What is Graphic Design?: Courses, Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions, Career & Salary

Graphic Design is all about creating visually appealing content for various digital media in the form of logos, posters, advertisements, and other illustrations, using the knowledge of images and colors, design software, and typography skills. Graphic designing is very important for creating strong brand identities, strategic marketing, and advertising, further helping businesses grow in the digitalized world that we're living in today. You must have a strong knack for visual storytelling and a creative vision to excel in the world of graphics.

A good Graphic Design example is a result of some key principles like balance, color knowledge, focal point, hierarchy, visual harmony, clean typography, and proportion. You will find some amazing real-world Graphic Design examples around you as given here:

• Apple's Website – Apple.com
• The Headspace App
• Oatly's Packaging
• Nike's Social Media Graphics
• Airbnb's Landing Page

The idea of a good Graphic Design website can vary from person to another, but some general elements that speak volumes about the graphic designer's skills and abilities and lead to a good website design are given here:

• Unique Style & High-Quality Visuals
• Clean Visual Hierarchy
• Compelling Case Studies
• Consistent Branding
• Easy Navigation
• Compelling Copy
• Client Testimonials
• Updated Design Trends
• Mobile Responsiveness & Fast Loading

A good Graphic Design portfolio can be your entry ticket to the world of rewarding job offers and hefty salary packages. Graphic Design portfolios are meant to showcase your creative potential, certifications, internships, and design samples to stand out in front of the recruiter or at the time of the admission process at a top design college.

Your Graphic Design portfolio should include various styles, media, and key use cases to highlight versatility, passion, and your wide aesthetic vision. It should have some of the following: motion graphics, animations, social media campaign ideas, website design examples, storyboards, brand identity assets, and print designs.

There are various course providers for Graphic Design courses online with certificates. Some top student choices include Skillbuzz, Udemy, The Upthrust (Indore), Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication (Delhi), AND Academy, etc. Most of the students find these convenient and budget friendly options for learning everything about graphic designing in less time.

The average Graphic Design salary for beginners is somewhere around INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA, which is subject to differ on the basis of the academic records, skills, internship experience (if any), job type, recruiter, company location and market demand. As you gradually gain some years of experience in the field and acquire new technical expertise, your salary potential will also increase and can go up to INR 10 LPA and above.

Yes, It is estimated that joining the top Graphic Design colleges in Delhi NCR can be affordable as most colleges have tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website/ sanctioning body and may vary.

About 30+ best Graphic Design colleges are there in Bangalore. Of these, 26 are owned by private institutions. Students can secure admission on merit basis or entrance exams like NID Exam, NIFT Exam, UCEED, etc. 

Some of the top colleges are JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Arena Animation, RV University, Jain Deemed-to-be University, Bangalore, Wiztoonz Academy of Media and Design, etc.

You can study Graphic Design courses at the UG level after passing Class 12 in any background - Science, Arts, or Commerce, and having at least 50% marks in the board exams. You can either go for a full-fledged 3 to 4-year degree course or opt for a Diploma and specialised certifications in Graphic Designing, based on your interests and future plans.

You should start by checking the eligibility criteria for Graphic Design courses as set by various colleges. Additionally, you must take the relevant entrance exams and achieve excellent marks and a high rank in order to secure a seat at top colleges.

Another important step is to fill out the college application forms before the last date to enjoy a hassle-free admission process. After the exam results are out and you've got your marks, you may have to appear for the studio tests or submit a strong portfolio to showcase your skills.

Further, you must take part in the counseling rounds that are meant for seat allotment based on your performance in the written test and other admission rounds. After getting a seat, you need to get your documents verified and pay the Graphic Design course fees after which you can start attending classes.

You can find the list of important documents needed for the Graphic Design admission process at top design institutes:

• Class 10 and 12 marksheets
• A bachelor's or master's degree (depending on the course level or type)
• Entrance Exam Scorecard Copy (if applicable)
• A valid ID proof (Adhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.)
• Passport-sized photos
• Migration/Character Certificates (may be needed)
• Work Portfolio

You generally have to pay an application fee of around INR 1,500 to INR 3,000 for admission to the BDes Graphic Designing course. The application fee needs to be submitted along with the duly filled college application form to confirm the submission status. The amount differs on the basis of the design institute you're planning to take admission to, for which you can check their official websites.

If you belong to any of the reserved categories like the SC/ST/OBC/PwD you will likely get a marks relaxation in the aggregate eligibility percentage for admission to Graphic Designing courses. For example, if general category students need 50 to 60% for admission, you will be eligible with a lower percentage.

The relaxation can go up to the extent of 5% but differs based on individual college or institute guidelines. So you should go to the official college websites to have an idea of their specific mark relaxation policies.

The time involved in the Graphic Designing admission process cannot be said with any certainty but can easily take around 4 to 6 months because of the steps involved like college applications, entrance exams, merit lists, portfolio, college counselling, course fee payment and final admission. It is important to stay patient throughout the process and keep a tab on the college websites for all the updates.

Passionate students who have a love for creative elements, attention to detail, and like trying new technologies and tools should opt for a BDes in Graphic Design. This degree programme is intended to train students in both the creative and technical fields. It teaches students how to develop communication, analytical, observational, and time management skills.

Of course, BDes Graphic Design is a course worth pursuing if you're dedicated and passionate about learning the Design part of Graphic Design. Pursuing a BDes in Graphic Design will open doors to various employment opportunities, higher salary potential, room for creativity, and more.

Graphic Design courses will help you elevate your creativity, along with upskilling and accelerating your aesthetic vision. There are a variety of skills that you can learn from a Graphic Design course, which will help you climb the ladder of success in the field. You can find a few important skills given here for your reference:

•  Visual Storytelling

•  Excellent Typography Skills

•  Strong Understanding of Color Theory & Patterns

•  Hands-on Knowledge of Design Software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator)

•  Knowledge of User Interface & User Experience

•  Branding, Identity Design, & Data Visualization

•  Creativity and Ideation

•  Client Communication and Collaboration

For entrance exams like NID DAT and UG-NIFT, at least 3-6 months of preparation is required, where you'll cover the many Design topics like Color Terminology, Elements & Principles Of Design, Creative thinking & writing, Optical Illusion, etc. However, for exams like CUET-UG, you can effectively prepare in a month or two.

Here are few Graphic Design entrance prep tips that you can follow to secure a seat at top design institutes:

• You should note down all the important topics and prepare a weekly timetable. Make sure to assign at least 2-3 topics to be covered each day to avoid the possibility of early burnout.

• Practice last years' question papers and take mock tests to assess your preparation status and go ahead accordingly.

• If you find any Graphic Design concepts difficult, take help from professors or seniors to understand the same.

• Make a revision timetable for the last 1-2 months to brush up on the important exam syllabus sections and increase your chances of getting good marks and getting shortlisted for admission.

The entrance exam difficulty level for BDes Graphic Design admissions differs based on the particular exam that you're preparing to appear for. For admission you have exams like UCEED, NIFT Entrance, NID DAT and CUET for admission to top Graphic Design colleges in India offering the BDes course. If we look at student reviews the exams are usually moderately challenging but with the right prep strategy and dedication, you can crack them with very good scores and rank.

The NIFT entrance exam for the BDes Graphic Design course admission is conducted both online and offline. The General Ability Test (GAT) is an online, CBT-based exam. Meanwhile, the Creative Ability Test (CAT) is conducted offline. There's also a Situation Test, conducted as an offline practical exam. 

The Graphic Design syllabus differs on the basis of the course level and the college offering the course. The syllabus includes core subjects, specialised electives, lab work, workshops, industrial training, and project work. You can find some of the main subjects taught in Graphic Design classes below:

• Introduction to Visual Design Tools
• Drawing and Sketching
• Illustration
• Design Thinking
• Typography
• Color Theory
• Idea Visualization
• Web Design
• Fundamentals of 2-D Animation
• Study of 3-D Structures

Yes, here's a small list of some popular Graphic Design books that you can read other than your regular curriculum:

• Graphic Design: The New Basics by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Philips.
• Graphic Design Fundamentals: An Introduction & Workbook for Beginners by Kris Taft Miller.
• The Fundamentals of Graphic Design by Gavin Ambrose, Paul Harris, and Nigel Ball.
• Why History Matters to Graphic Design, Arts & Entertainment Book by Clemence Imbert.
• The Graphic Design Business Book by Tad Crawford.

Elective subjects of every B.Des Graphic Design college's curriculum may vary. However, some common elective subjects covered by every college include:

• Information Graphics and Visualization 
• Moving Image Design
• Product Design
• 3D Modeling and Prototyping 
• Animation Design
• Film-Video Design
• Transportation Design
• Game Design

The BDes Graphic Design syllabus is not the same for all colleges but rather differs on the basis of the college/institute where you're planning to study the course. This is because each institute has its own syllabus approach where some core subjects focusing on the design fundamentals, typography and digital tools may share similarity but programme electives, projects, studio classes and the coursework structure will be different.

Well, yes. A majority of the top design institutes usually update their BDes Graphic Design syllabus every year or at least once in two years to provide you with hands on knowledge of the evolving graphic design trends and methodologies and help you land jobs with decent salary packages. New elective subjects and capstone projects are added to the curriculum to increase your employability and industry relevancy.

There are around 310 colleges that offer full-time Graphic Design courses, out of which approximately 201 are private, 15 fall under government jurisdiction, and 3 are public-private. Some of the top student choices for learning Graphic Design include NIFT Delhi, WUD Sonepat, Pearl Academy, JECRC University, NID Ahmedabad, School of Design UPES, etc.

You must research well the Graphic Design college you're interested in, its all-India ranking, course fees, infrastructure, placements, and industrial connections to arrive at a conclusion.

The Graphic Design courses fees differ based on the course level and the college offering the course. The average tuition fee for Graphic Design is around INR 3 Lacs to INR 20 lakh, which may vary on the basis of the college, its location, NIRF ranking, course level, infrastructure, and placement records.

Other than the tuition fee, you also need to pay extra charges for hostel accommodation, college application, semester exam fees, lab fees, caution money, student welfare funds, and other miscellaneous charges. You can go to the official college websites to fetch precise information regarding the Graphic Design fees structure.

Here are some top BDes Graphic Design college options offering great placement opportunities to graduates in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Here are some top affordable BDes Graphic Design college options in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Given below are some of the best Graphic Design colleges that offer part-time mode in India:

Below mentioned are some of the best Graphic Design colleges in Mumbai that offer graphic designing to its students:

Graphic Design courses can act as a gateway to an exciting career journey, full of exploration, creativity, and artistic spirit. You can expect decent salary packages while working at design studios, media houses, advertising agencies, e-learning platforms, and digital marketing companies. Some of the top career options for aspiring graphic designers are given here:

• Graphic Designer
• Web Designer
• 3-D Illustrator
• Layout Designer
• Product Designer
• Motion Graphic Designer
• UI/UX Designer
• Multimedia Animator

Students with an artistic and creative mind can successfully become Graphic Designers, Art Designers, and more in animation, web design, graphic design, photo editing, design, and illustration. They can also go for PG degree courses like MDes to increase their earning potential, gain specialised knowledge and skills in the respective field. 

Here are some top Indian cities with their average entry-level salary of a Graphic Designer respectively:

Note: The information is taken from various external sources and may vary.

Admission to the BDes in Graphic Design is based on both merit and the entrance process. It depends on the individual college, which criteria they opt for. However, the candidates must fulfill the eligibility criteria for the course, irrespective of their admission criteria.

Most BDes in Graphic Design colleges have their official websites where you can register online. Once all the registration and application processes are done, candidates will need to show up for entrance exams and counselling sessions.