National Institute of Design, Amaravati

NID Amaravati is a campus of the National Institute of Design established in 2017 under the National Institute of Design Act 2014. The Amaravati campus is part of the Government of India's initiative to decentralise design education and extend NID's reach to states that historically had limited access to premier design institutions. Located in Amaravati, the emerging capital city of Andhra Pradesh, the campus benefits from the broader infrastructure development of the region and is positioned to grow alongside the city.

Admission to the B.Des programme at NID Amaravati is through the NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT), which is the same national-level selection process used for NID Ahmedabad and all other NID campuses. The NID DAT consists of a Prelims examination and a Mains studio test. The Prelims tests visual thinking, spatial reasoning, observation skills, and design sensitivity.

Shortlisted candidates appear for the Mains studio test at the Ahmedabad campus, where they complete hands-on design exercises. The Mains carries 70% weightage in the final selection, making studio skills and creative thinking central to the admission process.

Andhra Pradesh has a rich tradition of craft and design that forms an important contextual resource for NID Amaravati students. Kalamkari, a centuries-old hand-painted and block-printed textile art from Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti, is one of the most significant craft forms in the state and is directly relevant for textile design students. Kondapalli wooden toys, Etikoppaka lacquerware, and Budithi metalwork offer product design students engagement with traditional making processes. Communication design students can draw on the visual traditions of the region for contemporary applications.

The B.Des curriculum at NID Amaravati follows the NID design education model: a structured four-year programme that moves from foundation design skills in the first two semesters through advanced studio practice and specialisation in the later years. Studios, workshops, and computer labs support the making-centred learning approach that defines NID education across all campuses. The curriculum integrates design theory, material knowledge, design history, and industry projects alongside studio practice.

Students at NID Amaravati participate in the broader NID network, which includes shared placement infrastructure, industry partnerships, alumni connections, and institutional collaborations with design organisations, government bodies, and corporations. This network access means that NID Amaravati graduates benefit from the same employer relationships as NID Ahmedabad alumni, even as the campus builds its own regional identity and industry connections over time. Placement support connects students to design studios, technology companies, government design initiatives, and manufacturing organisations that work with NID.

NID Amaravati graduates enter careers in product design, communication design, textile design, and design research. The institution's regional positioning makes it a particularly strong choice for students from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu who want NID-quality design education with proximity to their home states. As the campus matures and Amaravati develops as a planned capital city, the institution's connection to urban development and infrastructure projects may also create unique design opportunities for students and alumni.