The Srishti School of Art Design and Technology, Bangalore, was set up in 1996. It has a strong indigenous cultural grounding in the teaching of visual arts and, at the same time, provides a liberal arts curriculum comparable to reputed institutions in the West.

Srishti encourages regular student interaction with design studios, showrooms, production and distribution centres, community projects, retail establishments and industry leaders. Various workshops are held for students on social issues, design, use of new technologies, etc. The ‘Development by design’ workshop seeks to bring together a critical community of individuals and organisations engaged in research and design.

Srishti has state-of-the-art facilities on its campus, including audio-video teaching aids, an excellent library and a networked computer lab working on Windows/Macintosh platforms. It has an in-house workshop and access to a heavily-equipped furniture workshop in Bangalore.

The institute runs professional diploma courses in visual communication design, textile design, product and interface design, furniture and interior design, digital video production, design for community and self. The year-long foundation studies programme exposes students to a holistic and creative learning process that concentrates on the building of basic technical and conceptual skills in art and design.

The notification is published in March. For the application form and details, send a demand draft for Rs 1,050 payable at Bangalore, favouring Srishti. You can also download the form from the website, www.srishtiblr.org, and send a draft for Rs 1,000 with your application. The last date for receiving applications is April 30. For more information, contact the institute at PO Box 6430, Yelahanka New Town, Bangalore 560064.

Eligibility

You should have completed your Plus Two or your graduation or diploma with any discipline.

You will have to go through a two-year art and design foundation studies programme before being allowed into a two or three-year specialisation in the discipline of your choice, on successful completion of which you are awarded a professional diploma in the chosen discipline.

Entrance exam

The first round of tests is conducted in Bangalore, Delhi, Calcutta and Mumbai. If you make it in the entrance test you will have to appear for a second round of tests and a portfolio review. If you pass that you have to appear for an interview in Bangalore.

Pattern of exam

The entrance exam consists of an aptitude test. It tests your logical thinking, drawing, colour, visualisation and language skills. The portfolio assesses your talent, interests, training, motivation and self-discipline.

How to prepare

You should have the ability to think in terms of two and three dimensions and have the necessary skills for working with a variety of materials. Practise drawing objects like a tennis ball, a plastic clip, a razor or a pencil sharpener in enlarged size, showing all details. Think of five uses of the object other than its original use, explaining these uses through sketches and descriptions.

For reasoning, books like Test of Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal and Mental Ability and Quantitative Aptitude by Edgar Thorpe will come useful.

sample test paper

Using your imagination and the given colour paper, create your own original neck-tie for
(a) designer’s conference
or
(b) a disco evening

Depict the lifestyle of
(a) A business executive
(b) A farmer,
by drawing their belongings other than the garments. The drawing should depict a realistic (three dimensional) view of the belongings.

You are going to a cattle fair to sell your camel. Design the garments and accessories for the camel to get the best price. Indicate construction details, materials and the way to put it on.

Situation test
1. Use a match box(es) to create five different objects
2. Use a toothpaste box to create five different objects
3. Make a lantern holder
4. Make a mask for use
5. Make a cover design for a departmental store carry bag

You are presented with different sound effects like temple bells, a horse galloping and voices of children. You have to imagine, visualise and then draw what could be happening.

You are given two posters, critique them.