As of February 1, 2026, leading private design institutes in India are actively conducting second-stage selection rounds for the 2026-27 academic session. Institutions like IIAD, Pearl Academy, and ISDI have moved into the intensive phase of portfolio evaluation and personal interviews following their January entrance cycles. Aspirants are presenting their creative works to expert panels to demonstrate technical skills and design thinking. This period is critical for candidates to secure seats in premier B.Des and M.Des programs, with several major universities also concluding their application windows this week.

The admission landscape for premier private design education has entered a decisive phase as of February 1, 2026. While national-level exams like UCEED and NIFT are in their result-processing stages, many Top Private Design Colleges have already commenced their personalized selection rounds. This week, campuses across the country are hosting candidates for the second stage of the admission process, which focuses heavily on qualitative assessment through face-to-face interactions and creative displays.

Active Admission Cycles and Selection Stages

Several prestigious institutes are currently navigating the transition from written aptitude tests to manual Portfolio Evaluation rounds. For the 2026 session, the emphasis on these practical rounds has increased, often accounting for more than 50% of the final merit score in private universities.

• IIAD (Indian Institute of Art and Design): Having conducted its entrance exam on January 31 and February 1, the institute is immediately moving toward its integrated interview phase for shortlisted candidates.
• Pearl Academy: Following the January 17–19 written exam, the academy concluded its primary round of personal interviews on January 25, with supplementary rounds for late applicants scheduled for the coming weeks.
• ISDI (Indian School of Design and Innovation): The Mumbai-based institute is currently deep into the Cycle 2 Admission Phase, with results from the recent "ISDI Challenge" being used to finalize the next batch of interviewees.
• BITS Design School: February 1 marks a critical deadline for BITS, as it is the Last Date to Apply for its B.Des (Hons) program, with portfolio reviews set to follow in April.

The Mechanics of Portfolio Evaluation

For most private entities, the Portfolio Evaluation serves as the primary tool to gauge a candidate's journey rather than just the final output. Panels are currently looking for specific traits that differentiate a student from the thousands of applicants in the 2026 cycle.

• Diversity of Work: Panels expect to see a range of skills including manual sketching, digital design, photography, and even 3D prototypes or material explorations.
• Process Documentation: Modern Admission Criteria emphasize "process over product." Candidates are being asked to show their rough sketches and iterations to prove the authenticity of their design thinking.
• Narrative Ability: During the Portfolio Evaluation, students must articulate the "why" behind their designs, discussing their inspirations, challenges, and the social impact of their work.

Interview Trends and Candidate Preparation

As the February 1 dateline passes, candidates are reporting a shift toward more "situation-based" questioning in their personal interviews. Private institutes are utilizing these sessions to assess cultural fit and professional temperament.

• Technical Competence: While not expecting mastery, interviewers at institutes like World University of Design (WUD) or IIAD often ask candidates about the specific tools or mediums they used in their projects.
• Current Awareness: Questions regarding the State of the Global Design Industry in 2025-2026, sustainable practices, and emerging technologies like AI in design are frequently appearing in current interview rounds.
• Portfolio Verification: In many cases, candidates are asked to perform a live "on-the-spot" task, such as a quick sketch or a logic puzzle, to verify the skill set presented in their Portfolio Evaluation.

Conclusion

The ongoing interviews and Portfolio Evaluation rounds across India’s private design landscape mark the peak of the 2026 recruitment cycle. Unlike government-run institutes that rely heavily on centralized scoring, these private universities are using the current window to build a more holistic profile of their future students. As of February 1, the successful completion of these rounds is the final requirement for candidates hoping to receive an offer letter by mid-February. This focus on Portfolio Evaluation ensures that the chosen candidates possess both the creative spark and the technical readiness required for the evolving design industry of 2026 and beyond.