A fully residential, 4-year-long, transdisciplinary
Bachelor of Design (Honours) programme.
we are redesigning
design studies
The world is transitioning from the Information Age to the Knowledge Era - powered by ready access to answers from generative AI. At the same time, problems like climate change, geopolitical conflict, and ageing populations require us to look for solutions that are both creative and humane. The world needs designers who not only bring creativity and innovation but also understand and harness technology while being able to manage, influence, and lead people. These are the two intersections that the B Des programme is designed around.
STUDENTS AT BITS PILANI, MUMBAI CAMPUS
STREAMS
OFFERED
The B Des (Hons) programme offers 5 specialisations to prepare a student for tomorrow’s design landscape.
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Physical Product Design
Design physical products of various scales and complexities.
Bring everyday objects, accessories, furniture, lighting, and consumer electronics to life. Key areas of focus in this specialisation would be product aesthetics, branding, and the ability to create and test physical mock-ups and digital models.
You will also learn to evaluate feasibility, production processes, and technological framework that go into your design. -
Digital Product
Design (UX/UI)
Design digital products like UX/UI of websites, mobile apps, or an interactive installation.
This specialisation focuses on designing the aesthetic and behavioural qualities of digital touchpoints and interfaces.
Via a simulated design process, you will design digital assets, create working prototypes, as well as implement and test the designed solutions. -
Human-centred Design
Design user experiences and services that align with users' values, motivations, needs, and desires.
With this specialisation, you will acquire the skills and competencies to understand people and their life context from a socio-cultural perspective. Make informed decisions based on insights and opportunities identified through a combination of primary and secondary research methods.
Collaborate with fellows in (digital) ethnography observations, focus group studies, and co-design sessions. -
Experience Design
Design meaningful and engaging interactions for users with products, processes, services, events, or environments.
With this specialisation, you will learn to consider entire customer journeys, including interactions with customer service, sales, marketing, onboarding, and offboarding.
Some areas of application for this field of study are retail service experiences and showrooms, events spaces and trade shows, and a wide range of public services that are typical of a smart city such as entertainment and hospitality, mobility and healthcare. -
Visual Design
Design visual identities for brands and companies across assets like print media, 3D visualisations, videos, and animations.
This specialisation involves using aesthetic elements like images, colours, and symbols to enhance user experience and convey an intended message.
The range of application of visual design competencies is broad and includes defining brand qualities, development of layouts and visual assets for digital products (web, app etc.), creation of infographics, and visualisation of data.
Understanding
The Specialisations
The stream you choose to specialise in will determine your career choices and, consequently, the areas of expertise that will help you excel. Here are how the specialisations relate to the five areas of expertise.
| SPECIALISATIONS |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vision and Strategy |
Human Experience |
Emergent Technology |
Creative Production |
Communication |
|
| Physical Product Design |
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| Digital Product Design |
|||||
|
Human-centred Design |
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|
Experience Design |
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| Visual Design | |||||
FACULTY
Faculty from BITS Design School will attend faculty
development programs at The Hasso Plattner Institute
of Design at Stanford University.
STUDENTS AT BITS PILANI, MUMBAI CAMPUS
Curriculum
In this 4-year programme, students are gradually exposed to a specialisation of choice. Each year, students engage in distinct groups of courses that impart fundamental knowledge, encourage personal development, ignite investigative curiosity, foster learning specific to a specialisation, and enhance mastery of essential tools and skills.
Courses encompass the study of material studies, social media communication, visualisation and prototyping, AI for design, and designing for the senses. Along the way, students also undertake an industrial project, a community project, masterclasses, and internships.
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Duration
4 years
Enrollment
Full-time
Type
Fully residential
Degree
Awarded by BITS Pilani
Year 1 —
Experiment
Students dive into all five design specialisations, igniting their curiosity and creativity through hands-on experimentation with courses like ‘Material Studies’ and ‘The Languages of Design’.
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Year 2 —
Explore
Students focus on exploring the design specialisation that resonates most with their passion and interests with masterclasses and courses around Specialisation Labs.
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Year 3 —
Embrace
Students wholeheartedly embrace their chosen specialisation, delving deeper into its principles, and refining their skills with courses like ‘Social and Public Design Project’.
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Year 4 —
Expand
Students broaden their horizons as they expand their understanding and skills with courses related to AR/VR, New Materials, Web3, and ‘Starting a New Business’.
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Curriculum Committee
We have collaborated with experts from the global design fraternity to craft education that reflects industry trends and fosters creative brilliance.