Choose a Career in Design Design, be it of products of necessity, technology, beauty or any other accessories is rapidly going through a phase

of change and innovation due to the increasing consumer demand of preferred utility and comfort. Opportunities in design profession galore for students as there are hundreds of sectors which need highly skilled and innovative professionals. Engineering, manufacturing, automobiles, fashion, entertainment, advertising, interior designing, food, IT, architecture are some of the sectors where designers are in great demand. The career in design holds immense scope and potential for skilled and talented individuals with innovative ideas. Who are Designers? Industrial or product design can be explained as the idea generation, concept development, testing and manufacturing or implementation of a physical object or service. Designers whether industrial or product, conceptualise and evaluate ideas, making them tangible through products in a more systematic approach. The role of a product designer encompasses many characteristics of the marketing manager, product manager and design engineer. Product designers possess skills needed to bring products from its conception to the market. Aesthetics sense is important in product design along with knowledge of technology, ergonomics, usability, stress analysis and materials engineering. Broadly product or industrial designers design products ranging from automobiles, airplanes, medical equipment, sports products, ceramics, office or home accessories to other consumer utility equipments or objects. Skills Required Apart from the basic key qualities like innovative thinking, creative ability, the ability to draw, visual perception, sound aesthetics, empathy with the user and creative engineering, designers also require the following skills:

Presentation skills Communication skills Commercial and entrepreneurial skills Problem-solving skills Eye for detail Ability to work in team General computer skills (knowledge of design tools like CAD etc)

Education &Training Generally a bachelor's degree or diploma in Design after 10+2 is desirable. But a Masters degree in your area of specialisation gives you an edge over others as you gain in-depth knowledge and

traits of the trade. The course in Design is an intensive professional programme which offers specialisation in the following:

Product Design Furniture & Interior Design Ceramic & Glass Design Graphic Design, Animation Film Design Film & Video Communication Exhibition (Spatial) Design Textile Design Toy Design

For Masters programme the eligibility is a BE, B Tech, B Des, B Arch, B Interior Design or equivalent under the 10+2+3 pattern. The selection criteria for some institutes are scores obtained in common entrance exams like CEED, NEED or GATE. CEED: Common Entrance Examination for Design is an all India examination conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT, Bombay), on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of Education, Government of India. The examination tests the candidates for visual perception ability, drawing skills, design aptitude and communication skills. NEED: National Entrance Examination for Design is a qualifying examination of the consortium partner institutions for admission to the undergraduate level programmes in design. NEED is conducted by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, as a nodal agency on behalf of the consortium partners. The institutes that accept NEED are National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad; D J Academy of Design, Coimbatore; IILM School of Design, Gurgaon; Indian Institute of Craft & Design, Jaipur; Wigan & Leigh College, New Delhi; Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology, Bengaluru; and Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi. Industrial engineering: For admission to a course in Industrial Design, a candidate should complete his 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics before appearing for the any of the entrance tests of design. The post graduate course in this field is offered by selected institutes for which a candidate should complete his Bachelors programme in design or architectural engineering. Scope & Prospects There are various career options for designers. They can be employed by manufacturing establishments, large corporations or design firms. Even the Government of India recruits a large number of designers. Designers can also freelance or start their own venture. You can also choose to become a teacher in design school and university. As a teacher and faculty you have the option to continue to provide consultation or operate small design studios to complement the classroom teaching.

Some of the fields to which designers can make their profession are:

Fashion Design Interior Design Graphic Design & Animation Textile Design CAD Engineer Architecture Advertising Ceramic Design Automobile Design Public Utility Equipments Design Appliances and House Ware Design

Career Path Mostly all the courses in Design provide professional experience, training or internship during their programme. Students are exposed to a wide variety of real life situations, and get to test their skills on problem solving. This brings students close to the industry and help in them understanding the design industry dynamics. They are also helpful in decision making about which career option they want to choose. After 1-2 years of on-the-job training, students gradually advance to higher level positions. They may undertake positions of chief designer, design department head, or other supervisory positions in large firms or corporate houses. After gaining good experience you can start your own design studios. Jobs You can expect tough competition on the job front as there are many creative individuals who are attracted to the Design career. You have to have an extra talent and be up-to-date with the technology to be successful. Designers with strong backgrounds in engineering and computeraided design and extensive business expertise generally have the best prospects. Designers who can closely monitor and react to, changing customer demands-and who can work with marketing and strategic planning staffs to come up with new ideas and products-will improve their job prospects. Conclusion Design is a career which offers great challenges and at the same time immense scope for your creativity and innovative ideas. It provides you with the satisfaction of seeing your ideas into shape and form and obviously getting recognition. You have to possess those extraordinary skills to make your place in this very competitive market. There are many institutes that offer accredited Design programmes or courses and help students through the placement process, which you can join to kick start your career in design.

Some Institutes offering courses in Design

National Institute of Design, NID, Ahmedabad National Institute of Fashion Technology, NIFT Shrishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore Raffles Design International, Mumbai IILM School of Design, Gurgaon Pearl Academy, Delhi IICD, Jaipur DJ Academy, Coimbatore Wigan & Leigh College (WLC), New Delhi IIT Guwahati IIT Mumbai IIT Delhi School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi

Career in Fashion Designing Fashion design is the applied art devoted to the designing of clothing and lifestyle accessories. This art is influenced by cultural and social attitudes and has evolved over time and place. Fashion designing has come a long way from the designer clothes worn by the royalty of the ancient world to the haute couture products of the present. Fashion designing is one of the most lucrative, appealing, glamorous and exciting career options in today's world. If you have a penchant for creativity, style and originality, a career in fashion designing is the one tailor made for you. On one hand, the fashion industry satisfies both the creative fancies and the materialistic needs of the people. On the other hand, it promises glamour, fame, success and a high pay package to the talented people. However, it is also a demanding career, as fashion designers need to combine their creativity with managerial skills to sustain in this industry. Thus, if you can create magic with colours, shapes and designs, then just obtain a professional course to begin a successful career in the alluring world of fashion designing. Is it the right career for me? A career in fashion designing is right for you if you are talented and exude style in everything you do. You must also possess the ability be original and creative and love to make people look good. Further, you must be creative enough to combine colours, shades and textures and express your ideas through sketches. You must also visualise new design, patters, garments and accessories and enjoy working with fabrics and accessories.

If you have all this and more in you then you are all, set to step into the arena of fashion designing. What would it Cost Me? The fee structure varies from institution to institution. However, on an average you will have to dish out more than Rs. 45,000 per annum to complete a course in Fashion Designing from a reputed institution. Job Prospect In India, the fashion industry has just begun to come of age, as it is still in its fledgling stage. This industry offers plenty of opportunities for talented hard working and enthusiastic people. Prospects for fashion design graduates are pretty good thanks to the huge and still growing demand for designer wear and the equally outsized quantity of exports. After successful completion of the course, you can remain self employed. Alternatively, several export houses, garment store chains, textile mills, leather companies, boutiques, fashion show organizers, jewellery houses and media houses recruit professionals interested in a career in fashion designing. Demand and Supply Economically India is progressing rapidly today with even better future prospects. Therefore, the country is today witnessing rapid growth in many sectors which includes the fashion industry. Indian fashion is gaining a lot of popularity abroad because of cheap labour and excellent craftsmanship. Many top Indian designers are now catering to this growing international demand for quality fashion products and accessories. In addition, for the demand for Indian garments, designer saris and textiles are also of great demand. Many individuals choose careers in fashion designing today as there are many areas of work and countless opportunities within this field. Market Watch The scope for fashion design jobs in India is immense as Indians have increasingly become more fashion conscious and seek to enhance it in every way. Clothing companies need to hire people in a variety of jobs, ranging from fashion designers, textile designers, models, retailers, buyers and merchandisers, to provide end-to-end solutions to their clients. According to a recent study, the Indias fashion designing industry aims to grow to Rs.1, 000 crores from the current to Rs.180 crores within the next 5 to 10 years. International Focus Better prospectus both in terms of salary and growth of fashion design jobs is enormous and extends beyond Indias markets to international markets too. Indian fashion designers are doing very well in almost all countries and hence the scope has broadened for students of fashion designing.

Fashion designers such as Ritu Beri, Ritu Kumar, Rohit Bal, Satya Paul and Tarun Tahiliani are known worldwide. Many Institutions provide training to potential fashion designers to expand their talent and become entrepreneurs in the fashion world. The India Fashion Week has become an international fashion event, with buyers from international stores making an appearance to transact business. With more and more Indians dressing up and focused on looking good, there is an increasing awareness about fashion in India. The Indian fashion industry is booming. The domestic Indian Textile market is worth $25 billion today and growing at an annual rate of 15-20%. Mega Malls are mushrooming all over. The Retail sector is witnessing a virtual explosion with the Ambanis, Mittals, Birlas and now, the Tatas making a foray in this sector. The fashion market will require thousands of trained professionals in the fields of design, management, communication and technology.