), no alumni yet, infrastructure still developing, recruiter uncertainty | Future scope: Ed-tech, Health-tech, Urban/Sustainability startups. Likely research-focused global pathways. |
๐ Insights from the Matrix
- Legacy & Brand Strength:
- IIT Bombay (IDC) โ strongest legacy, widest range, global alumni.
- IIT Guwahati โ established second pillar, especially strong in ergonomics.
- New but Promising:
- IIT Delhi โ compact, high industry connect (Delhi-NCR).
- IIT Hyderabad โ experimental, digital-first, AR/VR heavy.
- IIT Indore โ thematic, sustainability-driven (ideal for research/global masters).
- EngineeringโDesign Hybrids:
- IIT Roorkee โ ergonomics + manufacturing focus.
- IIITDM Jabalpur โ design + IT + manufacturing, but recruiter skew toward IT.
- Stream Restrictions:
- Arts/Commerce students โ Only eligible for IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore.
- Science PCM students โ Eligible for all, but ergonomics-heavy IITG/IITR/IIITDM may suit them better.
- Placement Quality:
- Strongest recruiter visibility: IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad.
- IIT Roorkee + IIITDM โ more engineering/auto/IT-heavy recruiter mix.
- IIT Delhi & IIT Indore โ too new; rely on self-driven portfolios and startup ecosystem.
โ Recommendation Framework
- For broadest opportunities (creative + product + animation): IIT Bombay.
- For ergonomics, usability, engineering-linked design: IIT Guwahati or IIT Roorkee.
- For experimental AR/VR, UX, emerging media: IIT Hyderabad.
- For Delhi-NCR industry/startups, product + branding: IIT Delhi.
- For IT + manufacturing design careers: IIITDM Jabalpur.
- For sustainability, healthcare, system-level design + research: IIT Indore.
References
๐น Official IIT Design School Sources
- IIT Bombay (IDC): https://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/academic/bdes-program
- IIT Delhi (DoD): https://design.iitd.ac.in/programs-b-des.html
๐น Admission / Course Details (General & Multiple IITs)
- Careers360 โ IIT B.Des admission, courses, fees: https://design.careers360.com/articles/iit-bdes-admission-courses-and-fees
- Silica Institute โ How to apply for IIT B.Des via UCEED (seat matrix, counselling): https://silica.co.in/blog/how-to-apply-for-b-des-programs-at-iits
- Opasis โ IIT B.Des eligibility (stream-specific rules for Arts/Commerce/Science): https://www.opasis.com/public/school/blogdetails/IITs%2BOpening%2BDoors%2Bfor%2BNon-Science%2BStudents%3A%2BApply%2Bfor%2BB.Design%2Bvia%2BUCEED
๐น Entrance Exam Information
- UCEED (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCEED
๐น IIT Indore B.Des Program News
- Times of India โ IIT Indore launches first batch of B.Des: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/iit-i-launches-first-batch-of-bdes/articleshow/123149969.cms
๐น Additional Context / Alumni Insights
- iQuanta Blog โ Design programs at IITs: https://www.iquanta.in/blog/design-programs-offered-at-iits
- Reddit (student experiences, placements, recruiters for IITB/Guwhati B.Des): https://www.reddit.com/r/Indian_Academia/comments/pujx59/how_is_the_bdes_course_from_iit_bombay_guvahati
Technically authored by me, with insights assisted by ChatGPT.
Happy Learning!