Sketch it. Think it. Crack NID, UCEED & NIFT.
Design entrance coaching for Class 11–12 students and droppers. Small batches, mentors from India's top design schools, and hands-on studio practice — in Pune, Nashik and online.
- Batches of 20 students
- Mentors from IIT, NID & NIFT
- Pune · Nashik · Online
Next up
NID DAT Prelims
20 Dec 2026
UCEED & CEED
17 Jan 2027
Mentors From
Trusted By
Entrance exams we coach for
One studio, every top design entrance exam.
Programmes
Where are you right now? Start there.
Compare all programmes →Design Launchpad
2-year programme alongside Class 11 & 12 — build skills calmly, then peak for the exams.
Explore Design Launchpad →Design Dojo
1-year intensive with mock tests, studio practice and portfolio building.
Explore Design Dojo →Crash Course
Focused, fast preparation: exam patterns, timed practice and personal feedback.
Explore Crash Course →Design Master
CEED and M.Des preparation for IIT, NID and other top institutes.
Explore Design Master →Portfolio Making
One-on-one mentoring from choosing projects to final layout.
Explore Portfolio Making →Studio Test & Mock Interview
Realistic NID, IIT and NIFT studio tests, portfolio audit and mock interviews.
Explore Studio Test & Mock Interview →Not sure which one fits? Take the free Design DNA Test or talk to a mentor.
New · Online Mock Test Series
Practise on the real exam pattern before exam day
10 full mocks with real timing and marking, instant scores and explanations, and your drawings marked by TDH mentors. ₹799 ₹999 · Mock 1 free.
Results
Our students got in.
MIT Institute of Design
B.Des Product Design
Rudrakshee Singh
MIT Institute of Design
B.Des Product Design
Vaibhavi Kangralkar
Woxsen University
B.Des Visual Communication
Imad Kazmi
Dr. D. Y. Patil School of Design
B.Des Visual Communication
Rugved Ralegankar
MIT Institute of Design
MIT-ADT University, Pune
Tanvisree V.S
TDH Crash Course · Batch 2025–2027
Unitedworld Institute of Design
Karnavati University
Kushan Samb
TDH Crash Course · Batch 2025–2027
DPU School of Design
Aditya Shejwalkar
TDH Crash Course · Batch 2025–2027
Why The Design Habitat
Coaching that feels like a design school, not a tuition class.
Small batches of 20
Mentors know every student by name and review every sketch, model and mock test personally.
Mentors from top design schools
Faculty and visiting mentors from IIT, NID, NIFT and MIT Institute of Design — people who know these exams from the inside.
A real design studio
Sketching, colour, model-making with real materials, timed studio tests and mock interviews — not just theory.
One plan, all the way to admission
Which exams to take, application deadlines, portfolio and interviews — we guide you through each step.
In their own words
Hear it from our students and parents.
For parents
Your child's creativity deserves a real plan.
Design is a serious, fast-growing career — and the entrance exams are competitive. Here's what you can expect when your child joins The Design Habitat.
- Honest counselling — we suggest the exams and colleges that genuinely fit your child, with no false guarantees.
- Batches of around 20, so mentors know every student and review their work personally.
- Mentors from IIT, NID, NIFT and MIT Institute of Design.
- Help beyond classes: exam calendar, application deadlines, portfolio and interviews.
- Learn in Pune or Nashik, or join live online classes from anywhere.
Guides written for parents
Visit a centre, meet the mentors
Pune
Mon–Sat: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PMNashik
Mon–Sat: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PMGuided by experience.
Driven by vision.
Vinayak Kulkarni
A seasoned educator and entrepreneur, Vinayak brings deep institutional knowledge from his tenure as Administrative Dean at MIT ADT University and now at D.Y Patil School of Design. At The Design Habitat, he channels that experience into building structured, rigorous pathways for aspiring designers, preparing them not just for entrance exams, but for careers that make a lasting impact.
Pranali Bankar
A visionary entrepreneur with experience across Brand Design, Marketing, and Administration, Pranali's focus today is education. Through The Design Habitat, she mentors young minds to bridge creativity, technology, and business shaping industry-ready professionals who think boldly and act confidently in the real world.
Free guides
Fresh from the blog.
FAQ
Questions students and parents ask us
Who are The Design Habitat's programmes for?
Students who have finished Class 10 (Design Launchpad, 2 years), students in Class 12 or taking a drop year (Design Dojo, 1 year, or the Crash Course if the exam is a few months away), and graduates or working professionals preparing for M.Des (Design Master). We also offer Portfolio Making and Studio Test & Mock Interview sessions.
Which design entrance exams do you prepare students for?
NID DAT, UCEED, NIFT, CEED, NATA and MIT-DAT, along with other private design school entrance tests. Most students prepare for several exams together because the core skills overlap.
Can commerce or arts students study design?
Yes. Most B.Des programmes, including NID, the IITs through UCEED and NIFT, accept students from science, commerce and arts. Architecture (B.Arch) is the main exception, as it usually needs maths in Class 12.
When should my child start preparing for design entrance exams?
Class 11 is ideal, because two years gives time to build drawing skills and a portfolio without stress alongside school. Starting in Class 12 is very doable with a focused one-year plan, and the Crash Course is designed for students with only a few months left.
How big are the batches?
Batches are kept to around 20 students, so mentors can review every student's sketches, models and mock tests personally.
Do you offer online classes?
Yes. Classes run in person at our Pune and Nashik centres and live online, so students outside these cities can join too.
Do you help with portfolios, studio tests and interviews?
Yes. Studio practice and mock tests are part of our programmes, and we also run dedicated Portfolio Making mentoring and Studio Test & Mock Interview sessions for NID, IIT and NIFT final rounds.
Where are your centres?
Pune: 6th Floor, Marvel Fuego, above Nexa Showroom, opposite Seasons Mall, Hadapsar, Pune 411028. Nashik: 4th Floor, DWEEP The Commercial, opposite Chroma Showroom, Thatte Nagar, College Road, Nashik 422005. Both are open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm.
How do we get started?
Book a free counselling call and a counsellor will understand your child's interests and suggest the right exams and programme. You can also take the free Design DNA Test online to discover which design careers suit you.
Free · 8 minutes · Ages 14+
Not sure which design career is right for you?
Take the Design DNA Test — a free design aptitude and career test — and get your top career matches, the right entrance exams and a personalised PDF report.
Your design journey starts with one conversation.
Talk to our counsellors about your interests, the right exams and the right programme — free, and with no pressure.