Drawing your way into NID: Tips to Improve Drawing Skills for NID 2024

Overview: To crack NID 2024, you must have a strong awareness of your surroundings and extensive drawing practice. Check out the following tips to improve drawing skills for NID 2024 in the article below!

The NID DAT entrance exam is a three-hour written test that assesses your reflection and use of shapes and colour, analytical thinking, the concept of size and proportion, clever ways to view everyday occurrences, imaginative power, and paper expression.

First, you should know that the Design Institute's entrance exam is not looking for artists but for attentive minds with an eye for detail.

We are here to sharpen that 'eye for detail' with tips on improving your drawing skills to prepare you for the NID DAT exam.

Download Free Study Material for NID Exam 2024 by Creative Edge

• Every year, thousands of students across the country apply for NID DAT. The exact number might vary, but it's typically in the range of 20,000 to 30,000.
• Given the number of applicants and the limited seats, the acceptance rate is quite competitive, usually less than 1%. Therefore, you need Tips to Improve Drawing Skills for NID 2024 to ace your preparation process! 

Tips to Improve Drawing Skills for NID 2024

The NID Prelims 2024 question paper will be divided into two sections:

• Aptitude 
• Design 

The Aptitude section will include questions on Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge and Current Events, and English.

Meanwhile, the NID drawing section will include questions about Rendering, Sketching, Human figures, Colour Schemes, Scale, Proportion, Design Solutions, and other Topics. 

How to practice drawing for NID?

1 - Understanding the Basics of Drawing

Just like building a house requires a strong foundation, good art is built upon the basic principles and elements of drawing. 

The importance of line, shape, form, and texture:

• Line: The most basic element, it defines boundaries and shapes in drawings and can vary in width, direction, and length.
• Shape: Flat, enclosed areas that are two-dimensional. Shapes are formed when lines meet.
• Form: Gives depth to shapes, making them three-dimensional (e.g., a circle becomes a sphere).
• Texture: Adds depth and interest, representing the surface quality of an object.

Check: NID Courses

2 - Observational Drawing

NID also assesses your ability to interpret situations from the users' point of view.

It asks direct questions about current events. Keep up with what's going on in the world of design.

Learn about the products considered brilliant design examples—reading popular design blogs will teach you how to review designs.

Learn to analyze your design while practising NID drawing questions to develop and enhance your skills.

Check: NID Online Coaching

3 - Experiment with Different Mediums

Pros and cons of various mediums like pencil, charcoal and ink.

Pencil:

• Pros - Easily erasable and versatile.
• Cons - Limited to grayscale.

Charcoal:

• Pros - Rich blacks, good for shading.
• Cons - Messy, can smudge easily.

Ink:

• Pros - Bold and defining.
• Cons - Permanent, no room for error.

Each medium offers unique qualities. Adjusting techniques to suit the medium can produce varied and interesting results.

4 - Master Perspective and Proportions

Understanding one-point, two-point, and three-point perspectives:

• One-point: All lines converge to a single point on the horizon, used for frontal views.
• Two-point: Uses two vanishing points, typically capturing corner views of objects.
• Three-point: Adds a third vanishing point either above or below, introducing height.

Using guiding lines, grid methods, or the "thumb and pencil" method to measure and compare distances.

Check: Best preparation books for NID exam

5 - Study Shadows and Lighting

Understanding the source of light, its direction, and intensity can determine how shadows are cast and how objects are illuminated.

Identify the light source, cast shadows opposite to it, and maintain consistent shadow length and direction.

Check: Short tricks to crack the NID interview on the first attempt

6 - Sketch Diverse Subjects

By challenging oneself to draw unfamiliar subjects, one can develop a broader skill set and versatility.

Diversifying subjects helps in understanding different drawing techniques, perspectives, and concepts.

Check: NID DAT Drawing Tips for Beginners

7 - Balancing Skills

You should not be concerned if your sketching is poor. NID seeks a diverse set of skills.

Those with high DAT scores did not always have excellent sketching skills. They did, however, generate out-of-the-box ideas.

You do not need to focus all your energy on sketch mastery for NID preparation; it is sufficient if your sketches express your thoughts.

Check: NID Exam Analysis

8 - Show Your Creativity

Be prepared to tackle unexpected questions that require incredible creativity.

There are questions to put your sketching abilities to the test.

Make sure you've had enough practice drawing strange things. A creative solution should be found for the given situation.

Maintain a high level of creativity throughout your NID preparation.

Check: How to prepare for NID Studio Test 2024

9 - Practice Own Sketching Technique

Most of the previous year's candidates who qualified in NID had distinct sketching styles.

It is simple to develop your style. Practice more NID drawing questions.

Get out of the habit of copying great designers and experiment with different types of shading using pencils instead of markers, using broad pencil strokes to make your design look dynamic. During your practice session, you will learn a variety of techniques.

Please create a point of developing one style and honing it until it is perfect.

Check: NID drawing questions

10 - Plan And Sketch Fast

The paper is too long for NID applicants. During NID preparation, think carefully before sketching.

A straightforward answer to the question is advisable.

First, determine how much space you require. Save time by drawing, erasing, and drawing again.

Check: Important questions for the NID GAT exam

Importance of Tips to Improve Drawing Skills for NID 2024

1. High Competition: Thousands compete for limited seats at NID. These tips help you stand out and increase your chances of getting in.
2. Solid Foundation: Drawing is core to design. These tips help you build a strong base, making further studies in design easier and more fruitful.
3. Express Ideas Clearly: Good drawing skills allow you to turn your thoughts into clear visuals, which is what NID looks for.
4. Boost Confidence: With better drawing skills, you'll feel more confident tackling the NID exam and showcasing your talent.
5. Preparation Edge: These tips offer a roadmap, ensuring you're well-prepared and focused, making your preparation time more effective.

NID Drawing Test 2024 Study Materials

The NID drawing test has no prescribed syllabus. However, we have compiled a list of recommended NID Books and test papers to help you understand the expected NID Drawing Questions 2024.

• Rendering in Pen and Ink by Robert W. Gill
• Basic Rendering by Robert W. Gill
• Design Drawing by Francis D.K. Ching
• NID Entrance Exam Question Papers
• Arihant's Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam by Arihant Publications
• Sample Questions for NID Entrance Exam
• NID Entrance Exam: Sample Questions for DAT (Prelims)

Improving your drawing skills may seem daunting, but you can become a better artist with some patience, practice, and determination.

Start by understanding the fundamentals of drawing, developing a practice routine, and utilizing helpful resources. You can learn to draw more accurately, expressively, and confidently with time. 

Check: NID general aptitude questions

Practice Previous Year's Papers

Examine all NID previous year's papers. Solve at least ten past year's papers in the allotted time.

• By going through past papers, you get a clear understanding of the exam format, the types of questions asked, and the distribution of marks across sections.
• Solving full-length papers within the stipulated time helps in improving your speed and managing your time efficiently during the actual exam.
• By attempting these papers, you can pinpoint the areas where you're consistently struggling, allowing you to focus your preparation on those sections.
• The NID exam is not just about theoretical knowledge. It tests your ability to apply concepts in various scenarios. Previous year's papers give you a real sense of how your learning will be tested.
• Over the years, the emphasis on certain topics might change. By practising past papers, you can identify patterns or trends in questions.

Key Recommendations:

• Continuous practice, understanding fundamental drawing concepts, and utilizing the right resources is key to enhancing drawing skills for the NID exam.
• The drawing journey should be enjoyable, emphasizing creative exploration and expression.
• Remember, for NID DAT 2024, it's not just about being a great sketch artist but also about showcasing creativity, observation, and unique design thinking.

Check: NID DAT Question Paper