All About NID DAT 2026 - Application (OPEN), Exam Date (OUT), Admit Card (OUT SOON), Syllabus, Pattern & Preparation

Summary: Dive in now to be the first to mark your calendar with NID 2026 exam dates released by the National Institute of Design for 2026! Prepare in advance to unlock your door to a brighter design career by starting your preparations early! 

Latest Updates on NID 2026 Exam

• NID 2026 registration, is now open for B.Des & M.Des programs. You can visit NID official website admissions.nid.edu to fill out the application form.
• Last date to submit NID application form is December 1, 2025.
• NID DAT Prelims is scheduled to held on December 21, 2025.
• B.Des applicants who have passed or are currently studying in class 12th are eligible to apply for NID 2026. For M.Des, applicants should be graduates.

If you dream of becoming a designer and studying at one of India’s most prestigious design colleges, the NID Exam, officially known as the NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) is your gateway. Conducted annually by the National Institute of Design, this national-level design entrance exam is the only route to secure admission into the B.Des and M.Des programs offered across NID campuses in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

The NID exam 2026 is held in two stages NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains. The Prelims tests your creative thinking, visual reasoning, and general aptitude, while the Mains evaluates your design skills through studio tests, drawing, and interviews. 

Every year, over 15000 aspirants compete for as few as 425 seats, which makes the entrance exam highly competitive. That’s why understanding the NID exam pattern, syllabus, important dates, eligibility, and the right preparation strategy is essential.

Download Free Study Material for NID 2026 by CreativeEdge

In this detailed guide, you’ll find everything about:

1. The NID exam pattern 2026 as per the latest updates announced by NID authorities
2. Complete NID syllabus for Prelims and Mains with topic-wise weightage
3. Step-by-step process for NID registration 2026 and application form
4. Key NID exam date 2026 and deadlines
5. NID previous year cut offs, seat matrix, and campus-wise admission criteria
6. Expert NID preparation tips, study material, and last-minute strategies

As thousands of design aspirants eagerly await this pivotal moment in their calendar, we bring you the first glance at the NID exam schedule 2026. Discover key insights and preparation tips to help you in your journey.

Table of Content

• What is NID Exam 2026?
• NID Exam 2026 Highlights
• NID 2026 Exam Dates
• NID 2026 Eligibility Criteria
• How to Apply for NID Exam 2026?
• NID DAT Admit Card
• NID Entrance Exam Pattern 2026
• NID Exam 2026 Syllabus for Prelims & Mains
• NID Exam Preparation
• NID Exam Analysis
• NID Result
• NID 2026 Counselling
• Courses Offered by NID

What is NID Exam 2026?

The National Institute of Design (NID Full Form) in Ahmedabad, along with its extension campuses in Gandhinagar and Bengaluru, is designated as an 'Institute of National Importance' according to the NID Act of 2014.

It operates autonomously under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Institute of Design to provide admission to design UG and PG programs.

• Bachelor of Design (B.Des - 4 Years) is offered at NID Ahmedabad, NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Haryana, NID Madhya Pradesh and NID Assam. 
• Master of Design (M.Des - 2.5 Years) is offered at NID Ahmedabad and its extension campuses at Gandhinagar and Bengaluru.

Attempt FREE Exam-like NID Mock Tests Now!

NID Exam 2026 Highlights

Particulars	NID Entrance Exam Details
Exam Name	NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT)
Conducting Body	NID (National Institute of Design)
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Exam Purpose	Admission to Design courses offered by top NID colleges in India and some private colleges
Courses Offered	B.Des, M.Des in disciplines like graphic design, industrial design, product design, etc.
Exam Application Fee	INR 3,000
NID Exam Date 2026	Dec 21st
Exam Duration	3 hours
Official Website	https://admissions.nid.edu

NID 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

Check out the table below to know all the important dates related to the NID Exam 2026.

Events	NID 2026 Exam Dates (Tentative)
Release of NID 2026 Notification	September 12th 2025
The NID 2026 application process starts from	September 12th 2025
Last date for submitting NID Online Application Form (or NID Application Last Date)	11:59 pm (midnight) Monday, 01 December 2025
Application correction window	4 pm Tuesday, 02 December 2025 to 11:59 pm (midnight) Thursday, 04 December 2025
NID admit card download begins for NID DAT Prelims	4 pm Thursday, 11 December 2025
NID Exam Date (Prelims)	Sunday, 21 December 2025
Declaration of NID DAT Prelims Results	B.Des: 4 pm. Tuesday, 07 April 2026 M.Des: 4 pm. Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Rechecking request for DAT prelims	B.Des:  4 pm Tuesday, 07 April 2026 to 11:59 (midnight) Wednesday, 08 April 2026 M.Des:  6 pm Tuesday, 17 February 2026 to 11:59 (midnight). Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Download the NID DAT Mains Exam Admit Card	Around 10 days before mains exam
NID DAT Mains Exam/ NID 2026 Exam Date	M.Des: March - April 2026 B.Des: April - May 2026
NID DAT 2026 Mains Result	May 2026
Rechecking Request for DAT Mains Exam	To be announced later (Mid-may tentatively, right after the mains results are announced)
Admission Counselling, Payment of Fees & Physical verification of Documents	B.Des: Tentatively in the second/third week of June 2026 M.Des: 4 pm. Tuesday, 05 May 2026 to 11:59 pm (midnight) Thursday, 07 May 2026

Check: NID 2026 Admission

NID 2026 Admission Process

NID 2026 Admission Process is a 2-tier procedure that includes Prelims and Mains. Qualifying both stages will result in making you eligible for sitting in counselling for admission into the desired NID. Here's a step-by-step breakdown from registration to final admission:

Step 1: NID DAT Registration Form 2026

The first step in the NID admission process is registering for the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) through the official website admissions.nid.edu. Detailed step-by-step guide on NID application form filling process here.

Step 2: NID DAT Prelims Exam 2026

The NID exam B.Des. DAT Prelims paper is is the first stage of the admission process, conducted at the same time on the same day across all test centres. The questions asked may involve text and visuals.

Parameter	Details
Mode of Exam	Pen-and-paper (offline)
Duration	3 hours
Type of Questions	Objective (MCQs) + Subjective (Drawing/Sketching)
Purpose	To shortlist candidates for NID DAT Mains
Weightage in Final Merit	0% (used only for shortlisting)

Only candidates who qualify for the Prelims are eligible to appear for the NID DAT Mains.

Step 3: NID DAT Mains 2026  (Final Stage of Selection)

The NID DAT Mains 2026 is the deciding stage in the NID admission process. After Prelims results are announced, Mains admit cards for shortlisted candidates will be available for download only on the official NID admission 2026 website.

Component	Details
Mode	Offline (in NID campuses)
Tests Conducted	Studio Test, Material Handling, Drawing/Sketching Test, and Personal Interview (for some programs)
Duration	Varies by campus and test
Evaluation Parameters	Creativity, Material Usage, Originality, Problem Solving, and Design Thinking
Weightage	100% (Final Merit Based on Mains)

Note: The NID DAT Mains score decides the final rank list. Prelims marks are not counted in final selection.

Check: Tips to Improve Drawing Skills for NID 2026

Attend Free NID Demo Class: Get a Taste of Topper-style Prep

Step 4:Declaration of NID DAT Final Results

After the Mains exam, NID releases two sets of results:

Result Type	What It Contains
NID DAT Prelims Result	List of candidates shortlisted for Mains
NID DAT Mains Result	Final scores and ranks based solely on Mains performance
NID Final Merit List	Combined result used for admission and seat allocation

Step 5: NID Counselling and Seat Allotment 2026

Shortlisted candidates from the final merit list are invited to participate in the NID counselling process for seat allocation.

Stage	Description
Online Seat Allotment	Conducted as per ranks, preferences, and category reservations
Document Verification	Candidates must upload or present all relevant certificates for verification
Seat Confirmation Fee	Payment of admission fee to confirm the allotted seat
Waitlist Movement	Additional rounds if seats remain vacant after the first round

NID 2026 Reservation Policy:
NID follows the Government of India’s reservation norms:

Category	Reservation (in %)
GEN-EWS	10
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL)	27
SC	15
ST	7.5
PwD	5% horizontal reservation

NOTE: Persons with disabilities (PwD) will be given a 5% horizontal reservation of seats from the parent category in each program, cutting across all sections, i.e. SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy only), and General category. 

Step 6: Reporting to Allotted NID Campus

After seat allotment and document verification, students must report to their allotted NID campus (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, or Madhya Pradesh) for registration and orientation.

NID 2026 Exam Eligibility Criteria

Only those who will satisfy the NID B.Des eligibility criteria (for B.Des aspirants) and NID M.Des eligibility criteria for M.Des aspirants, set by the exam conducting body are eligible to apply for the exam. Your candidature will get cancelled if you do not satisfy the Eligibility Criteria for NID Exam 2026

Category	NID B.Des Eligibility 2026-27	NID M.Des Eligibility 2026-27
Age Limit (General / GEN-EWS)	Candidates born on or after 1 July 2005 are eligible.	Candidates born on or after 1 July 1994 are eligible.
Age Limit (OBC-NCL / SC / ST)	Candidates born on or after 1 July 2002 are eligible.	Candidates born on or after 1 July 1991 are eligible.
Age Limit (PwD Category)	Candidates born on or after 1 July 2000 are eligible.	Candidates born on or after 1 July 1989 are eligible.
Age Limit (Overseas Category)	Candidates born on or after 1 July 2005 are eligible.	Candidates born on or after 1 July 1994 are eligible.
Educational Qualification	Must have passed or appeared in Class 12 (10+2) in the academic year 2025-26 from any recognized board (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities, etc.).	Must hold a Bachelor’s degree (minimum 3 years) in any discipline from a recognized university.
Accepted Equivalent Exams (for B.Des)	- 10+2 exam under any recognized board (CBSE, ICSE, IB, State Boards, etc.) - 2-year Pre-University Exam - HSC Vocational Exam - AICTE-approved 3-year Diploma (after Class X) - GCE A-Level (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) - Senior Secondary School under NIOS (with 5 subjects)	—
Final Year Candidates	Candidates appearing for Class 12 exams in 2026 must pass in their first attempt and upload the mark sheet by 15 July 2026.	Candidates appearing in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree (2025–26) are eligible if they clear all backlogs by 28 June 2026 and submit their degree/mark sheet by 31 July 2026.
Equivalence Certificate (for Foreign Boards)	Must submit equivalence certificate from AIU / Ministry of Education, Govt. of India at the time of document verification.	Must submit equivalence certificate from AIU / Ministry of Education, Govt. of India for degrees from foreign universities.
Nationality	Open to Indian Nationals and Foreign Nationals (Overseas Category).	Open to Indian Nationals and Foreign Nationals (Overseas Category).
Medium of Instruction	English	English

Important Notes

• For B.Des: The Class 12 result must be cleared in the first attempt. Candidates with backlogs, supplementary exams, or pending results after 15 July 2026 will have their admission cancelled.
• For M.Des: The final merit list is based entirely on DAT Mains, but eligibility verification is mandatory before final admission

Check: How is Life at NID?

NID 2026 Exam Application Process

The entire application process for NID DAT 2026 is only done online.

There are four stages involved in the NID Design Aptitude Test application process, i.e., online registration, filling out the application form, uploading documents, and paying the application fee.

• Visit the official website of NID, i.e. www.nid.edu.
• Click on the "New Registration" tab.
• Provide a valid mobile number, email ID, and Date of birth, and click on the submit button.
• After registration, login credentials will be emailed to the registered email ID and mobile number.
• Re-login to the portal using the credentials received after registration.
• Fill out the application form by entering all the details correctly. 
• Upload all the necessary documents in the specified format.
• Pay the NID exam application fee either online or offline mode. 

Download 10 Most Asked NID Drawing Questions with Solution Tips

Documents Required for NID Exam Application 2026

Here are the required documents for NID exam 2026 application -

Applicants	Photo	Signature	Certificate	Valid documents to be submitted
General	Yes	Yes	No	---
General EWS	Yes	Yes	Yes	EWS Certificate
OBC-NCL	Yes	Yes	Yes	OBC-NCL Certificate
SC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Caste Certificate
ST	Yes	Yes	Yes	Tribe Certificate
General-PwD	Yes	Yes	Yes	Disability Certificate and/or UDID Card*
GEN-EWS-PwD	Yes	Yes	Yes	EWS Certificate
				Disability Certificate and/or UDID Card *
OBC-NCL-PwD	Yes	Yes	Yes	OBC-NCL Certificate
				Disability Certificate and/or UDID Card *
SC-PwD	Yes	Yes	Yes	Caste Certificate
				Disability Certificate and/or UDID Card *
ST-PwD	Yes	Yes	Yes	Tribe Certificate
				Disability Certificate and/or UDID Card *
Overseas	Yes	Yes	No	First page of Passport
				Last page of Passport
				OCI/PIO Card, if opted in the application form

Check: NID 2026 Application Form

NID Application Fees 2026

Applicants	Application Fees B.Des	For M.Des (1 discipline)	For M.Des (2 Disciplines in the same faculty stream only)
General, Gen-EWS, OBC-NCL	Rs.3000/-	Rs.3000/-	Rs.6000/-
Female Candidates (except SC, ST& PwD)	Rs.2000/-	Rs.2000/-	Rs.4000/-
SC & ST Candidates	Rs.1500/-	Rs.1500/-	Rs.3000/-
PwD Candidates	Rs.500/-	Rs.500/-	Rs.1000/-

NID 2026 Admit Card

The NID 2026 Admit Card is the mandatory document that has to be carried to the exam hall without fail. The admit card can be downloaded by following the below steps:

• Visit the official website of NID. For NID Prelims 2026, admit card will be available by 4 pm Thursday, 11 December 2025.
• Click on the link “NID 2026 Admit Card” 
• Enter the login credentials such as registration number and password 
• Click on the submit button 
• The Admit Card will be displayed on the screen 
• Take a printout for future reference (All pages - 2 copies) 

NID 2026 Updated Exam Pattern

As per the notification, the NID entrance exam involves two stages: Prelims and Mains for both B.Des and M.Des. Look at the table below to learn the detailed NID Exam Pattern for both UG and PG programs.

NID Prelims Exam Pattern:

Particulars	B.Des	M.Des
Mode of Exam	Offline	Offline
No. of Questions	Section A: 14-25 questions (Objective)	Section A: 10-17 (Objective)
	Section B: 4 (Subjective)	Section B: 2-3 (Subjective)
No. of Sections	2	2
NID Prelims Total Marks	100	100
Negative Marking	No	No
Duration	3 hours	3 hours to 3.5 hours (depending on the number of specializations)

* No. Of Questions may vary every year 

** Depending upon the no. of specialization, the time may vary for M.Des candidates

NID Mains Exam Pattern:

Aspect	B.Des	M.Des
Mode of exam	Offline	Offline
Duration of exam	3 hours	3 hours
Total Marks of NID Exam Mains	100	100
Language of question paper	English	English

Check: NID Preparation Books

Weightage Distribution of Prelims & Mains in NID 2026:

Stage	Purpose	Weightage in Final Merit
NID DAT Prelims	Shortlisting for Mains	0%
NID DAT Mains	Final selection based on studio test & interview	B.Des: Studio Sensitivity Test - 60% , In-Person Sensitivity Test - 40% M.Des: Studio Test - 40%, Interview - 60%

Download Full NID Syllabus + Smart Progress Tracker (Used by Our 2025 NID Topper)

NID 2026 Syllabus for Prelims & Mains

Before starting your preparation, it is important to go through the detailed NID entrance exam syllabus as it will help you know the important topics from the exam point of view.

NID DAT Prelims Syllabus 2026

The NID DAT Prelims serves as the first stage of the NID admission process and acts as a screening test. It assesses your imagination, visual reasoning, analytical skills, and awareness of design concepts.

Sections	Key Topics Covered
Visualisation & Spatial Ability	Perspective drawing, geometric transformation, 3D form composition, and spatial awareness.
Design Thinking & Creativity	Concept visualization, idea generation, and innovative design solutions.
Observation & Perception	Observation of real-life situations, identifying design problems, and translating ideas visually.
Analytical & Logical Reasoning	Pattern recognition, analogies, visual puzzles, sequencing, and logic-based reasoning.
Environmental & Social Awareness	Indian art & culture, sustainable design, design for society, and current events in design.
General Knowledge	Design icons, global design trends, and famous product innovations.
Drawing & Sketching Skills	Composition, proportion, shading, perspective, and narrative sketching.

Note: The Prelims results are qualifying in nature and the marks are used to shortlist candidates for the NID DAT Mains 2026, but they do not contribute to the final merit list.

NID DAT Mains Syllabus 2026

The NID DAT Mains is the decisive stage of the NID exam 2026, carrying 100% weightage in the final selection. This stage assesses your hands-on design ability, creativity, material handling, and problem-solving through practical tasks.

Components	Description & Key Focus Areas
Studio Test / Design Problem	Model-making, 3D composition, prototyping, material usage, and spatial design understanding.
Observation & Memory Drawing	Drawing scenes from memory, visualising spaces, and conveying ideas clearly through sketching.
Material Handling Test	Using given materials (like paper, wire, clay, etc.) to create innovative functional models.
Audio-Visual Test (if applicable)	Observation and interpretation of short visual/audio clips, testing memory and interpretation skills.
Portfolio & Personal Interview	Presentation of creative works, design thought process, awareness of trends, and design motivation.

Tip: Since the final NID result 2026 will be based only on Mains, focus heavily on hands-on creative exercises, model-making, and design problem-solving tasks.

How to Prepare for the NID Syllabus 2026

• Begin with the NID DAT Prelims syllabus, mastering the basics of drawing, visualisation, and creative thinking.
• Simultaneously, start practising Mains-specific tasks like 3D model making, craft-based compositions, and problem-solving prototypes.
• Study NID's previous year question papers and identify recurring design problem themes.
• Keep a portfolio ready showcasing your process, creativity, and design originality.
• Stay updated with Indian crafts, art forms, product innovations, and sustainable design practices.

Check: NID Study Plan 2026    

NID 2026 Exam Centers (DAT Prelims)

NID Entrance Exam 2026 will be conducted at various exam centres across India. The table below shows the list of exam cities.

Ahmedabad	Dehradun	Lucknow
Bengaluru	Hyderabad	Mumbai
Bhopal	Jaipur	Nagpur
Bhubaneswar	Jorhat	New Delhi
Chandigarh	Kochi	Patna.
Chennai	Kolkata	Lucknow

How to Prepare for NID Entrance Exam 2026?

NID DAT Prelims consist of both objective and subjective type questions. You must ensure to prepare equally for both types of questions. Here, we have provided a few tips to enhance your NID Preparation.

• One of the important tips by NID Design Aptitude Test toppers is to practice sketching objects and human figures.
• Be thorough with the detailed syllabus and pattern of the exam.
• List out all the important topics you need to focus on.
• Give more time for the topics that you feel are difficult.
• Solve more and more questions from the previous year's NID Papers to know the difficulty level of the exam and the type of questions asked.
• Try to attempt at least one to two NID Mock Tests weekly.
•  Also, make sure to analyse your performance after the completion of each paper.

Explore the Only NID Booklist You'll Ever Need

NID Exam Previous Year Paper Analysis

Let us look at the previous year's NID Question Paper Analysis and get an idea about the difficulty level of the exam. 

• The difficulty level of NID DAT exam was easy to moderate. However, some candidates found the paper lengthy.
• Most Students found maths to be very easy and drawing to be moderately difficult.
• Some surprises in the NID entrance exam question paper, a norm for NID exams.
• Questions ranged from General Knowledge to Reasoning, with topics like Sustainable Development and the G20 summit.
• Subjective questions included posture drawing on slow fashion and conscious buying.

Check: NID Exam Analysis

NID Exam 2026 Result & Merit List

The results are declared after the exam is completed and published as a PDF.

You can check NID Exam Result from the official website by following the below steps:

• Visit the official site of NID: results.nid.edu.
• Click on the link NID 2026 Result
• Enter the roll number, the application number
• Click on the submit button
• The result PDF will be displayed on the screen.
• Take a printout of the same for future reference.

NID 2026 Exam Answer Key

The answer key is also made available by the National Institute of Design (NID) in two stages:

• Provisional Answer Key
• Final Answer Key

The right responses to every question on the NID admission 2026 exam are provided in the answer key. It is crucial to remember that the answer key only contains the right answers, not the solutions to the problems. Students preparing for the entrance exam can greatly benefit from the NID answer key. It may provide students with the information and comprehension of how they've performed in the test.

Check: NID Answer Key

Download Past Year NID GK Questions with Answers

NID Exam 2025 Cut-Off Marks 

Generally, the cut-off marks will be released after the declaration of results. You must remember that scoring above the NID Exam Cut Off only results in being shortlisted for the merit list. 

To help you understand the expected cut-off, we have provided the cut-off for the previous year in the table below.

NID Exam B.Des Expected Cut-Off for 2025

Category	B.Des Cut Off NID (Expected)
OPEN	48-53
OBC - NCL	43-48
EWS	50-55
ST	40-45
SC	40-45
PWD	40-45

Check: NID Seats 2026

NID Exam 2026 Counselling

The allotment of seats for NID entrance exam 2026, will be based on the merit order. The seat allotment will be carried out either online or offline, depending on the Institute's decision. Only those who will qualify in both prelims and mains exams will get shortlisted for the counselling process.

• In case the allotment is done in the offline mode, each candidate will be required to remain present in person with the requisite documents as per the schedule (which will be announced at a later date).
• Failing to report with the requisite documents, as per the schedule, will lead to forfeiting the candidate's seat and their seat will be allotted to the next eligible candidate in the order of merit in the respective category.
• Allotment of seats will be purely based on the NID Design Aptitude Test merit and campus preference submitted by the candidate.
• Seat allotment for final admissions will be based on the merit list, category of the candidate and availability of seats provided that the candidates have not availed any reservation benefits (compensatory time, scribe facility or age relaxation).

Check: NID DAT Counselling 2026: Documents Required

NID Exam Seat Matrix 2026

Check out the seat matrix for National Institute of Design listed below.

NID Exam - B.Des Seats Matrix 2026

Institute	Total No. of Seats	GEN-EWS (10%)	OBC-NCL (27%)	Scheduled Caste (15%)	Scheduled Tribe (7.5%)
NID Ahmedabad	125	13	34	19	9
NID Andhra Pradesh	75	8	20	11	6
NID Haryana	75	8	20	11	6
NID Madhya Pradesh	75	8	20	11	6
NID Assam	75	8	20	11	6

NID Exam - M.Des Seats Matrix 2026

Category	Disciplines with 19 Seats Each	Disciplines with 12 Seats Each
GEN-EWS (10%)	2	1
OBC-NCL (27%)	5	3
Scheduled Caste (15%)	3	2
Scheduled Tribe (7.5%)	1	1

NID Reservation for Overseas Category

• There is a provision for a 15% reservation of supernumerary seats in B. Des and M. Des programs for the overseas category.
• If you belong to the NRI category (Non-Resident of India), you must apply as an Indian Citizen.

Colleges Accepting NID 2026 Scores

The NID Exam Scores are accepted in all 7 NID campuses that are listed below:

NID Ahmedabad	NID Gandhinagar
NID Vijayawada	NID Bengaluru
NID Bhopal	NID Jorhat
NID Kurukshetra	-

Check: NID Interview Questions with Answers 2026

Courses Offered Through NID Exam 2026

The National Institute of Design offers various specializations under B.Des, GDPD, and M.Des.

Check out the table below to know the institute's list of NID Courses.

B.Des Courses at NID
Ceramic and Glass Design	Furniture and Interior Design
animation film design	Textile Design
Film and Video Communication	Graphic Design
Exhibition Design	Product Design
GDPD Courses at NID
Industrial Design	Communication Design
Textile and Apparel Design	-
M.Des Courses at NID
Ceramic and Glass Design	Animation Film Design
Graphic Design	Product Design
Apparel Design	Textile Design
Furniture and Interior Design	Film and Video Communication
Strategic Design Management	Photography Design
Transportation and Automobile Design	Toy and Game Design
Universal Design	Interaction Design
Digital Game Design	Design for Rental Experience
Lifestyle Accessory Design	Information Design
New Media Design	-

Check: Jobs After NID

Kickstart NID Prep 2026 with Our Creativedge Online Courses

Key Takeaways

The NID entrance exam is as difficult as other design entrance exams. Candidates should take the time to become familiar with NID exam patterns, syllabi and mock NID exam papers. With the proper preparation and attitude, the NID DAT exam 2026 can be cleared with flying colours.

• The NID DAT is a two-stage exam, with the first stage focusing on Design Aptitude and General Aptitude, and the second stage involving a studio test and interview.
• While some foundational knowledge is helpful, the NID DAT prioritizes assessing your raw design potential, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Regularly solve past papers and take mock tests to build exam temperament, improve speed and accuracy, and identify areas needing improvement.
• Nurture your observation skills, practice sketching, and build a creative portfolio that showcases your unique design voice.
• Utilize NID prep books for guidance on specific topics and exam formats, but remember, true success lies in unleashing your own creativity.

Preparing for NID 2026? We can help you with exact strategic roadmap, study material and crucial feedback required to ace this exam.

Join CreativEdge, India’s leading NID online coaching and coaching for other design/architecture exams like NIFT, UCEED, CEED, NATA & JEE B.Arch, and get expert guidance on all NID 2026 subjects. 

You can enroll in offline NID batches at your nearest centres also!