Congratulations on clearing NID ! Did you feel that you would crack the exam? What is your score and rank?

Thank You. No, I did not think so. I focused just on preparing rather than overthinking on the cracking part. My score and rank:

Which college you got into?

I got into NID Ahmedabad

How you thought about pursuing design?

The thought of pursuing design is not so recent. I've always been inclined towards Design. I am and was someone who always had a problem with the design of one or the other thing. The constant urge and itch to correct or make something on my own made me pursue design.

Which Design specialization did you apply for?

I applied for ‘Design for Retail Experience’ in NID Bangalore and ‘Furniture & Interior Design’ in NID Ahmedabad

How did you prepare for the NID exam?

There was not one specific thing or pattern that I followed. I think something that made a difference was to ‘Observe’. Observe a lot, things around you, audio, visuals, etc. Beside this I sketched a lot and solved papers by 3DT. And kept reading about random things in and around the Design Industry and the discipline that I applied for.

How long did you prepare for the exam and how many hours did you study in a day?

I started preparing in September 2023. And kept going till my interview in April 2024. I did not stop but took some breaks in between. On a daily basis I used to spend 1 hr reading about random thoughts and topics that I came across on the internet. Then I used to solve 1 paper each day and around 2 hours sketching.

Did you refer to any important books or study material?

No, it was just the material provided by 3DT and rest surfing the internet.

Are there any important topics to score well on?

Things people can easily score if they're up to date are:

Any mentor or guide from 3dt who helped you in your preparation? Role of a mentor in your preparation?

Each one of them made a difference. Be it sketching or presentation by Akash or mentoring by Sanket.

Any tips for the NID exam from your experience?

I would just suggest to be yourself and go with the flow, don't pressurize yourself to be the best. Just put everything that comes to your mind on the paper. Don't over think otherwise you'll lose time.

Did 3Designthinkers Mock test helped you in preparation?

That is literally one of the important things that helped me crack the exam.

What is the importance of giving mock tests in preparation according to you?

Because of the mock tests i had better understanding of how to manage ny time during the actual exam.

How did you manage time while taking the NID exam?

I had good practice with time due to 3dt mock tests I gave in the past.

Which as per you was the most difficult part of the NID exam?

The most difficult part is when the sketching section has a lot of sub-parts which would literally disrupt all the time management that you've practiced for. For me that is the time which was most difficult because I had to produce and finish quality/sensible sketch solutions to the questions. The time crunch lead to stress and strain on hands.

Is there any section that plays the “deciding factor” for getting shortlisted in the exam?

From what I felt was, firstly try to finish the paper. And secondly you don't have to be very artistic, just try to provide sensible and empathic solutions to the problem given.

How did you prepare for the Studio round? What was your experience in the studio round?

I started with listing out the projects which I have done and could do for the portfolio. I wanted them to see me and my work the way I see myself and my work. I focused on being true to myself and put up things which described me as an individual and a designer.

Did you give any mock interviews and how was your experience ?

No.

What happened in your interview round? Institute wise experience ?

NID Ahmedabad: They went through my portfolio very quickly and had conversations on topics related to my bachelor's degree. Then they quickly moved on to ask questions related to me and did not talk about design much. They wanted to know me as an individual rather than how I work. There were little ups and downs, where the conversation took a heated turn but overall it was okayish.

NID Bangalore: This interview went really well. They had a long discussion on my architectural thesis project. Asked a lot of questions and gave suggestions. They also liked the commissioned branding work that I did. Overall they mostly talked about my portfolio.

Studio test experience and questions asked ?

Studio test was quite interesting. They gave questions to test your instant thinking capabilities. How do you deal with problems and the pace at which you think of a solution to it. They also gave questions related to visualization and also how we deal with different materials. They gave questions related to problems of the society.

Learnings from each interview?

The interviews literally helped me understand ways I can present myself and my work. Secondly, the interview helped me come out of my bubble and built confidence.

How do you handle failure ?

The first blow of failure comes with great disappointment and self doubts. But I try to find motivation around myself and try to overcome it and plan what is the best I can do to be better next time. It's not like that I got into my dream college just like that, I had multiple attempts. Also got rejected from a couple of colleges but at last what I believed in is ‘I should keep going, and the good will eventually come to me’.

Looking back, are there any mistakes or pitfalls that you would advise aspiring candidates to avoid during their preparation for the CEED/ NID exam?

For candidates preparing I would just suggest they should prepare but not over-prepare and have a routine with breaks in between and lastly have fun with all the learnings you're getting in the preparation year.

It would be great if you could share your feedback and reviews on 3designthinkers. How did their resources and services contribute to your preparation for the CEED /NID exam?

I came across 3DT when I wasn't even looking for mentoring. Something which I really liked about 3DT more than their study material and tests is the way they motivate their students/Candidates. They provided a platform where I felt someone believed in me. And something which caught my eye is that they keep pushing till the end and never give up on you.

Any mentor which helped you a lot?

I don't want to be biased but I feel Sanket was the one.

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