Department of Design (DoD), IIT Delhi

What Department of Design (DoD), IIT Delhi does

The Department of Design (DoD) at IIT Delhi is an academic department within the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, a government-funded technical university established under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961. The department offers four degree programs (B.Des, M.Des, Ph.D., and a new B.Tech in Design launched in 2025-26 with 20 students per cohort), as well as a Minor in Design open to students from other IIT Delhi departments. Admission to undergraduate programs requires qualification through JEE Advanced and the UCEED design aptitude test, routed via the national JOSAA/CCMT centralised counselling system.

The department's core technology and research infrastructure consists of approximately 15 specialised labs and studios plus a dedicated Makerspace. Lab capabilities span UX research (with EEG, eye-tracking, pupillometry, GSR, Morae, iMotion), immersive media (VR/AR/MR), digital fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC routing), game development and simulation, behaviour-informed design, ergonomics, sustainability, design history, AI-augmented design, and phygital humanics. The Makerspace functions as a shared prototyping facility with PCB prototyping, welding, and waterjet cutting equipment. Faculty-led labs are applied to research domains including healthcare (with AIIMS), disaster management (NDMA), urban affairs (NIUA), sports (SAI), and education (Rekhi Foundation, Ministry of Education, American Express funding).

As a publicly funded academic department, DoD does not operate a commercial revenue model. Funding flows through IIT Delhi's institutional budget, government grants (Ministry of Education), and project-based sponsorships. The primary customer segments are undergraduate and postgraduate students seeking design education, with secondary engagement from PhD scholars and external research collaborators. Outreach to prospective students occurs through national entrance examinations and supplementary community-building events such as game jams, workshops, and open days hosted by department labs.

Name

Department of Design (DoD), IIT Delhi

Legal name

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Department of Design

Website

https://design.iitd.ac.in

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Department of Design at IIT Delhi is a government-funded academic department offering B.Des, M.Des, Ph.D., and B.Tech in Design programs, supported by approximately 15 specialised research labs spanning UX, AI, sustainability, immersive media, and behavioural design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

Keywords

• Design education programs
• Academic research labs
• Human-centered design research
• Undergraduate design degree
• Design research collaborations

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi, Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Department of Design at IIT Delhi is an academic department offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degree programs in Design (B.Des, M.Des, Ph.D, B.Tech in Design, and Minor in Design) and operating approximately 16 specialized research labs covering user experience, sustainability, media technology, gaming, behaviour-informed design, ergonomics, digital fabrication (Makerspace), and AI applications. The department combines engineering rigour with creative design practice through 147-credit degree structures validated by national entrance examinations and supported by hands-on lab infrastructure.

Product overview

Department of Design at IIT Delhi operates as an academic department offering four degree programs (B.Des, M.Des, Ph.D, and B.Tech in Design) and hosts approximately 16 specialized research labs. The educational programs span undergraduate to doctoral levels in design disciplines. The research labs function as both teaching and research facilities, covering areas including user experience, sustainability, immersive technology (VR/AR/MR), behavioral design, design history, AI applications, prototyping (Makerspace), ergonomics, and well-being. The lab infrastructure includes specialized equipment for physiological measurement (EEG, eye tracking, GSR), digital fabrication (3D printers, CNC routers, laser cutters), and immersive media (VR headsets, gaming consoles).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B.Des Program Four-year undergraduate bachelor's degree in Design with an intake of 20 students per cohort, teaching design thinking, socio-technical systems, research methods, and communication skills.
• M.Des Program Master of Design postgraduate program offering advanced studies in design disciplines for students who have completed a bachelor's degree.
• Ph.D Program Doctoral research program in design studies and related disciplines, preparing researchers for academic and applied research careers.
• B.Tech in Design Four-year undergraduate technology-integrated design program covering technologies, design thinking, and research methods for socio-technical systems, with an intake of 20 students.
• Minor in Design Minor program in Design available to undergraduate students from other departments at IIT Delhi, providing foundational design exposure alongside their primary degree.
• User Experience (UX) Lab Specialised lab equipped with behavioural and physiological tools (Eye Tracking, Pupillometry, EEG, GSR, Morae, iMotion) for research on emotional and cognitive responses to designed products.
• Design for Sustainability Lab Interdisciplinary research lab working on sustainable solutions that balance environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic resilience.
• Media Technology Lab Research space focused on the intersection of immersive technology, design, art, and human experience, integrating VR, AR, and interactive media.
• G.A.M.E.S. Lab Experimental lab exploring games, AR, VR, MR, and playful technology for education, well-being, and accessibility, with high-performance workstations, VR/MR headsets, and physiological sensing.
• Behaviour-informed Design for Development Lab (BiD4D) Research-driven lab applying behavioural design to healthcare, climate change, and policy using technological tools and behavioural science theories, with partnerships at AIIMS, NDMA, NIUA, and SAI.
• Makerspace DIY fabrication facility equipped with laser cutters, waterjet cutters, CNC routers, 3D printers, PCB prototyping stations, and welding kits for prototyping and fabrication.
• QuEST Lab (Quality of Life Enhancement using Science and Technology) Lab designing products for quality of life enhancement with weather station, air quality monitoring, thermal imaging, and indoor environmental quality sensors.
• Human Factors and Ergonomics Lab Flexible facility for usability research, human performance, comfort, health, environmental simulation, and user preferences, equipped with EMG, motion analysis, and pressure mapping capabilities.
• DIVINE Lab (Design and Innovation in Villagepreneurs Ecosystem) Sponsored lab undertaking research in Indian rural ecosystems, enabling students to work on design projects relevant to rural areas.
• Rekhi Mind Lab Lab funded by the Rekhi Foundation that develops evidence-based pedagogical interventions to integrate happiness and well-being into higher education.
• WAH Studio (Wellbeing + AI + Humanity) Studio designing AI systems that support human wellbeing through emotional computing, behavioural experimentation, and AI development for healthcare and education.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiD4D lab collaborates with AIIMS on behaviour-informed design research with applications in healthcare environments, patient experience, and medical device usability.
• NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiD4D lab works with NDMA on designing disaster communication systems, emergency response tools, and community preparedness interventions informed by human-centred design principles.
• NIUA (National Institute of Urban Affairs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiD4D lab partners with NIUA on urban design challenges, public service delivery, and smart city initiatives that require user research and design thinking methodologies.
• SAI (Sports Authority of India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiD4D lab collaborates with SAI on designing sports technology interfaces, athlete experience systems, and performance feedback tools using human factors and ergonomics methodologies.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Department of Design, IIT Guwahati: Design department at IIT Guwahati offers B.Des and Ph.D programs within the IIT system, mirroring the IIT Delhi structure. Directly comparable in mission, admissions pathway (UCEED/CEED), and research focus areas.
• IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay: Industrial Design Centre at IIT Bombay is the closest peer — a design school within the IIT ecosystem offering similar interdisciplinary design programs (B.Des, M.Des, Ph.D) with research labs and industry partnerships. Most directly comparable institution in structure, scale, and student pipeline.

Regional players

• MIT Institute of Design (MIT ID), Pune: Private Indian design school offering UG and PG design programs with an industry-facing orientation. Competes for design-aspirant students via a private university structure with broader intake capacity.
• Pearl Academy: Major Indian private design and fashion school with multi-city presence, offering undergraduate and postgraduate design programs. Competes for the same Indian design-student cohort with a more commercially oriented, larger-scale intake model.
• Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology: Leading private Indian design school offering undergraduate and postgraduate design programs with strong industry partnerships. Competes for the same student segment through a private, more flexible institutional model rather than IIT/government structure.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad: India's premier government-supported design institution, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across multiple design disciplines. A more established and larger-scale peer that competes for the same national design student cohort.
• Carnegie Mellon School of Design: Top-tier U.S. design school within a leading technical university, integrating design with engineering and computer science. Comparable as a model for engineering-anchored design education, though at much larger scale and international prestige.
• University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP): U.S. university college integrating design, architecture, art, and planning within a comprehensive public research university. Comparable as a large multidisciplinary design unit embedded within a technical/public university, with similar lab-and-studio infrastructure model.
• Royal College of Art: Premier postgraduate-only art and design university in London, offering research-led design programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable as a research-intensive design institution, though operating at much larger international scale.

Emerging players

• Stanford d.school (Hasso Plattner Institute of Design): Stanford's design thinking institute offering interdisciplinary design programs and labs at the intersection of design, engineering, and social sciences. Comparable as a model for design methods labs within a broader technical university, with strong industry/government partnership orientation.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/department-of-design-indian-institute-of-technology-delhi-india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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