Top 10 Design Colleges in Mumbai 2025: Courses, Rankings & Fees

Design shapes India’s future - from the apps we use, to the clothes we wear, to brand experiences that influence our choices. With creativity becoming a core skill in every industry, design is now one of the most sought-after career paths among young aspirants. According to the India Design Council, the design industry is projected to grow to ₹18,000+ crores by 2025, resulting in increased career opportunities across UI/UX, graphics, fashion, and interior design.

Mumbai, India’s financial and creative capital, offers the perfect ecosystem for design learners. Students exploring the top design colleges in Mumbai often seek exposure, internships, and mentorship opportunities. As one of the best design institutes in Mumbai, the city’s campuses help shape creativity, technical skills, and portfolio strength. In this blog, we’ll help you shortlist the best colleges to kickstart your creative career and understand design education in Mumbai better.

Why Choose Mumbai for Design Studies?

Imagine studying in a city that never sleeps - where creativity sparks from billboards, film studios, marketing agencies, and digital startups. That’s Mumbai. It offers students exposure to advertising firms, branding agencies, film production houses, textile markets, and innovation hubs.

The benefits of studying design in Mumbai are endless. Students frequently attend real-world design workshops, fashion weeks, film festivals, UX meetups, and creative seminars. Internships are abundant -from retail brands to media companies - helping you build hands-on portfolio work even before graduation.

Networking becomes effortless through college fests, design conclaves, and brand collaborations. Many design colleges near Mumbai offer industry immersion through guest lectures and live projects.

So, why study design in Mumbai? Because the city teaches you to think visually, solve problems creatively, collaborate across disciplines, and hustle like a true professional. If you’re serious about building a design career, Mumbai pushes you forward - every single day.

Top 10 Design Colleges in Mumbai (With Highlights)

Mumbai hosts some of the best design schools in Mumbai, offering cutting-edge labs, industry exposure, and creative mentorship. Here’s a curated list of the top 10 design colleges in Mumbai, based on curriculum strength, placements, and campus culture.

1) ITM Institute of Design & Media, Mumbai

Courses Offered: Fashion Design, Interior Design, Animation & VFX, Visual Communication, UX Design.
Placement Highlights: Strong recruiter network in fashion houses, creative agencies, retail, branding, film production. Internship-to-job conversion is high.
Unique Features: Industry mentors, innovation labs, garment studios, CAD labs, design exhibitions, and portfolio showcases.
Widely preferred in design college ranking Mumbai due to practical, industry-ready training.

2) National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai

Courses Offered: Fashion Design, Textile Design, Fashion Communication.
Placement Highlights: Top apparel brands, export houses, lifestyle labels.
Unique Features: National brand value, global exposure, alumni in Bollywood.

3) Pearl Academy, Mumbai

Courses Offered: Fashion Design, Interior Styling, Communication Design.
Placement Highlights: Strong placements in luxury fashion, media agencies.
Unique Features: Design labs, international faculty, immersive jury reviews.

4) Sir J.J. School of Applied Arts

Courses Offered: Visual Communications, Advertising Design.
Placement Highlights: Advertising agencies, creative studios, publishing houses.
Unique Features: Legacy heritage, artistic approach, strong conceptual training.

5) Raffles Design International

Courses Offered: Fashion, Interior & Visual Communication Design.
Placement Highlights: International internships & onsite projects.
Unique Features: Singapore-based curriculum, global faculty exchange.

6) Whistling Woods International

Courses Offered: Visual Communication, Animation Design, Production Design.
Placement Highlights: Film studios, OTT teams, branding firms.
Unique Features: Bollywood exposure, celebrity mentoring, studio experience.

7) INIFD Andheri/Bandra

Courses Offered: Fashion, Interior & Styling.
Placement Highlights: Boutique studios, costume stylists, fashion houses.
Unique Features: Tie-ups with Lakmé Fashion Week.

8) Sophia Polytechnic

Courses Offered: Textile Design, Interior Design.
Placement Highlights: Craft-based studios, merchandisers, home décor brands.
Unique Features: Hands-on craft modules, sustainable learning.

9) Garware Institute (Mumbai University)

Courses Offered: Interior Design, Fashion Design.
Placement Highlights: Entry-level creative roles in retail & design agencies.
Unique Features: Industry visits, merchandising exposure.

10) Ecole Intuit Lab

Courses Offered: Graphic Design, Art Direction, Digital Design.
Placement Highlights: Creative agencies, ad firms, UI/UX companies.
Unique Features: French pedagogy, portfolio-driven model.

ITM Institute of Design & Media, Mumbai – Leading the Future

The ITM design college Mumbai has built a legacy of over 30 years, empowering students to think visually, communicate creatively, and build impactful portfolios. The moment you walk into its design studios, you’ll see students crafting prototypes, sketching concepts, and discussing brand strategies. It feels like a creative workspace, not a traditional classroom.

ITM design courses cover Fashion, Visual Communication, Interior, Animation & VFX, and UI/UX. Students learn fundamentals like color theory, typography, branding, 3D modeling, spatial design, garment construction, and digital illustration. As semesters progress, learning becomes project-based with studio reviews, trend analysis, and industry briefs.

Industry collaborations are a major strength. ITM regularly hosts workshops led by:

• Luxury brands
• Animation studios
• Bollywood stylists
• Digital product teams

Students gain exposure to professional workflows, deadlines, and client expectations.

ITM design placements remain consistently strong. Recruiters include fashion houses, creative agencies, production studios, and retail brands. Packages typically range from ₹3–8 LPA, depending on portfolio strength.

Campus life is dynamic. Students participate in:

• Design exhibitions
• Hackathons
• Style labs
• Animation screenings
• Inter-disciplinary collabs

Leading faculty - designers, directors, product experts - guide students through critiques and presentations, building confidence.

If you’re seeking global-standard training, ITM stands out among the best design institutes in Mumbai.

Admission Process for Design Colleges in Mumbai

The design admission process in Mumbai is simple once you understand the steps.

Eligibility Requirements

• Completion of 10+2 from a recognized board
• Basic creative aptitude

Entrance Exams Commonly Accepted

• NID DAT
• UCEED
• Pearl Entrance Test
• Institute-level design tests

After shortlisting, colleges may conduct:

• Portfolio reviews
• Personal interviews
• Creative tasks

Documents Needed

• 10th & 12th mark sheets
• ID proof
• Passport images
• Portfolio samples
• Certificates (optional)

Tip: Build a portfolio early - even basic sketches and case studies help.
Understanding Mumbai design college eligibility and deadlines ensures a smooth application.

Popular Design Programs in Mumbai Colleges

Most design programs in Mumbai are structured to build both creativity and industry relevance.

Here are the most in-demand design courses in Mumbai:

Visual Communication

Careers: brand designer, advertising artist, UI graphics
Focus: typography, layouts, motion graphics

Fashion Design

Careers: stylist, merchandiser, runway costume artist
Focus: garment construction, draping, textile analysis

Interior Design

Careers: residential/commercial planner, décor consultant
Focus: space planning, lighting, sustainability

Animation & VFX

Careers: animator, compositor, 3D modeler
Focus: rigging, simulation, rendering

UI/UX Design

Careers: interaction designer, product researcher
Focus: wireframes, prototyping, user journeys

Communication Design

Careers: brand strategy, campaign designer
Focus: illustration, storytelling, advertising design

Colleges offer electives, internships, and portfolio reviews to prepare students for multi-disciplinary roles.

Fees Structure of Top Design Colleges in Mumbai

Understanding design college fees in Mumbai helps in planning your education wisely. Below is a simple design college fees in Mumbai comparison:

Students comparing affordable design colleges Mumbai should look at ROI, not just fees.

Placement Opportunities in Mumbai’s Design Colleges

Placement trends in design placements in Mumbai are promising due to rising demand in branding, fashion retail, film media, and UI/UX.

Top recruiters include:

• Myntra
• Vogue
• Big Bazaar Design Studio
• INOX Creative
• Pentagram India
• Salt Labs
• TCS UX Wing

Colleges like ITM support students through:

• Portfolio mentoring
• Mock interviews
• Software training
• Internship pipelines

Roles offered:

• UI Designer
• Visualizer
• Concept Artist
• Fashion Stylist
• Junior Interior Designer

Top recruiters design in Mumbai actively seek designers with strong portfolios - not marks.

Infrastructure & Campus Life

Design colleges in Mumbai offer vibrant learning spaces with:

• Hi-tech CAD labs
• Material libraries
• Editing suites
• 3D printing stations
• Photography studios
• Hostel facilities
• Student clubs

The design campus facilities Mumbai experience at ITM includes fests, styling competitions, short-film screenings, and brand exhibitions. Students often collaborate across departments - designers work with animators, UI students work with branding teams.

Workshops, seminars, and jury presentations simulate real client interactions.
Hostels are modern and safe, and hostel and labs design college environments to create late-night project culture.

If you love creativity, student life ITM Mumbai keeps you inspired all year.

How to Choose the Best Design College in Mumbai

Before choosing, ask yourself:

• Does the college have accreditation?
• Do faculty have industry experience?
• Are placement partners relevant to my field?
• Can I build a strong portfolio here?

When learning how to choose design college in Mumbai, attend open days, speak to alumni, and evaluate studio infrastructure.

Portfolio outcomes matter more than marks.
Look for best design college selection based on specialization strengths, not popularity.

Conclusion: Build Your Design Future with ITM

Design thinking is shaping global brands, user experiences, and creative industries - and your career could be next. ITM offers an industry-ready curriculum, innovation labs, expert mentorship, and a strong placement network.

If you want to stand out among design graduates, choose a campus that builds skill, confidence, and portfolio power. Start your application today through ITM institute of design & media admissions.

Studying at ITM institute of design & media Mumbai can open doors to exciting creative careers. Take your first step toward the industry by choosing the best design college ITM.

FAQs: Design Colleges in Mumbai

Which are the top design colleges in Mumbai?

Popular choices include ITM, NIFT, Pearl Academy, Raffles, and INIFD, which offer strong portfolios and practical exposure.

What eligibility is required for design admissions?

Most Mumbai design colleges require 10+2 and may evaluate portfolios or conduct entrance tests.

Are placements good for design courses in Mumbai?

Yes. Colleges like ITM offer internships and industry tie-ups leading to promising career openings.

What’s the fee range for design programs?

Fees vary from ₹2–16 Lakhs depending on specialization, duration, faculty, and labs offered.

Do I need a portfolio for admission?

A portfolio greatly improves chances - showcasing layouts, sketches, and digital work.