What should be an academic institution’s primary aim? Opinions regarding the answer to this question have been divided as many think that an academic institution must stick solely to academics while many others are of the opinion that the duties of an institution lie beyond academics. Students preparing for NID’s entrance and aspiring to start a career in the field of designing are surely aware of the fact that NID aims to take designing beyond the confined walls of academics and breathe new life into it.
The fact that NID’s academic faculty, its courses and its infrastructure are brilliant can never be doubted. But a major reason why a number of students attempt to flood the gates of the institution every year is because NID looks beyond teaching students the mere intricacies of designing. With a number of design related programs under its wings, NID is not merely an academic institute but attempts to rejuvenate dying design forms and popularize them amongst students so that they are able to give new life to them.NID’s efforts are not only laudable but should be recognized by the highest authorities possible because it takes a unique course at teaching students about not only existing design forms but also the ones which are gradually diminishing so that the latter can be used by the students when they embark on a career of designing. For example the dying textile art of ply-split braiding is being revived by a faculty member of the NID as he attempts to rejuvenate and re-popularize the textile art form. Such attempts by the NID ensures that students have a lot to look forward to barring their academics as it is every aspiring designer’s responsibility to work on an area of design which has not got its deserving due.
As an institute, NID attempts to teach students that the world of designing is not confined to fashion shows and collections designed for reputed fashion shows. Indeed they are integral parts of shaping up one’s designing career. But the roots of one’s designing culture should never be forgotten and NID attempts to strengthen and bring them forward to the larger audience. Students staying up till late and aspiring to secure a seat at the NID are aware of the institute’s intentions and prefer the prevailing academic atmosphere which goes beyond classroom coaching.