Design is not a subject.
It is a way of seeing.
Dezign Habitat helps students from Class 9–12 think like real designers while preparing for NID, NIFT, UCEED and India's top design entrance exams.
Two very different intentions.
Most coaching institutes teach students how to answer questions.
We teach students how to ask better questions.
Most institutes teach sketching.
We teach observation before sketching.
Most institutes prepare students for one exam.
We prepare students for a lifetime of creative thinking.
Because the future will not belong to students who can copy. It will belong to students who can notice, imagine, connect, and create.
A designer does not see more than others.
A designer simply notices what others miss.
The design coaching problem nobody talks about.
Students learn patterns, not thinking.
They memorize formats, but struggle when questions change.
Sketching becomes decoration.
They draw beautifully, but cannot communicate ideas clearly.
Creativity is treated like talent.
But creativity can be trained through observation, play, reflection, and practice.
Exams change. Mindsets don't.
A student prepared only for last year's paper may struggle with tomorrow's problem.
Dezign Habitat is built to solve this.
Not coaching.
Creative transformation.
Students crack exams because they become better thinkers.
Introducing Designer OS™
A learning system that trains students to think, observe, imagine, make, and present like designers. Every class, mission and critique maps back to this system.
For students who are more than marksheets.
Class 9–10 Explorers
For students who are curious about design and want to build creative confidence early.
Class 11–12 Aspirants
For students preparing seriously for NID, NIFT and UCEED.
Parents Seeking Direction
For parents who know their child is creative but need a structured path.
Students Who Don't Fit the Usual Box
For young minds who love drawing, making, observing, stories, products, fashion, spaces, apps, animation, culture or problem-solving.
Entrance preparation, but with a deeper foundation.
Creativity, observation, problem-solving, visual thinking, studio test, portfolio and interview.
Fashion awareness, visual communication, creative ability, situation test, material thinking, storytelling and presentation.
Analytical thinking, visualization, design aptitude, spatial reasoning, observation, problem-solving and communication.
We do not promise fake ranks or shortcuts. We build capability, confidence and exam readiness through structured practice.
From curious student to future designer.
Notice objects, people, spaces, behavior and patterns.
Ask better questions. Explore problems deeply.
Empathy, interviews and human behavior.
Visual storytelling, sequencing and communication.
Drawing as a thinking tool.
Creativity methods, brainstorming, lateral thinking.
Exam-relevant sketching, ideation and clarity.
Materials, models, situation-test thinking.
Products, services, users and contexts.
Real briefs and entrance-style challenges.
Personal projects, narratives, interview confidence.
Mock tests, studio test preparation, final refinement.
The exam is not the journey.
The designer is.
Learning experiences students will remember.
The Observation Journal™
A daily habit where students document objects, people, places, problems, patterns and stories.
The Designer Passport™
A growth record with badges — Observer, Storyteller, Researcher, Maker, Systems Thinker, Presenter.
The Curiosity Box™
A physical starter kit: sketchbook, sticky notes, pens, material swatches, observation cards, challenge cards, tracing sheets, mystery objects.
100 Design Missions™
Short creative missions that train observation, imagination, drawing, empathy and problem-solving.
Design Expeditions™
Assignments where students observe kitchens, markets, metro stations, bus stops, cafés, parks, and everyday Indian life.
Reverse Design™
Students deconstruct everyday products, apps, services and spaces to understand why they work.
Homework becomes missions.
Observe your kitchen for 30 minutes. Find 10 design problems.
Interview your grandmother about one object she has used for 20 years.
Photograph 20 handles in your home and compare how they work.
Spend 30 minutes at a bus stop. Sketch waiting behavior.
Redesign your school bag for monsoon.
Count all circles in your neighborhood.
Draw your breakfast without looking at the paper.
Create a product for someone who has only one hand free.
Redesign a medicine box for your grandfather.
Observe how people stand in a queue and improve the experience.
Design begins when students start noticing their own world.
Every class is a 90-minute studio.
A story, film clip, design example or founder insight.
A simple design principle explained clearly.
Students try the idea live.
Students receive feedback and learn from each other.
Students document what they noticed, learned and will improve.
Live online sessions, recorded lessons, weekly assignments, critique sessions, community feedback and portfolio tracking.
Choose your path.
Foundation Program
Creativity, observation, visual thinking, design awareness and early portfolio habits.
See the curriculum →Entrance Mastery Program
NID, NIFT, UCEED preparation with the Designer OS™ foundation.
See the curriculum →Crash + Studio Test
Mock tests, situation test, portfolio refinement, interview and final exam strategy.
See the curriculum →Batch size is intentionally small. The first cohort is limited to maintain quality.
Your child is not confused. They may be creative.
Many creative students are misunderstood because they do not always follow traditional academic patterns. They question, imagine, draw, build, observe, feel deeply and connect ideas differently. Dezign Habitat gives that creativity structure, discipline and direction.
Book a Parent Orientation Call- Clear pathway for design careers
- Structured preparation for NID, NIFT, UCEED
- Regular progress reviews
- Portfolio development
- Confidence building
- Creative discipline
- Communication skills
- Exposure to real design careers
- Safer alternative to random YouTube learning
- Mentorship from real design professionals
This is where your weird ideas become your strength.
If you notice things others ignore, ask too many questions, love sketching, making, stories, fashion, products, apps, interiors, films, games, culture or people — you may already be thinking like a designer. We help you shape that instinct into skill.
Take the Design Mindset Test
Help build India's next creative generation.
We are looking for teachers, designers, artists, NID/NIFT/IIT alumni, creative professionals and thoughtful educators who do not want to simply teach chapters, but shape young minds.
- ◆Creativity can be trained
- ◆Feedback matters more than marks
- ◆Students need confidence, not fear
- ◆Real-world observation is more powerful than rote practice
- ◆Design education must go beyond entrance exams
Mentors receive teaching frameworks, class guides, activity libraries, critique rubrics and access to Designer OS™ methodology.
Built by a designer.
Not by a coaching business.
Dezign Habitat is founded by Avnish Priya Gautam, an NID alumnus with 20 years of experience across industrial design, UX, product design, design leadership, business strategy, user research, design thinking, brand systems and innovation.
Over two decades, the founder has worked with LG, Samsung, EY and Tata 1mg — leading design teams, building design systems, conducting user research, facilitating workshops, mentoring designers and solving real-world business problems through design.
Read the Founder's Note →Dear future designer,
When I was preparing for design, I wish someone had told me that design is not just drawing.
Design is noticing how people sit, wait, buy, cook, travel, complain, repair, remember and dream.
Design is not decoration. It is empathy, clarity and imagination.
After 20 years in the industry, I have realized that the best designers are not always the best artists. They are the best observers.
Dezign Habitat is my attempt to help young students build that power early. Not just to crack NID, NIFT or UCEED. But to become original thinkers.
Built around capability, not chapters.
We don't only measure marks. We measure growth.
Students receive structured feedback through rubrics, critique sessions, mentor comments and portfolio reviews.
AI will not replace designers. But designers who use AI wisely will move faster.
Students learn AI as a thinking partner, not a shortcut. They use it to explore references, generate directions, organize ideas, build presentations and improve clarity — while learning ethics, originality and human judgment.
We do not encourage copy-paste creativity. AI is a tool. Thinking remains human.
- Prompting for research
- Moodboard creation
- Visual exploration
- Storyboarding
- Portfolio structuring
- Presentation refinement
- Concept testing
- Reflection and critique support
A community of curious minds.
Students don't just attend classes. They enter a creative culture.
Experience Dezign Habitat live.
Think Like a Designer Workshop
A 90-minute live event for students and parents.
Design Career Orientation
For parents confused about design careers.
Observation Walk
A guided design walk through a market, museum, metro station or neighborhood.
Portfolio Open Day
Students show work, receive critique and understand design school expectations.
Creative Confidence Bootcamp
A short intensive to unlock creativity and design thinking.
Stories are being written.
Dezign Habitat is new, and honest about it. Our first students are just beginning their journey — their words will live here soon. The question is whether one of them is yours.
From our Students
on finding a creative voice they didn't know they had.
From our Parents
on watching a confused teenager become a confident maker.
From our Mentors
on teaching a new way of thinking, not just a syllabus.
Everything parents and students wonder about.
Is this only for students who can draw well?+
No. Drawing helps, but design is much more than drawing. We train observation, problem-solving, imagination, communication and visual thinking.
Which exams do you prepare for?+
NID, NIFT and UCEED, with future expansion into CEED, design portfolio programs and creative career mentoring.
Is this online or offline?+
The first programs are online with live sessions, recorded support, assignments, critiques and mentor feedback.
How is this different from traditional coaching institutes?+
Traditional coaching often focuses on exam preparation. Dezign Habitat focuses on building a designer's mindset first, then preparing students for exams through structured practice.
Do parents get updates?+
Yes. Parents receive structured progress updates, orientation sessions and guidance on design careers.
Will students get a portfolio?+
Yes. Students gradually build an observation journal, project work, visual thinking sheets and portfolio-worthy explorations.
What if my child is in Class 9 or 10?+
That is a great time to begin. Early students focus on creative confidence, observation, visual thinking and design awareness.
Is AI used in the program?+
Yes, but responsibly. Students learn AI as a support tool, not as a replacement for original thinking.
What is the batch size?+
The first cohorts will be intentionally small to ensure quality feedback and personal attention.
How can a teacher join?+
Teachers and mentors can apply through the mentor application form. Selected mentors will be trained in the academy's teaching method.
The future needs better thinkers.
Design entrance exams are changing. Careers are changing. AI is changing creativity. But one thing will always matter: the ability to observe deeply, think clearly and create meaningfully.
Dezign Habitat is built for students who want more than coaching. It is built for students who want to become designers.