You are studying in 11th or 12th standard and soon, you will be making a big transition in your academic life. You will go to college. You have already decided upon the field you want to have a career in after completing your studies. You want to be a fashion designer. Now, you need to make a choice of the college or the course you will study. From four-year degrees to diplomas, which is the right fit for you? Will it be college X or college Y? Should you choose course P or course Q? In this post, we are going to list the top 9 points that should be taken into consideration before applying for design courses after 12th. 

There are many good design colleges in India that offer a variety of design courses but not all of them may be suitable for you. You should check whether these colleges meet your expectations or not. Let’s check the points given below. It covers all the factors related to common design courses: fashion design, graphic design, interior design, jewellery design, etc.

1. Types of courses available

You should choose the right course for yourself. If you are an undergraduate, then you would probably want to go for a graduate degree or an advanced diploma. When going through the courses offered by any design college, check if they offer the course that you want to pursue. At JD Institute of Fashion Technology, there is a range of design courses available. Along with traditional design courses, you can take up specialization courses based on your niche. For example, we offer a postgraduate course in Fashion Communication, which is a combination of fashion and visual communication. Similarly, there are courses that include other fields like marketing and management. 

2. Academic Affiliations

A new college might have a good reputation for its courses and campus facilities but other factors should be checked as well. It should be affiliated with a well-known national or international institute or university. A college that is recognized by reputed academic bodies is always a good option.

3. Tuition and other fees

The amount your parents will spend on your education should always be discussed first. All design courses or design colleges will not have the same college admission fees. It will vary based on the reputation of the college, facilities provided to the students, location, projects they offer, etc. Discuss with your parents which courses or colleges will be affordable and choose accordingly. You can apply for a student loan if necessary, which will easily be available. Check with college admission boards if they have tie-ups with banks for student loans at cheaper rates.

4. Accreditation of Teaching and Faculties

Check whether the college, the course and its faculties meet the official standards when looking for the right design colleges in India or abroad. Official recognition of the college or the faculties by other notable academic organizations or educational authorities is a must. Look at the academic backgrounds of the faculties or check with the alumni of the college to get more insights on the quality of education provided by the college. 

5. Services and facilities

You should check what services and facilities the college provides. Some of the major services and facilities to look for are student hostels inside the campus, computer labs and other labs for activities like sewing, pattern making, designing and photography, libraries, student counselling, campus placements, organisation of design events, medical facility and campus security.

6. Research 

Suppose an art and design college offers great education but does not encourage its students to assist the faculty with research, then that college should be crossed off from your list of design colleges in India. Your college application for design courses after 12th should be to a college that offers support to its students for research and development. Go through the research methodology they use for carrying out the research.

7. Internships and campus placements

Most design colleges in Bangalore, including JD Institute of Fashion Technology, provide great placement options to their students. While researching for the design courses after 12th or graduation, always opt for a college that organizes campus placement programs for jobs and internships. Check with the alumni to know more about the process.  

8. Latest syllabus

When you choose design courses, make sure you check the course overview to get an idea of the syllabus and whether it is up to date. Trends and theories keep changing. There are innovations related to designs or design technology in the field of designing every other day, which should be part of the design courses. An art and design college should have syllabuses that offer contemporary theories along with traditional ones. 

9. Exposure to the real world of designing

Opting for designing courses as career options after 12th or graduation is a great choice. Any design course should give some real-world experience to its students. It should give practical knowledge along with the technical and theoretical aspects of the course. If you choose design courses as career options after graduation, you should make sure that the college hosts events and workshops as part of the practical studies. There are many design colleges in India where the students are part of projects with professional and experienced designers as guides, mentors or even guests at events hosted by them.

To choose the best career option, it is beneficial for you to choose a course that you will like learning and a college that you will like attending. There are many design colleges in India that provide good design courses after 12th. Consider the above points while researching for career options after 12th or for career options after graduation. Check the variety of courses we offer to kick-start your career.