Center for Design Studies

Overview: Centre for Design Studies (CDS), Indore

Establishment & Institutional Context

• CDS was established in 2022 as part of the Sri Aurobindo Group of Institutes in Indore.
• It operates under the umbrella of the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Technology (SAIT), a respected technical and management education group in Madhya Pradesh.
• CDS holds the distinction of being the first institution in the state of Madhya Pradesh to offer an AICTE‑approved, undergraduate degree in design that is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV), Bhopal.

Academic Programs

• Bachelor of Design (B.Des): A four-year full-time undergraduate program structured to foster creative thinking and prepare graduates for leadership in the evolving landscape of design, particularly in the post‑AI world.
  • Specializations include:
    • Communication Design
    • Experiential Graphic Design
    • Motion Arts & Gaming
    • User Experience (UX) Design.
  • The program limits its intake to around 32 students, ensuring personalized learning and tailored development of individual creative potential.
• Master of Design (M.Des): A two-year postgraduate program available to candidates with relevant undergraduate degrees (e.g., B.Des, B.Tech, BFA), typically requiring a minimum of 50% marks for eligibility.

Admissions & Fee Structure

• Eligibility:
  • For B.Des: Completion of Class 12 with at least 50% marks. Shortlisted candidates submit a 'Purpose of Intent' letter and participate in a personal interview at the Indore campus.
  • For M.Des: Graduation in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 50%, followed by similar intent submission and interview procedure.
• Fees:
  • B.Des: Approximately ₹1.5 lakh per year, translating to around ₹6 lakh for the entire 4-year program.
  • M.Des: Around ₹3 lakh for the full 2-year duration.
  • An application fee for all candidates is roughly ₹3,750.

Faculty & Pedagogical Leadership

• The academic program has been designed and developed by Prof. Kirti Trivedi, a prominent Indian design educator:
  • He initiated India’s first Master of Design program in Visual Communication at IDC, IIT Bombay.
  • He has participated in the international formulation of design education manifestos and has engaged with global design educators. The curriculum and assignments reflect this rich lineage of educational design thinking.
• International mentorship includes:
  • Prof. Caspar Schwabe of Kobe Design University (Japan), known for geometric art and design science advocacy.

Research & Thought Leadership

• At CDS, research is integrated deeply into academics, with faculty exploring themes such as:
  • Design pedagogy tailored to the post‑artificial‑intelligence era
  • Parametric and process‑driven design inspired by nature and traditional concepts
  • Studies on Indic scripts, textile heritage, and form‑generating algorithms rooted in Hindu temple architecture..
• Special events like the International Seminar on “Design Education in the Post-AI World” (held in early 2025) featured influential speakers from academia, industry, and the arts—demonstrating CDS's commitment to thought leadership and dialogue on design futures.

Campus Culture & Vision

• CDS frames its ethos as "Design Education for the Future," positioning itself as a forward‑looking institution responsive to rapidly shifting technology and creative demands.
• Emphasis is placed on individualized learning environments and immersive pedagogical experiences.

Career Outcomes & Placements

• CDS placement figures signal notable early success:
  • Highest placement package reached approximately ₹12 lakh.
  • The average placement stands around ₹4.7 lakh, indicating strong market relevance for its graduates.
  • Recruiters include a mix of tech and consulting companies such as Wipro, Accenture, TCS, Capgemini, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Impetus, TaskUS, and Yash Technologies.

Final Thoughts

The Centre for Design Studies in Indore emerges as a pioneering institution in India's design education landscape, particularly within Madhya Pradesh. With its AICTE-approved curriculum, close faculty mentorship, integration of research and design thinking, and impressive placement outcomes, CDS positions itself as a modern, future-ready school of design.