JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU)

The design curriculum at JKLU sits at the crossroads of technology, business, society, culture, and people. Students are fostered to understand technologies like AI, IoT, and automation that are transforming the nature of Design. They are enabled to develop a deep sense of empathy with design’s role in building society.

The 4-Year Programme in product design is be both people-centric and technology-led. It helps to create a new brand of individualistic product designers who enjoy creating with their hands and yet comfortable leveraging new age technology. They may take up collaborative assignments with the industry or become a design-led entrepreneur. They are equipped with contemporary practices and are at ease with craft products as well as IoT products.

Students of product design are exposed to a curriculum that is current and contemporary. While they are introduced to new technologies, they are also equipped to become systems thinkers whose work would contribute to the economy and sustainable living. Their selection of projects will be from a variety of areas like agricultural products, medical products, products for children and products for the elderly. They work on improving lifestyle and on digital products that prepare them for the future.

The graduates find jobs in the manufacturing sector, in a variety of industries like automotive, consumer goods, industrial products, appliances etc. They are also able to focus their work on being excellent innovators. With inputs in engineering and entrepreneurship, the design student is prepared to sit firmly in an organization or start on his own.

The 4-Year Programme in Interaction Design is unique and relevant to the millennial generation. This Programme caters to the new, hard-wired, device-friendly, young audiences that are as comfortable in the virtual world, as they are in the real world. The programme is as much about digital devices as about analogue conversations. It is about cognitive sciences as well as computer sciences.

Students get first-hand experience of designing and developing complex systems that deliver delightful digital experiences. They get hands-on inputs to develop user-centric design. Courses in cognitive ergonomics, human-computer interface and UI / UX help in creating good user experiences. Basic understanding of coding helps them in developing digital products. They also work on real-life projects like designing apps and portals for new businesses.

Students are introduced to new methods of quick prototyping to validate their design solutions. Good grounding on typography, layouts, colour, and form, help in developing interactions that are a visual delight. A grounding in entrepreneurship, prepares them to work out design proposals and business plans.

The graduates find opportunities as interaction designers in technology companies and big corporations. They are also sought after by start-ups in digital products and app development. Organisations that develop software need UX or user experience designers who would interpret the man-machine interface. Service design is another area of work for interaction designers, who understands the systemic approach to problem solving.

The 4-Year Programme in Interdisciplinary Design is a Unique opportunity for students who want to understand the breadth of design. It allows the students to explore facets of different disciplines including visual design, product design, interaction design, spatial and interior design, with a focus on problem solving and application.

Students will be able to take courses not only from various domains and disciplines of design but also from other institutes of the university. They will learn to leverage new age technology and hone an entrepreneurial mindset. The students will become adept at understanding form and aesthetics, visual language and user-centric approach to developing products and systems in any discipline. Graduates of inter-disciplinary will develop a curious mindset and be able to work in unfamiliar environments as they are trained to deal with ambiguity.

Graduates of inter-disciplinary design will find opportunities in large organization that wish to leverage design in their business as well as those start-ups where design plays an important role. With inputs in engineering and entrepreneurship, the inter- disciplinary design student will have a distinct advantage to act as bridge between different functions in any environment and will also have the option to specialise later in an area of their choosing.

They will find work in design firms that do cross disciplinary work, creative agencies, startups that need design inputs. They will also be singularly eligible to start their own agency. Many will go further into a specialization that they enjoyed in their undergraduate programme. Some will take the research route and may also excel in academics.

The 4-year programme in integrated communication design has a re-imagined curriculum that focuses on the traditional and new age - from motion to typography, writing to graphics, imaging data to analytics to understand impact.

Developed by industry stalwarts, the programme is poised to produce graduates who are ready and relevant for tomorrow’s needs. The nature of communication design has changed significantly in the information economy. Content production has become primarily digital. The internet has given the power of creating content to one and all and consuming content has become cursory and transient. From analog print magazines to digitally enhanced videos, communication designers need to negotiate different domains. They need to become strategic thinkers, techno-mavericks and uber-creative professionals.

The programme is predominantly hands-on and follows the ‘learning by doing’ routine. Project based learning prepares the students for a career that will be both inspiring and invigorating. Students are exposed to all media and related software. Students work on design assignments that define the nature of their career options.

Students learn to work on communication projects that are human-centric. They apply the principles of design thinking in solving the communication problems for the creative industries like advertising, print, web, film and video, new media, tech start-ups as well as designing for the social concerns like health and education of masses.

The discipline at JKLU includes a number of design practices, including graphic design, web design, information design, information architecture, advertising and branding, way finding, social communication, and motion graphics. Project based learning is the mantra at the institute of design.

• Minimum 50% aggregate marks, from a recognized central/state board/university examination in India or in any foreign country recognized as equivalent to 1+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
• Students appearing in the final examination of 10+2 may also apply.
• The applicants are required to appear in one of the national level design admission tests, such as UCEED or NID DAT. In case the candidate has not taken any national level design tests, they will have to appear in the JKLU Design Entrance Test (DET) to qualify for the programme.

Scholarships from 15% to 100% of academic fees are offered to meritorious students based on their class XII examination scores, in the first year of undergraduate study.

The scholarship in consecutive years will depend upon the student’s performance.

JKLU offers merit cum means scholarships and on campus assistantship opportunities for deserving students.

Selection of a student at JKLU will be finalised after a series of evaluative steps.

• Submission of the application form with required details. Non-refundable application fee of Rs 750 to be paid.
• Portfolio & Personal Interaction with Faculty, provided the student meets the eligibility criteria.
• Merit-based assessment of candidates, focusing on attitude and aptitude, to help them benefit from the unique learning experience at JKLU.

Design is an exciting new domain that is in-demand, rewarding and creative. In the short time since it was established, the Institute of Design at JKLU has made an impact following which a flagship and innovative M.Des. programme has been launched. The programme is designed to be modular. The 2-year programme is split into smaller modules, so that the students can not only get a qualification but also enhance the career opportunities with each module. The two-year programme allows the students to do it in parts with intermediate certifications. Students earn credits and build their qualification into a PG degree.

Semester 01: Certificate in Design Thinking for Innovation

Project based learning of skills and techniques associated with design thinking are taught. Learners shall be equipped with tools and methodologies, which help in developing a problem-solving mindset as an augmentation to their professional personas. Opportunity scope post completion includes innovation centric roles in their core disciplines and many more. This curation of inputs shall help them build an understanding of the elements & principles of design.

Semester 02: PG Diploma in Integral Design

Learners graduate from foundation to the second semester that orients them to undertake projects with conceiving various products and services. Courses like elements of design, form and material exploration, computer aided design, and more deepens the learner’s understanding of design and helps the learners to come up with objects and solutions that cater to the human/ social need in a user-centric and integrated manner.

Engagement as product designers and managers in the domains like UI UX, product design, furniture industry, crafts and livelihoods, tech-based startups and documentation. Opportunity scope post completion includes product management, design apprenticeships, interdisciplinary roles in consultancies, design roles in startups in UI UX, product design and manufacturing, brand and identity design and many more.

Semester 03/04: M.Des. in Interaction Design / M.Des. in Product Design

The final 12 months of the program can be split into two semesters, and the final semester can be allocated to a graduation/capstone project that brings together the learnings of the entire program. The program builds over the previous block by foraying into advanced study of triggers like materials, techniques, product detailing etc.

Graduating from a technically simple product, this semester deals with design of technically complex products, experiences and systems thinking in design. Throughout the year, learners are exposed to a variety of challenges and scenarios where design plays an important role.

Domains like IoT, healthcare, social and environmental impact, etc. Can be triggers for learners to develop a deeper and holistic understanding. Engagement as expert designers and project coordinators in domains like UI UX, product design, furniture and lifestyle, tech based startups, crafts and livelihoods, social sector organisations, branding and identity consultancies, appliance and home betterment industry & service design.

• Hands-on studios and maker-space workshops
• Industry integrated projects
• Courses taught by accomplished faculty and professionals from Design and Technology
• Project based learning approach
• Visiting faculty from industry to provide a practitioner's 'from-the-trenches' insights and perspectives
• 100% placement assistance

• Minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in a three-year bachelor’s degree (10+2+3) or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university.
• Students appearing in the final examination of bachelor’s degree can also apply.
• The candidates must have appeared in CEED or any other national level entrance test. In case the candidate has not appeared for any of the mentioned tests, they will have to appear in the JKLU Design Entrance Test (DET) to qualify for the programme.

Selection of a student at JKLU will be finalised after a series of evaluative steps.

• Submission of the application form with required details. Non-refundable application fee of Rs 750 to be paid.
• Portfolio & Personal Interaction Round with Faculty, provided the student meets the eligibility criteria.
• Merit-based assessment of candidates, focusing on attitude and aptitude, to help them benefit from the unique learning experience at JKLU.