‘Hard work pays off, but faculty support makes all difference’

At the heart of every successful design education lies not just infrastructure or curriculum, but the mentors who guide students through it. In a candid conversation, Asad, a student at the Apeejay Institute of Design (AID) specialising in interior design, opened up about his journey from choosing Apeejay to the role his teachers played in shaping his creative and professional growth. 

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Q: Why did you join Apeejay?

My brother’s friends had graduated from Apeejay before. They recommended it to me. Also while researching on the good institutes for design, Apeejay was the top institute in terms of faculty and their experience. I had heard a lot of good things about Apeejay, so all of these things encouraged me to join it.

Q: Do you feel the teachers at AID are equipping you with the skills you will need in the industry?

They teach really well. All of them have good experiences. They are like mentors who help us to get through things. In designing, there is a lot of research work and thinking before giving shape to the idea, here is when the role and support of a teacher means a lot. 

Q: If someone asks you to recommend AID for design in the future, would you do it?

Yes, because they focus on the practical aspect of education. Not every institute focuses on the practicality of a professional degree. The teachers and infrastructure are also good.   

Q: Do you have any memorable classroom projects or assignments that challenged your creativity?

We made a mosaic art piece — that was a teamwork project. The teachers helped a lot, and my classmates also put in a lot of teamwork.

Q: Whenever you design something new, how important is research?

Research is the basis of the design process. It is the research which is pain staking yet fruitful, if done correctly. Teachers at Apeejay tell us to look at the projects we made in the past, take hints from them, and only after research do we get the layout ready. This emphasis on research-before-design is something I credit directly to teachers who push students to build a strong conceptual foundation before putting pen to paper.

Q: Within the broader field of design, you now specialise in a particular area. Which field do you enjoy most?

My specialisation is mainly Interior Design, so I am focusing more on that.

Q: If future aspirants are considering the field of design, what would you recommend to them based on your experience at Apeejay?

I would recommend that if a student wants to make their career in designing, they will have to work hard. They need to know people will judge their work directly and they don’t have to take feedback as a hit to personal worth. Persistence and regular practice matter more than natural sketching ability.

Q: If someone asked you to describe the study culture at AID in a few words, what would you say?

According to me, it’s the best faculty, the best classroom facilities provided and infrastructure. 

Q: How does a typical day look for you at college?

The faculty doesn’t make us work all the time; they give us breaks too. It’s fairly relaxed. We do our work and also chat a bit, enjoy some time with the faculty. During our classes, the teacher tells us to keep our sheets ready beforehand. Then they brief us on what work we have to do, and after that we focus on our work.