THE EDUCAFÉ TIMES
What exactly is designing and what are the different types?
Prescribing Success: Interview with
Mrs. Kavya Chandrashekar ( Co-
founder and Creative Head of The
Design Venue,)
Career Queries
Hello Readers!
We bring another edition of The Educafé Times where we talk about
another sought-after career opportunity in Designing. Here we discuss
the scope of the career, the challenges, and the skill sets required.
Have some new ideas for our newsletter? Share them at
educafestudentsolutions@gmail.com and get a shoutout.
Happy Reading!!
A Guide to Design as a Career Choice
J U N E , 2 0 2 6
Message from the Editor
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A Guide to Design as a Career Choice
Have you ever wondered how carefully the world around us is designed? The chair we sit on, the phone we
use, the logos we recognise, and the products we interact with every day are all the result of thoughtful design.
Design is everywhere, shaping our experiences and influencing the way we live, work, communicate, and
develop skills. It is not limited to artists or architects; design plays an important role in almost every field, from
technology and business to education and healthcare.
The importance of design can be seen in some of the world's most successful companies. For example,
companies like Apple and Airbnb focus heavily on design because it improves customer satisfaction,
strengthens brand identity, and builds trust among users.
It is the process of conceiving, planning, and arranging elements to solve a problem, fulfil a need, or create
something new.
Designing is not just drawing. There are different areas of expertise where designers can work. Some of the
careers are:
Digital and Technological Design
These designers create digital products like
websites, apps, and online experiences. They
make sure everything is easy to use and looks
good.
UI Designers, UX Designers, Web Designers,
App Designers, and Interaction Designers fall
under this category.
Visual and Communication
Design
These designers use pictures, text, and
colours to share ideas and messages.
Graphic Designers, Branding Designers,
Advertising Designers, Typographers,
and Motion Graphic Designers fall
under this category.
Physical and Spatial Design
These designers create real-world spaces
like homes, buildings, and parks.
Interior Designers, Architects,
Landscape Designers, and Exhibition
Designers fall under this category.
Industrial and Product Design
These designers create everyday products like
chairs, phones, and tools. They focus on
making products useful, safe, and attractive.
Product Designers, Industrial Designers,
Furniture Designers, and Automotive
Designers fall under this category.
Process and Strategy Design
These designers focus on improving
systems and services to solve problems
better.
Design Thinking, Service Design,
Strategic Design, and Business Design
fall under this category.
Fashion and Lifestyle Design
These designers create clothes, shoes,
and accessories that reflect style and
culture.
Fashion Designers, Textile Designers,
Jewellery Designers, and Footwear
Designers fall under this category.
Entertainment and Media Design
These designers create experiences for games,
movies, animation, and digital media.
Game Designers, Animation Designers,
Film Designers, Character Designers, and
Set Designers fall under this category.
Environmental and Sustainable Design
These designers focus on protecting the
environment through smart design
solutions.
Sustainable Design, Urban Design,
Ecological Design, and Green Building
Design fall under this category.
Educational and Information Design
These designers make learning and
information easier to understand.
Information Designers, Instructional
Designers, Learning Experience
Designers, and Data Visualisation
Designers fall under this category.
Career Pathway
Benefits & Challenges
Tips for Success
Stay curious and observe the world around you for
design inspiration.
Practice regularly to improve your creative and technical
skills.
Build a strong portfolio showcasing your best work.
Learn industry- standard design tools and software.
Seek feedback from mentors, teachers and peers.
Stay updated with the latest design trends and
technologies.
Network with professionals and participate in design
communities.
Develop strong problem-solving and communication
skills.
Be open to learning and continuously improving your
craft.
Work on real-world projects to gain practical experience.
Final Thought
Benefits: Creative Expression, Diverse Career Options, High Demand, Flexibility, Continuous Learning and
Portfolio - Based Growth.
Challenges: Tight Deadlines, Client Revisions, Competitive Industry, Keeping Up with Trends, Subjective
Feedback, and Workload Fluctuations.
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No. 10, 1st Main Road, 2nd Floor, Above Midas School of Entrepreneurship, Seshadripuram, Bangalore -560020
Phone: 080-4124 4184 , +91 9740583531 | query@educafe.com | www.educafe.com
Now that we have understood the types of design, let’s look at how we can pursue a career in this field.
After 10th Standard, you can pursue any stream (Science/ Commerce /Arts).
Clear Entrance Exams: Top colleges require clearing competitive exams:
UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design): For IITs and IIITDM
(Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing).
https://www.uceed.iitb.ac.in/2026/
NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test): For the National Institute of Design.
https://admissions.nid.edu/NIDA2026/Default.aspx
NIFTEE (National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Examination): For the National
Institute of Fashion Technology. https://exams.nta.nic.in/niftee/
Complete a 4-year Bachelor of Design (B. Des.) or a 3-year B.Sc. in Design.
Identify Specialisations: Popular fields include Communication (Graphic), Product,
Fashion, UX/UI, and Interior Design.
Build a Portfolio: Showcase your best creative projects to secure internships and jobs.
Note: For the latest information and updates, please visit their official website.
Keeping these points in mind, consider
pursuing a career in design only if you
are genuinely interested in the field, as
passion and dedication are key to long-
term success and satisfaction.
Prescription to Success:
What are the different types of design one can specialise
in?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that design is
limited to fashion or drawing.
In reality, design is an enormous field with
opportunities across industries — from technology
and automobiles to media, healthcare, gaming, retail,
architecture, sustainability, and digital experiences.
Broadly, design can be understood under three major
umbrellas:
Industrial Design
Communication Design
Fashion Design
Today, careers in design are among the fastest-growing
globally because every industry now needs creativity,
innovation, and human-centred thinking.
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Educafé Student Solutions Pvt. Ltd
No. 10, 1st Main Road, 2nd Floor, Above Midas School of Entrepreneurship, Seshadripuram, Bangalore -560020
Phone: 080-4124 4184 , +91 9740583531 | query@educafe.com | www.educafe.com
Snippets of an Interview conducted with Mrs. Kavya Chandrashekar
What inspired you to choose
design as a career?
Honestly, it never started as a “career decision.” It
started with curiosity.
I was always fascinated by how spaces made people
feel, why certain visuals stayed in your mind, or why
some experiences felt intuitive while others didn’t. But
the real turning point came when I realised this:
Design is not just about making things look beautiful.
It is about making things work better for people.
That shift — from art to impact — completely changed
how I viewed design.
And over time, what kept me here is the fact that design
gives you the ability to influence experiences, solve
problems, shape behaviour, and create meaningful
change.
That is incredibly powerful.
Kavya Chandrashekar is an architect, design thinker, entrepreneur, and educator
with over 15 years of experience mentoring students in creative careers. As the
Co-founder and Creative Head of The Design Venue, she has helped hundreds
of students gain admission to leading design and architecture institutions in India
and abroad. She is also the Co-founder of Discover Design, an initiative that
inspires young minds to explore creativity, innovation, and design. Her
contributions to design education have earned her recognition as a Shiksha
Ratna Award recipient and she is a respected leader in the field.
Have you ever had a design fail?
Many times.
And I think students need to hear that openly.
Some ideas fail because we misunderstand the
user. Some fail because we overcomplicate the
solution. And sometimes we become too
emotionally attached to our own ideas.
But in design, failure is not the opposite of
success. It is part of the process.
Every failed attempt teaches you:
What people truly need
What assumptions were wrong
What can be improved?
The only real mistake is refusing to learn from
feedback.
Can you walk us through your design process?
For me, design never starts with aesthetics. It starts
with understanding.
The first question is not: “How should this look?”
It is: “What is the real problem here?”
From there, I observe:
Who is this for?
What are they feeling?
What do they actually need?
Only then comes exploration — sketching,
ideation, questioning assumptions, prototyping,
testing, and refining.
I never settle on the first idea because the first idea
is usually the most obvious one.
Design is not about getting it right immediately. It
is about improving it until it works meaningfully.
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How is AI impacting the design industry?
AI is definitely changing the design industry.
It is making workflows faster, increasing accessibility,
and automating repetitive tasks.
But there is one thing students must understand:
AI can generate. But it cannot replace human thinking.
It cannot fully understand:
Emotion
Culture
Context
Empathy
Human behaviour
Taste and judgment
Because of this, the role of designers is evolving.
The future belongs to designers who can think deeply,
solve problems, ask the right questions, and create
meaningful experiences.
Students who only focus on software tools may
struggle. Students who build strong thinking skills will
thrive.
How important is a portfolio?
A portfolio is one of the most important aspects of a
design career.
In many ways, it is more important than marks.
A strong portfolio should not just show final
outcomes. It should reveal:
Your thinking process
Your observations
Your experimentation
Your originality
Your ability to solve problems
At The Design Venue, we constantly encourage
students to start building and documenting their
creative journey early.
Students often wait for “perfect work.” But growth
comes from consistent exploration.
What key skills should students focus on?
If I had to simplify it, students should focus on
building:
Observation
Curiosity
Empathy
Communication skills
Problem-solving ability
Visual thinking
Software can always be learned. But thinking takes
time to develop.
And that is what truly differentiates great
designers.
How is the career growth in design?
The design industry is growing rapidly — both in
India and globally.
Some of the fastest-growing fields today include:
UX/UI Design
Product Design
Experience Design
Digital Design
Design Strategy
Creative Technology
What makes design unique is that growth does not
follow one fixed path.
Some designers become specialists. Some become
creative directors. Some build start-ups or studios.
Some move into innovation strategy, education,
research, or entrepreneurship.
The more deeply you think, the more valuable you
become.
And that is the true power of design.
Would you advise students to take up Design as a career?
Absolutely — but not blindly.
Design is not an “easy” option. It demands discipline,
resilience, consistency, and openness to feedback.
But for students who genuinely enjoy:
Creativity
Problem-solving
Innovation
Storytelling
Building experiences
Thinking differently
…it can become one of the most fulfilling careers possible.
My advice to students is simple:
Do not chase trends. Do not compare journeys. Explore
deeply and stay curious long enough to truly understand
what excites you.
“Have Questions?
Write to us:
info@thedesignvenue.in
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Confused about your career?
Career Queries
One of the biggest mistakes students make when choosing a career is making the
decision without truly understanding themselves. Instead of considering their
interests, strengths, values, and personality, many students allow external factors to
influence their choice. They may choose a career because it is popular, offers a high
salary, or is currently trending in the job market. Others may be influenced by peer
pressure, thinking, "My friends are choosing this career, so I should choose it too."
Some students also feel compelled to follow family expectations or pursue the same
profession as a successful sibling or relative. While these factors can provide useful
information, they should not be the primary basis for a career decision.
For example, a student may choose to become an architect because of the financial
rewards associated with the profession, without fully understanding the nature of
the work or the level of commitment required. Over time, they may discover that the
career does not match their interests or abilities.
Another common mistake is focusing only on academic marks. Although grades
are important, they do not determine whether a person is suited for a particular
profession. Two students with similar marks may succeed in completely different
careers because they possess different talents, interests, and goals.
Students also tend to make decisions without exploring career options thoroughly.
They may know the name of a profession but have little understanding of the day-
to-day responsibilities, required skills, or long-term opportunities. Before choosing a
career, students should research different fields, speak to professionals, seek guidance
from career counsellors, and gain practical exposure whenever possible.
The most effective career decisions are made when students consider three key
factors:
• What they enjoy doing
• What they are good at
• Where future opportunities exist
When these factors align, students are more likely to build careers that are both
successful and fulfilling.
Ultimately, the goal should not be to choose the most popular or highest-paying
career. The goal should be to choose a career that matches who you are and enables
you to grow, contribute, and find satisfaction in your work.
Educafé Student Solutions Pvt. Ltd
No. 10, 1st Main Road, 2nd Floor, Above Midas School of Entrepreneurship, Seshadripuram, Bangalore -560020
Phone: 080-4124 4184 , +91 9740583531 | query@educafe.com | www.educafe.com
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by : Dr. Sudha Bhogle
What is the biggest mistake students make when choosing a career?