All India Design Aptitude Test

AIDAT 2026 Exam Dates

The All India Design Aptitude Test (AIDAT) 2026 registration process is currently ongoing. The exam is scheduled for 25th July 2026.

The design industry in India is growing at a pace of 25% per year. There has been a 100% increase in design enthusiasts in India in the past decade.

• 5-7 new design specialties are added annually to enrich the industry.
• Program diversity includes vocational courses, short-term and long-term certifications, UG, PG degrees, and PhD programs.

AIDAT 2026 Eligibility

Eligibility for AIDAT depends on the level of the program a candidate is applying for.

For UG Diploma and Degree Programs: Candidates should have cleared the 10+2 examinations from a recognized institution or board.

For PG Diploma and Degree Programs: Candidates should have a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution or college.

Why Take AIDAT 2026?

AIDAT is a national level entrance examination for admission to design programs. It prepares candidates for admission to universities and institutions of national repute.

• Explore Your Future: Candidates can choose among 50+ design colleges across India and explore various courses and specializations.
• Prepare For Your Choice: The exam provides knowledge about diverse career opportunities in design and comparative analysis of specializations.
• Experience Your Exam: The admission process is technology-based and uses a unique 2-stage AI-enabled exam to assess aptitude.
• Nurture Your Abilities: Experienced counselors and academic experts mentor candidates through the admission journey with reading material and workshops.
• Be A Part Of Choice: Candidates get hosted among India's top design institutes and colleges.
• Be With The Experts: End-to-end counseling and admission support is provided with regular review reports.
• Be Shareholder Of The Future: The AI-based admission process selects candidates based on interviews and attributes as per the institution's requirements.
• Be Beneficiary Of A Green Process: The selection algorithm optimizes HR and admission process costing for institutions.

A candidate interested in graphic design, fashion, interiors, product design, communication, user experience, or any other form of design can apply for AIDAT. Participating universities offer diplomas, bachelor's, and master's degree programs across design specializations.

AIDAT 2026 Registration Process

AIDAT registration is ongoing. The AIDAT 2026 registration link is out.

Candidates need to follow the steps below to register for AIDAT:

1. Visit the official AIDAT website.
2. Complete the registration form with required details.
3. Submit the application before the last date of 24th July 2026.

How to Apply for AIDAT 2026

Visit the AIDAT official website and fill out the registration form 2026. Provide personal, academic and preference information in the form.

Follow these steps after registration:

1. Appear for the AIDAT Exam on the examination day.
2. Results will be out on the result day.
3. Appear for a counseling session to select your course and upload your portfolio.
4. Attend the interview.
5. Upon declaring the results, submit the fees.

Payment and File Guidelines

Payment can be made via credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI.

• File size restriction: 100-300 kb.
• Portfolio must include 8-10 coloured pages.
• Storage duration: 1 month.

After submitting the application form, a summary email and the AIDAT profile page will be received. Download and use them for future reference and process.

AIDAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The AIDAT exam has a 2-stage pattern.

Stage 1: MCQ Based Questions

Stage 1 covers design aptitude, drawing and sketching, 2D/3D understanding, GK about design discipline, colour theory, basic glossary and software knowledge, textures and surfaces, light and shadow, logical reasoning, and basics of commercial mathematics.

• 100 objective type questions in 60 minutes: The difficulty level and sequence of questions will be random. An AI tool will take up questions dynamically based on student performance.
• 3 attempts allowed: The best score out of 3 will be considered for the final merit list. Each attempt shall be paid separately for exam fee.

Stage 2: Portfolio Based Interview

Stage 2 covers critical thinking, vision, design ability, aesthetic sense, observation and memory, scale and proportion, and basic principles of design.

Each student must upload a 10-page coloured portfolio in PDF format on the given link. A team of design experts will evaluate the portfolio and categorize the students based on personal and design attributes.

Candidates will face questions through an automated chatbot enabled interview in a designated interview space. A counselor and academic expert will be available for further discussions in the interview space. A rubrics based student review will be provided at the end, marking the students' design aptitude and inclination.

AIDAT 2026 Syllabus

The syllabus provides a detailed outline of topics to prepare for the AIDAT Exam. Use this syllabus to structure the study plan.

Syllabus 1

• Design aptitude, drawing and sketching, 2D/3D visualization.
• General Knowledge about design discipline, colour theory, basic glossary and software knowledge.
• Elements and principles of design, creative thinking and writing, textures, pattern and surfaces, light and shadow.
• Logical reasoning, use of measurements, scale and proportions, good design vs bad design, memory drawing, graphics and pictograms, basics of commercial mathematics.

Syllabus 2

• Critical thinking, vision, innovation and creation, material manipulation, evolving ideas, design ability, aesthetic sense, foreshortening and perspective, lateral thinking.
• Form and function, observation and memory, visual logic, scale and proportion.

AIDAT 2026 Design Courses

Fashion Designing

Interior Designing

Communication Designing

Graphic Designing

Course details for Graphic Designing are not provided in the source.

Courses Offered Through AIDAT

AIDAT offers admission to design courses at the diploma, undergraduate (UG), and postgraduate (PG) levels. The courses are grouped under different design specialisations.

Graphic Design Courses

Game Designing Courses

Product Designing Courses

Textile Designing Courses

AIDAT 2026 Study Material

Study material for the AIDAT Exam 2026 is available for candidates to prepare. The resources are curated to help candidates understand design aptitude and perform well in the test.

The practice assessments are aligned with the NIFT and NID exams. They give candidates a chance to check their skills and become familiar with the test pattern.

AIDAT 2026 Interview Study Material

Study material for the AIDAT 2026 Interview is also provided. It is designed to give candidates the knowledge and insights needed for the interview.

AIDAT 2026 Admission Stages

Admission to design courses through AIDAT is a national level process. Candidates must follow six steps to apply and secure admission to design universities across India.

Register: The first step is to register for AIDAT 2026 through the registration portal. Candidates must create an account and provide all necessary details to begin the selection process.

Entrance Exam: The second step is to appear for the AIDAT exam 2026. The exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions and lasts 60 minutes. Candidates can use the study material to prepare for the entrance exam.

Result: The result is declared based on the candidate's performance in the entrance exam. Candidates can download the AIDAT 2026 result from the student portal. After the result, candidates must book slots for counseling sessions.

Counseling: Candidates can choose their design college and course through counseling sessions. The sessions provide personalised guidance and career advice to help candidates make an informed decision.

Personal Interview

The Personal Interview is a key stage of the selection process. It combines several evaluation areas into one session.

The interview assesses critical thinking, vision, design ability, aesthetic sense, observation, memory, scale and proportion, and understanding of design principles. A panel of design experts reviews the candidate's portfolio and personal and design attributes.

The interview is conducted through an automated chatbot in a designated space. A counselor and academic expert are present to guide the process and support deeper discussion.

After the interview, a student review is provided based on set rubrics. This review gives insights into the candidate's design aptitude and inclination, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.

Admissions

After the personal interview and counseling, candidates take the final admission step. They select a college that matches their goals and secure their seat.

This completes the admission process and begins the candidate's design education.

Booming Careers

Design shapes how people interact with the world, including clothing, living spaces, and products. It plays a major role in daily life.

The design industry in India is growing at 23 to 25% each year. Despite this growth, there is a shortage of skilled designers.

India needs over 62,000 designers for industries such as fashion, communication, interior design, and graphic design. Only around 7,000 qualified designers are currently available in the country.

Career options in design include:

• Fashion design
• Communication design
• Interior design
• Graphic design
• Game and animation design
• Product design
• Textile design
• UX (User Experience) design
• Transportation design

Demand for designers is expected to rise in the coming years. Fashion design is projected to grow at 9.7% annually. Interior design is expected to rise by 8.5% by 2026. Graphic design is predicted to grow by 5% by 2026.

The All India Design Aptitude Test (AIDAT) 2026 provides entry to over 50 design colleges across India. These colleges offer more than 300 courses and provide free career and education counseling.

Artificial Intelligence vs Human Designers

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about machines replacing human jobs. AI has surged by 270% across various sectors over the past four years.

In design, these concerns affect tech workers and the UX (User Experience) field. Common questions include:

• Will AI replace UX designers?
• Is AI the future of UX?
• How will AI affect UX design?

The answer is no. AI is a powerful tool, but it will not make human designers obsolete. It will support designers and improve the quality of their work.

Good UX design depends on creativity, empathy, and critical thinking, qualities that AI lacks. AI cannot fully replace humans in this field.

Why AI Cannot Replace UX Designers

AI tools cannot replace UX designers because they lack creativity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to interpret complex human needs. These are areas where human skills remain essential.

• Lack of Creativity: UX design depends on visual communication and cultural context, where humans excel but machines struggle. AI can suggest options, but it cannot decide the final aesthetic direction. The UX design process varies across companies, and AI's reliability for this task remains questionable.
• Insufficient Emotional Intelligence: Creating experiences that connect emotionally requires understanding subtle cues, a skill UX designers have. AI cannot replicate empathy or grasp the social nuances needed in UX design. Even advanced natural language processing fails to decode sarcasm or subtext like humans can.
• Interpreting Complex Needs: AI finds it hard to interpret unstated, multifaceted requirements. Designers use both verbal and nonverbal cues, which machines struggle to understand. Visual signals showing confusion or delight are tough for AI sensors to read accurately.
• Risks of Bias and Ethical Hazards: Algorithms aim for objectivity, but machine learning models often carry societal biases. AI can find patterns in data, but human oversight is vital to ensure ethical product development.

AI is not there yet, but UX designers should not wait for it to stay that way. Designers who use AI in their workflow will likely move ahead of those who do not. The goal is to use available tools to improve skills and deliver better results.

So, AI will not replace UX designers entirely, but it will change their roles. The question is how designers will adapt their skills in the age of artificial intelligence.

AIDAT 2026 as a Starting Point

Aspiring UX/UI designers can start their journey by taking the All India Design Aptitude Test (AIDAT) entrance exam 2026. AIDAT acts as a gateway to opportunities and skill-building in the UX/UI design field.

AI may not replace human designers, but it pushes them to evolve and use technology's power. The future is calling, and the choice to embrace it lies with each designer.

Participating Institutes for AIDAT

The All India Design Aptitude Test (AIDAT) is accepted by a large number of design institutes across India. These include private universities, design schools, and fashion technology institutes.

The following table lists the institutes that accept AIDAT scores for admission to their design programs.

What is AIDAT?

The All India Design Aptitude Test (AIDAT) is a design entrance exam. It is conducted for admission to design programs at participating institutes across India.

The exam is used by a network of colleges and universities. These institutes offer courses in fashion, interior, and product design.

Participating Institutes

Many institutes across India accept AIDAT scores for admission. The list includes private universities and specialized design colleges.

• Amity University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Swarrnim Startup and Innovations University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Amity University, Bangalore, Karnataka
• Dhruva College of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana
• AJK College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
• JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Goa
• CODE - Pimpri Chinchwad University, Pune, Maharashtra
• Chandigarh University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• IILM University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
• Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
• Poddar International College, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Oriental University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• Amity University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
• Mod'Art International, Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati, Assam
• Vishwakarma University, Pune, Maharashtra
• Vijaybhoomi University, Greater Mumbai, Maharashtra
• IEC University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh
• Amity University, Raipur, Chattisgrah
• NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata, West Bengal
• INIFT Newtown Campus, Kolkata, West Bengal
• UID - GD Goenka University, Sohna, Gurugram, Haryana
• KR Mangalam, Gurugram, Haryana
• Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal
• PCTE Group of Institutions, Ludhiana, Punjab
• Unitedworld School of Creative Intelligence, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Manav Rachna Vidyanatariksha, Faridabad, Haryana
• Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Frequently Asked Questions

This section covers common queries about AIDAT. Students can find answers about the exam format, eligibility, and application process here.

• For UG Diploma and Degree Programs: you must have cleared the 10+2 examinations from a recognized institution or board.
• For PG Diploma and Degree Programs: you must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution or college.
• There is an examination fee of Rs. 2000/- for AIDAT 2026.

1. Visit the AIDAT official website and fill out the registration form with your personal, academic and preference information.
2. Appear for the AIDAT Exam on the examination day.
3. Results will be out on the result day.
4. Appear for a counseling session to select your course and upload your portfolio.
5. Attend the interview.
6. Upon declaring the results, submit your fees.

The AIDAT 2026 exam has a 2-stage pattern.

Stage 1: This is an MCQ-based stage. It has 100 objective type questions to be answered in 60 minutes.

• Design aptitude
• Drawing & sketching
• 2D/3D understanding
• GK about design discipline
• Colour theory
• Basic glossary and software knowledge
• Textures & surfaces
• Light & shadow
• Logical reasoning
• Basics of commercial mathematics

There is no negative marking for wrong answers in the AIDAT 2026 exam.

• Design Aptitude, Drawing & Sketching: Covers 2D/3D visualization, elements and principles of design, colour theory, textures, patterns, light and shadow, and basic software knowledge.
• General Knowledge & Creative Thinking: Includes general knowledge about design disciplines, creative thinking and writing, memory drawing, graphics and pictograms, and basics of commercial mathematics.
• Reasoning & Measurement: Focuses on logical reasoning, use of measurements, scale and proportions, and distinguishing good design vs bad design.
• Critical Thinking & Innovation: Covers critical thinking, vision, innovation and creation, material manipulation, evolving ideas, and lateral thinking.
• Design Ability & Aesthetics: Includes design ability, aesthetic sense, form and function, observation and memory, visual logic, and scale and proportion.
• Perspective & Drawing Skills: Covers foreshortening and perspective, along with drawing and sketching skills.

The AIDAT 2026 result will be declared on 27th July 2026. The result is based on your performance in the entrance exam.

You can download the result by visiting the dedicated student portal on the AIDAT website. After checking the result, you need to book your slot for the counseling session.