The Department of Design at IIT Guwahati offers a comprehensive range of academic programs in the creative design discipline, catering to students at various levels of their education and career development. Here is a brief overview of the academic programs offered by the department:
The department offers a Bachelor of Design program, which is a four-year undergraduate degree program. This program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in design principles, problem-solving skills, and creative thinking. B.Des students explore a wide range of design concepts and methodologies, allowing them to develop their design skills and apply them to real-world challenges. This program is unique as the department of Design at IIT Guwahati is the first institute across all IITs to start an undergraduate program in Design for the first time in the year 1999.
Regular and Electronic Product Design (EPD): The department offers a Master of Design program that is aimed at postgraduate students who want to further their expertise in design. The M.Des program typically covers various design specializations, including product design, interaction design, communication design, and more. Students in this program engage in advanced coursework, research projects, and design studio work to enhance their design skills and knowledge.
M.Des in Electronic Product Design (EPD)
This programme was started in July 2022 as a part of the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) of the Government of India and IIT Guwahati for developing human capital in the area of electronic product design. The graduating students are expected to be skilled at the design and development of electronic products, services, and applications targeting various segments like toy designs and services, healthcare products and ecosystems, mobile devices and services, electronic components, and industrial products. In addition to designing electronic products and services, the programme also aims at creating skilled human resources for Industry 4.0, especially targeting the ability to virtually prototype, train, and design electronic products and services.
Intended skill sets among the graduating students
The proposed programme aims at imparting the following skill sets and expertise to graduating students:
In addition to the above primary skill sets, students will learn the basics of hardware prototyping, applications of ready-to-use sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers, and Internet of Things (IoT) architectures.
Number of seats in each academic year
30 seats are sponsored by the MeiTY for the first 4 batches.
Eligibility criteria
BTech or B.E. in Electrical/ Electronics/ ECE/EEE/ Mechatronics/ Computer Science/ Computer Engineering/Medical Electronics/Instrumentation/ Electronics & Telecommunication, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical Engineering with a minimum CPI of 6.0 out of 10 or 60% of marks.
The department provides a Ph.D. program in Design for those interested in pursuing doctoral research in the field of design. Department of Design at IIT Guwahati is the first institute in India to start Ph.D. program in Design in the year 2001. Ph.D. students have the opportunity to conduct in-depth research in various aspects of design, contributing to the advancement of design knowledge. This program encourages students to explore and address complex design problems and develop innovative solutions.
The instructional programs at the Department of Design have a clear objective of preparing students to approach design problems with analytical and methodical approaches. The curriculum integrates a wide range of interdisciplinary subjects, including culture studies, aesthetics, human factors, applied science, data science, consumer behavior, design management, cognitive psychology, and socio-economic factors. This holistic approach ensures that students are well-rounded and equipped with a comprehensive understanding of design and its impact on various aspects of society and industry.
One notable aspect of the department's programs is the utilization of cutting-edge production and prototyping technology. This emphasis on technology ensures that students are well-prepared to excel in contemporary work environments, where technology plays a significant role in the design process.
In addition to the existing programs, the department expanded its academic offerings by introducing a new postgraduate design program in 2022, focusing on the area of electronic product design. This addition reflects the department's commitment to staying at the forefront of design education and addressing emerging design needs in the rapidly evolving world of technology.
Overall, the Department of Design at IIT Guwahati offers a diverse and comprehensive range of academic programs that equip students with the knowledge, skills, and creativity needed to excel in the field of design and make meaningful contributions to society and industry.
