The Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD) was established by the government of Rajasthan as an autonomous institute of excellence for the development of the handicrafts sector and industry, with a national mandate, and to act as a catalyst in the craft sector. At the IICD, candidates from various backgrounds are inducted into the role of creative change agents ? design-techno-managers ? for this sector, whose growth and entrepreneurial potential is enormous.

IICD offers a four-year undergraduate course in crafts and design. This course endeavours to develop craft designers as proactive agents for the sector. It provides placement and self-employment opportunities with exporters, designers, multilateral aid agencies, buying houses, government organisations, etc.

The institute also offers a two-year postgraduate programme in craft and design. Through customised programmes, the institute also offers professional design consultancy and training. It conducts research on craft related issues, including documentation.

The notification for admissions is advertised in all the leading newspapers in the first week of April every year. Application forms can be obtained on payment of Rs 500 either in cash or by sending a demand draft in favour of the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, payable to IICD, J-8, Jhalana Institutional Area, Jaipur 302004.

The last date for submission of application forms is in the middle of May. The forms can also be downloaded from the website, www.iicdindia.net. For more information, please contact the institute directly.

Eligibility

For being eligible for the undergraduate programme, you should have passed your Class XII examination under the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognised central or state board of secondary examination.

Entrance exam

You have to appear for a written examination which is usually held at the end of May. It is designed to test your skill and aptitude for this programme.

Pattern of exam

The entrance test is divided into two sections of two hours each. These are: (i) drawing and (ii) material skills. These tests evaluate your skills for materials handling and innovativeness, especially while working on a given set of materials. An important aspect of the test is the use of colour and illustration.

How to prepare

You should practice sketching live figures as well as still life objects and use different colour combinations to improve your sense of colour. Also, practise drawing objects in proportion to each other. For example, draw a table with a screwdriver placed on it. Draw various scenes depicting, for example, festivals, a hospital, a railway station, a market place, a shopping mall, the different seasons, etc.

To develop your material skills, practise making various objects from random materials like thermocol, jute, match sticks, bangles, strings, paper, cardboard, broom sticks and various pieces of fabric.

sample test paper

Paper I

• Draw any two of the following scenes in detail:
a) school sports day b) a carnival
c) traffic jam d) a shopping mall
• Draw a poster on any one of the following social themes:
a) girl child b) water conservation
c) AIDS awareness d) garbage disposal
• Draw sketches and depict the following :
a) Speed b) Flight c) Balance d) Darkness

Paper II

• Answer the following questions with the material given to you:

1. Make an accessory depicting the forces of nature.
2. Create any kind of garment, a 3-D model (fabric not the main medium) depicting balance.
3. Create any kind of monument depicting fusion.
4. Develop a window display – visual merchandising.

• With the help of given coloured paper squares show one of these on the squared sheet:
a) Anger b) Joy c) Rajasthan d) The Taj Mahal e) The Qutb Minar f) Australia