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At a time when Indian-origin families in the US, Australia, Canada and West Asia are increasingly looking beyond conventional engineering and medical careers, design education from India has emerged as a relevant and career-oriented option.
The shift in outlook has brought Design-focused institutions like the National Institute of Design, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, MIT Institute of Design and World University of Design (WUD), to the center-stage of the education liked by the GenZ to others. These specialized universities are reshaping India’s creative economy. While attracting globally mobile students and bringing focus among diaspora parents and students, these universities in India offer world-class creative education at comparatively lower cost.
India’s creative economy is already valued at roughly $30 billion and is projected to generate nearly 20 million jobs by 2030. A structural shift is underway. The Union Budget 2026’s ₹500 crore allocation for AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics) and the policy target of 15,000 AVGC labs and 2 million trained creators signal that India is moving from a consumption-led creative market to a talent-exporting powerhouse.
India’s first university dedicated exclusively to creative education, WUD is a UGC-recognized and authorized entity to award degrees under applicable statutes. The university has also received a QS I-GAUGE Platinum rating and offers interdisciplinary programs across fashion, communication, product design, architecture, animation, gaming, visual arts and business.
A key highlight is employability. According to the latest placement Data of WUD, over 88% of eligible students have secured career opportunities through placements, internships and graduation projects. Recruiters include Rahul Mishra, Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani, United Colors of Benetton, BIBA, Shahi Exports, Bodice Studio, Ogilvy, Dentsu, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Cars24, DTDC, Quant AI, Studio Lotus, Livspace, Homelane, Hettich, Mercury EV Tech, Eka Mobility, to name a few, and several fast-growing startups and digital enterprises. Students received offers across a wide spectrum of roles, including fashion design, fashion communications, graphic design, branding, UI/UX design, interior design, product design, transportation design, animation, gaming, architecture, business strategy, and digital media.
Indian design education has already become globally competitive. WUD accepts IB and GCE A-Level qualifications for international admissions, while international qualifications are recognized through the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), making it relevant for NRI and overseas applicants.
Why are design courses increasingly becoming popular in India? According to Dr. B.K Chakravarthy, Dean, School of Design Innovation, Mahindra University, ” they offer creative career opportunities and equip students with practical skills to solve real-world problems through innovation and technology. The B.Des course is a four-year program that helps students use their creative abilities to develop human-centered solutions driven by empathy. They prepare students to join industries, create startups, and design sustainable products and services using new technologies.
The future belongs to customization and entrepreneurship. Institutions like the National Institute of Design and the Industrial Design Centre at IIT Bombay have built a strong design ecosystem, while private universities now offer B.Des, M.Des, and PhD programs supported by experienced faculty and innovative pedagogy. At Mahindra University’s School of Design Innovation, we aim to create a shift from design-to-design innovation. Students work on live projects, starting with internal university projects, then startups, MSMEs, and finally large enterprises through internships. This structured exposure helps them understand different levels of complexity and fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.
As the creative economy grows, creativity, empathy, and user-centric thinking will play a vital role in shaping solutions for the AI-driven future.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor, World University of Design, observed, “Design is no longer limited to aesthetics or visual appeal. It now shapes products, services, digital platforms and customer experiences. As AI, gaming, immersive media and digital commerce expand, industries are looking for people who can combine creativity with technology and human understanding. Design education, therefore, has become far more important than before. Today’s designers are expected to think strategically, solve complex problems and create meaningful user experiences. From UI/UX and animation to gaming, communication and product design, the opportunities are growing rapidly across sectors.”
No doubt, Private universities are playing a major role in this transformation. They are introducing new-age courses, flexible learning models and stronger industry integration much faster than traditional systems. Institutions such as World University of Design are helping redefine creative education in India by integrating AI, industry collaborations, live projects and global exposure into the curriculum. The result is a new generation of designers and creative professionals who are not just job-ready, but future-ready for a borderless and innovation-driven global economy.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.
