NID DAT Part A Syllabus

NID DAT Part A: topic-wise syllabus

1. 1

   Visualization & Spatial Ability

   ~18 marks

   • Spatial Rotation & Manipulation — 2D/3D Rotation, Mental Folding, Mirror Images, Paper Folding
   • Perspective Drawing, Isometric, Orthographic Projections, Plan/Elevation/Section
   • Visual Completion, Embedded Figures, Spot the Difference, Counting Shapes
   • Pattern Recognition, Sequence Identification, Tessellation, Symmetry (Line, Rotational, Translational)
   • Object Recall, Memory-based Visualization, Object Relationships
   • Mechanical Assemblies, Dis-assembly, Plan Reading
   • Scale, Proportions, Measurements, Estimation, Ratios in Visuals
   • Hidden Figures, Overlapping Forms, Negative Space
2. 2

   Design Awareness & History

   ~18 marks

   • History of Design — Arts & Crafts Movement, Bauhaus, Art Nouveau, Modernism, Postmodernism, De Stijl, Memphis Group, Deconstructivism, Indian Design
   • Indian Crafts & Traditions — Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Block Printing, Handloom, Ikat, Banarasi, Chikankari, Terracotta, Bidri
   • Notable Designers & Architects — William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Charles & Ray Eames, Dieter Rams, Charles Correa, Laurie Baker, B.V. Doshi, Satyajit Ray, Riten Mazumdar
   • Architecture & Landmarks — World & Indian Heritage, UNESCO Sites, Modernist Architecture, Indian Temple Architecture (Nagara, Dravida, Vesara)
   • Art History — Indian Miniature, Mughal, Rajput, Tanjore, Madhubani, Modern Indian Art (Raja Ravi Varma, Rabindranath Tagore, Amrita Sher-Gil, M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, S.H. Raza)
   • Fashion & Textile Design — Indian & Global, Designers (Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen), Textiles, Trends
   • Graphic Design & Typography — History, Movements, Pioneers, Typefaces, Layout, Branding
   • Product Design & Industrial Design — Iconic Products (Braun, Apple, Dyson, Tata Nano, Jaipur Rugs), Materials, Sustainability
3. 3

   Design Thinking, Problem-Solving & Creativity

   ~16 marks

   • Lateral Thinking, Out-of-the-box Solutions, Brain Teasers, Open-ended Problems
   • Ideation Techniques — Brainstorming, SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, Synectics, Random Stimuli
   • User-centric Design, Empathy Mapping, User Personas, User Journey, Design Research Methods
   • Problem Framing, Identifying Pain Points, Reframing, Heuristics, Cognitive Biases
   • Sustainable Design — Cradle-to-Cradle, Circular Economy, Biodegradable Materials, Climate-conscious Design
   • Scenario Thinking, Speculative Design, Future Forecasting, Plausible Futures
   • Design Ethics, Accessibility, Universal Design, Inclusive Design, Cultural Sensitivity
   • Prototyping, Low-fi vs Hi-fi, Iteration, Feedback Loops
4. 4

   Visual & Aesthetic Sense

   ~12 marks

   • Color Theory — Primary/Secondary/Tertiary, RGB, CMYK, Color Wheel, Harmony, Temperature, Psychology, Cultural Meaning
   • Principles of Design — Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Movement, Pattern, Rhythm, Unity, Proportion, Hierarchy
   • Elements of Design — Line, Shape, Form, Space, Texture, Value, Color
   • Composition, Rule of Thirds, Golden Ratio, Focal Point, Framing, Negative Space
   • Typography — Serif, Sans-Serif, Display, Type Anatomy, Hierarchy, Readability, Pairing
   • Logo, Brand Identity, Symbolism, Iconography, Visual Communication
5. 5

   Observation & Perception

   ~10 marks

   • Attention to Detail — Subtle Differences, Anomalies, Quality Assessment
   • Context & Visual Cues — Reading Visual Stories, Interpretation, Inference
   • Visual Memory, Recalling Shapes, Colours, Scenes, Object Pairs
   • Sensory Awareness — Texture, Sound, Smell in Visual Decisions
   • Cultural & Social Context — Symbols, Gestures, Dress, Cues in Indian & Global Context
6. 6

   Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning

   ~10 marks

   • Verbal Reasoning — Analogies, Classification, Coding-Decoding, Series Completion, Syllogisms
   • Non-Verbal Reasoning — Figure Series, Mirror/Water Images, Dice, Embedded Figures, Paper Folding/Cutting
   • Analytical Reasoning — Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Venn Diagrams, Blood Relations
   • Logical Deduction, Statements & Assumptions, Cause & Effect, Course of Action
7. 7

   Quantitative Ability & Mathematics

   ~8 marks

   • Arithmetic — Number System, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss
   • Geometry & Mensuration — Areas, Volumes, Triangles, Circles, Coordinate Geometry (Design Applications)
   • Algebra & Trigonometry — Equations, Identities, Progressions
   • Data Interpretation — Tables, Bar/Pie/Line Charts, Case Studies
   • Measurement & Estimation — Length, Area, Volume, Time, Cost, Scaling
8. 8

   Language & Communication

   ~5 marks

   • Reading Comprehension — Passages, Inferential, Factual, Vocabulary from Context
   • Grammar & Vocabulary — Tenses, Articles, Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms
   • Verbal Ability — Sentence Completion, Para Jumbles, Cloze Test, Sentence Correction
   • Expression & Idea Communication — Articulating Design Ideas, Story-telling
9. 9

   General Awareness (Current Affairs, Art, Culture, Society)

   ~3 marks

   • Current Affairs — National & International, Awards (Pradhanmantri, Padma), Exhibitions, Fairs, Festivals, Design Awards (Red Dot, IF, Good Design)
   • Indian & Global Art & Craft, Folk Art, Performing Arts, Cinema, Animation
   • Social Issues & Trends — Sustainability, Climate Change, Diversity, Inclusion, Urbanization, Digital World