Education

Interior Design Course in India: AAFT Noida's Studio-to-Site Immersion Model

Shweta Singh

What turns a creative student into a working interior designer? It is not classroom theory alone. It is drawing a real space, building a model, and seeing a design come to life on an actual site. A strong interior design course in India should give students all of this, and that is how students learn at AAFT Noida. They sketch, build models, visit real sites, and work on live projects before they graduate.

This is the “studio-to-site” idea. You start with drawing and design in the studio. Then you take that work to real spaces and real clients. For anyone looking at an interior designing course with real practice, this path is the difference.

These interior design degrees are offered by the School of Interior Design at the AAFT Noida campus in Film City. Admissions for the 2026 batch are now open.

Is Interior Design a Good Career in India?

Yes. India is building more homes, offices, hotels and shops every year. Each one needs a designer. So the demand for interior designers keeps rising.

A few figures show the scale:

  • India's real estate sector is set to reach about US$1 trillion by 2030 (IBEF).

  • Real estate is expected to add around 13% to India's GDP by 2025 (IBEF).

  • Growth in homes, offices, hotels and retail keeps creating new work for interior designers.

What Is the Studio-to-Site Immersion Model?

The course follows a practical, hands-on model. You do not just study design. You draw it, build it, and take it to a real site. The learning moves through clear stages.

PhaseWhat You DoWhere It Happens
StudioSketching, drafting, CAD and 3D visualisationSketching labs and drafting studios
WorkshopFurniture design and live-scale model makingCarpentry workshop
SiteSite visits and live client projectsReal homes, offices and retail spaces
InternshipA 6 to 8 week industry internshipDesign firms and studios

Students also take part in national and international design competitions. By the end, you have a real portfolio and real site experience, not just theory.

Which Interior Design Degrees Can You Study?

AAFT Noida offers full degrees, not short courses. So you leave with a real qualification and a portfolio. Whether you want an interior design course after 12th or a postgraduate route, there is a clear path. Students from any stream can apply.

ProgrammeLevelDurationBest For
B.Sc in Interior DesignUndergraduate3 YearsA practical, portfolio-led start
B.Des in Interior DesignUndergraduate4 YearsDeeper design skills and specialisation
M.Des in Interior DesignPostgraduate2 YearsAdvanced design and creative leadership

You can explore the B.Sc in Interior Design or the B.Des in Interior Design. Eligibility is a 10+2 pass with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories), and admission is through the AAFT Global Entrance Test (GET).

After the degree, interior design graduates can work across many industries. These include residential and commercial design, hospitality and hotels, retail and showrooms, real estate and architecture firms, furniture and lighting brands, exhibition and set design, and their own design studios.

What Will You Learn and Master?

The course covers the full craft of interior design. You learn space planning, colour theory, lighting, materials and furniture design. You also study Vaastu, building construction, estimation and costing, and green, sustainable design.

On the technical side, you master industry software for 3D visualisation. This includes AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3ds Max, Revit and Lumion. You also learn interior photography, exhibition and set design, and urban and landscape planning.

What Jobs and Salary Can You Expect?

Interior design graduates work as designers, space planners, 3D visualisers and project managers, and pay grows with your portfolio and skills. Junior roles usually start around ₹3 to 5 LPA. This rises to ₹6 to 10 LPA with experience, and ₹12 LPA and above for senior designers. AAFT reports a highest package of 14 LPA. These are industry estimates, not figures promised by AAFT Noida.

Career RoleWhere They WorkTypical Salary (industry estimate)
Interior DesignerResidential, commercial and retail projects₹3–6 LPA
Space Planner / 3D VisualiserDesign firms, studios, real estate₹4–8 LPA
Furniture / Lighting DesignerDesign studios, furniture brands₹4–8 LPA
Senior Designer / Project ManagerDesign firms, hospitality, corporates₹12 LPA and above

Who Teaches at the School of Interior Design?

The School's Industry Dean is Ms. Sunita Kohli, the Padma Shri interior designer introduced above, whose mentorship guides the school. The day-to-day teaching team is led by Prof. Jayesh Wadia, Dean. He has over 25 years in interiors, graphics, multimedia and CAD. He holds a Master's in Interior Design, is pursuing a PhD, and has led design departments and run his own studio.

He is supported by faculty who work across design, CAD and architecture:

  • Akshay Jain — Associate Professor with a Master's from the Florence Design Academy, Italy.

  • Neha Joshi — CAD specialist skilled in AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Revit, SketchUp and Lumion.

  • Ar. Mohd Umar Sameer — architect with site, renovation and turnkey interior experience.

  • Pranjal Singh Pawar — 12 years of design practice and 7 years in academia.

In Their Own Words

Dr. Sandeep Marwah, President, AAFT Noida, said: “Interior design cannot be learned from a book. A student has to sketch a space, build a model, visit a real site, and see a design come to life. That is why our course moves from the studio to the site, step by step. With a Padma Shri designer like Ms. Sunita Kohli guiding the school, our students learn from the very best. They leave with a real portfolio and the confidence to design real spaces. That is what we are proud of.”

Placements and Industry Connect

A dedicated Career Resource Cell works with students from the start. Recent placements include Vikas Sharma at Shop Concept Retail, Mantasha Saifi at Modern Lane, Geetanjali at Montage Design, and Anas Khan at Varija Bajaj Home.

The 37,000+ alumni network spans design firms, real estate and architecture studios across India and abroad. For students comparing an interior design course in Delhi NCR, that mix of real studios, live projects and a Padma Shri mentor is hard to match.

Admissions Open for 2026

Students who have finished 10+2 from any stream and any recognised board can apply for the B.Sc and B.Des in Interior Design. Graduates can apply for the M.Des. Applicants need at least 50% marks in 10+2 (45% for reserved categories) and must clear the AAFT Global Entrance Test (GET). No prior design experience is needed.

Seats are limited for the 2026 batch. Students can apply at admissions.aaft.com or visit the AAFT Noida campus in Film City for a studio tour and a free counselling session.

About AAFT Noida

Established in 1993, AAFT Noida carries a 33-year legacy in creative education and is ranked among the Top 10 creative institutions globally. Its network of 37,000+ alumni spans films, OTT platforms, television, journalism, advertising, fashion, animation, interior design and digital media across India and the world.

The AAFT Noida campus sits inside Noida Film City, one of India's most active production hubs. Its School of Interior Design has sketching labs, drafting studios and a carpentry workshop. With 90+ career-driven courses, 2,800+ hiring partners and 20+ global academic affiliations, AAFT Noida follows a curriculum that balances creative training with real-world application. It remains committed to preparing globally competitive talent for India's growing creative economy.

For Admission and Media Inquiries, Contact:

AAFT Noida

FC-14/15, Sector-16A, Noida Film City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Phone: 08062911638 / 08062911639 / 09811014536

Email: help@aaft.com

Website: www.aaft.com

Follow us on Google News

What are some great free online tools for entrepreneurs?

How To Earn Money Through Google Blogger?

What is the difference between Mutual Funds and Stocks?

Get Productive! Top Google Docs Features Explained

What is a business plan?