National Institute of Design, Kurukshetra

NID Kurukshetra is a campus of the National Institute of Design established in 2017 in Kurukshetra, Haryana. It is part of the Government of India's effort to build a national network of NID campuses across Indian states, bringing NID-quality design education to regions with limited access to premier design institutions. Like all NID campuses, Kurukshetra operates under the National Institute of Design Act 2014, which designates NID as an Institute of National Importance. This status places NID Kurukshetra among the most respected design institutions in the country.

Admission is through the NID Design Aptitude Test, which is the same two-stage process used for all NID campuses. The Prelims test is a national-level examination that assesses visual thinking, spatial reasoning, observation, and creative ability. Candidates who qualify the Prelims are invited to appear for the Mains studio test at the Ahmedabad campus, which involves hands-on exercises in drawing, 3D thinking, and creative problem-solving. The Mains carries a 70% weightage in the final selection, emphasising the importance of studio skills and creative thinking in the NID admission process.

The B.Des curriculum at NID Kurukshetra follows NID's established design education framework: a four-year, eight-semester programme that begins with design fundamentals and progresses through advanced studio practice and specialisation. Specialisations include product design, communication design, and animation film design. Studios, workshops, and computer facilities support the making-centred learning that defines NID education. The curriculum integrates design theory, materials, design history, and industry projects alongside studio practice from the early semesters.

Kurukshetra's cultural context enriches the learning environment for NID students in the region. The city has deep historical significance and is located in a region with strong craft traditions including Phulkari embroidery, Haryana pottery, and Punjab's textile arts. These craft forms offer product and textile design students access to living making traditions and community craft knowledge. The proximity to Delhi NCR, one of India's largest design and media markets, provides students with industry exposure through studio visits, internships, and guest lectures from the capital region's design community.

Students at NID Kurukshetra benefit from the NID network's shared placement infrastructure, industry partnerships, and alumni community. NID's relationships with major design employers, government design organisations, technology companies, and manufacturing corporations extend to all campuses. Placement support at NID Kurukshetra connects students to opportunities across India, ensuring that campus location does not limit career access after graduation.

NID Kurukshetra graduates pursue careers in product design, communication design, animation and film design, and design research. For students from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and other North Indian states, the campus offers NID-quality education with geographic convenience and strong North India industry connectivity. As the campus matures, its regional design identity and connections to Haryana and Punjab's craft and industry context will continue to deepen, creating a distinctive learning environment within the broader NID family.