NID Industrial Design - MDes Domain Specific Practice Questions

The following questions are meant to assist you with your NID preparation (MDes domain-specific subjective part), especially fro the domain-specific test 'Industrial Design' as per the new pattern from NID 2020. I've made the following question to make you realize how easy it is to come up with your own questions using the situations around you, including the use of the internet. 

I - Question Type 1 (Creative and alternative thinking ability)

Draw 5 different uses (other than their intended use) for the following objects listed below. Each idea carries 2 marks.

1. Writing pad (plastic )
2. Earrings
3. Cloth clip
4. Safety pin
5. Pen cap
6. Umbrella
7. Phone cover (rubber made)
8. Beverage (fruit juice) tetra pack
9. Toothbrush
10. Tounge cleaner
11. Shoe cardboard box
12. Geometry box
13. Mop
14. Mosquito bat
15. A computer mouse with cable
16. CDs
17. Fork
18. Hat
19. Pen refill
20. Pen stand
21. Bulb
22. Tennis ball 
23. Face mask
24. Used coke bottle
25. Plastic water pipe (any length) of dia up to 1 inch
26. Disposable spoon

II - Question Type 2 (Problem identification ability)

Marking - (Each problem carries 10 marks- each sketch and the associated writeup carries 2 marks. So, don't prefer giving details to the sketches. Convey the ideas in a simpler way.)

1. Imagine a person standing and ironing his/her cloth using an electric iron box. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches. 
2. Imagine a person peeling off the skin/surface-layer of carrots. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches. 
3. A physically disabled person has a problem with the spine that the person cannot raise his/her head up. The person can lower his/her head to a little from the horizontal position. Depict through sketches 5 (five) problems faced by the person while drinking water from a one liter bottle. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches. 
4. Imagine a person using a desktop mouse while working. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.
5. Imagine a person using a desktop mouse while working. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.
6. Imagine a person wearing mocassins/loafers (shoes - slip-on kind) with hands. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.
7. Imagine a person chopping vegetables in the kitchen. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches. 
8. Imagine a person wearing mocassins/loafers (shoes - slip-on kind) with hands. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.
9. Imagine a person emptying their household domestic dustbin into a large public dustbin, both with closed lids. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.
10. Imagine a person wearing a face mask for prolonged hours, as part of Virus prevention, while working at office. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person in wearing the mask. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.
11. Imagine a person using an electric trimmer to shave their beard. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.
12. Imagine a person using a gas stove lighter in kitchen. Depict through sketches - 5 (five) problems faced by the person doing the task. Also write in a sentence (not more than 4 lines) the problems identified and depicted in the sketches.

Check similar questions released for CEED practice here

III - Question Type 3 (Problem-solving ability)

Give 2/3 original solutions that would help you carry your locker keys with you while going to college/office without the possibility of you forgetting to secure the keys with you. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal. 

(Marks - 16 marks, each solution carry 8 marks) 

1. Give 2/3 original solutions that would help you switch off the electrical appliances, including light and fans, before you step out of your room, without the possibility of you forgetting to switch off. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal. 
2. Give 2/3 original solutions that would help you get far from book reading or working in front of desktop/laptop (a break from the continuous task) once in every hour without the possibility of you ignoring and continuing the task. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal.
3. Give 2/3 original solutions that would help you maintain a healthy sitting posture (for the back) whenever you sit for reading, working, or even driving, without the possibility of you leaning back in wrong posture as if relaxing. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal.
4. Give 2/3 original solutions that would help your children optimize/limit their presence in social networking sites like Instagram, Facebook etc. without the possibility of you being indulged into that constantly. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal.
5. Give 2/3 original solutions that would help your grandmother take prescribed medicines every day, without the possibility of she ignoring or forgetting to take. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal.

(similar questions for practice)

1. Give 2/3 original solutions that would help you drink at least one glass of water every hour without the possibility of you ignoring and continuing your long hours' work/study. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal.
2. Give 2/3 original solutions that would help your father take deep breaths (mindfulness) for at least one minute at regular intervals, every day, to relieve stress and maintain healthy heart function without he getting ignoring the mindfulness. Depict the solutions you have proposed communicating how they achieve their goal.

IV - Question Type 4 (Design thinking ability)

For the questions listed below

• Make a realistic drawing of the product designed, showing the relevant details.
• Indicate the product's main features with labels in the sketch you made.

Problem statements:

1. It's rainy season and you need to carry the following items to your college/office: laptop, files, mobile phone, chargers, swimsuit, Tiffin box, juice and water bottles. Design a product to enable you to accommodate and carry all these items in it together exclusively to be used during rainy days.
2. Design a multipurpose pocket survival knife to be used by Indian Army soldiers when on an expedition. Identify the different needs and purposes of tools that can be included in a single product.
3. Design a mosquito hunter robot (a tiny drone) the purpose of which was to hunt down any flying mosquitos that can bite humans in the room. Ignore the technical aspects and assume appropriate sensors, including mosquito detection and tracker. Showcase the features and the form of the robot to deal with the mosquito catching. The robot should also store the captured and killed mosquitos and should be able to dispose of them out after a few hours of operation. 
4. You are a nurse and you need a product to carry the following items: antibiotics, stethoscope, scissors, medical tape, cotton, some liquids like tincture, lotion, sanitizers, sterilized mask, gloves, cotton ball, thermometer, tongue depressor etc. Design a product to enable you to accommodate and carry all these items in it together. The product should be easy to carry, portable, lightweight, and should preferably protect the components inside from fall or environment.
5. Design a product to carry the following products safely: wired headphones, charger and charging cables, bluetooth headphones and/or over-the-ear headsets etc. The product was meant to carry the cables and items, tangle-free, and also to keep all the usable items in one place. 
6. Design a cleaning and carrying product meant to be used in a multiplex that can help the housekeeping staff with mobilizing and doing the following tasks: has separate collection units for trays, dry and wet wastes and to collect bottles (both plastic and glass), a portable vacuum cleaner without cables, a mopping unit, facility for towels/clothes etc. The mobile product should facilitate the housekeeping person to take it around comfortably. 
7. You want to stock all your gadgets as well as small jewelry at one common place so that you can access them at ease the next morning. Design a product that can safely accommodate the following: mobile phone (a stand type), smartwatch, truly wireless earphones, jewels like finger rings, chain, bracelets/bangles etc. The product should be such that when you try to access them in the morning right after you wake up from bed - in a half-sleep state - none of the items should go damage.  

V - Question Type 5 (Imagination and drawing ability)

Do the following for each of the listed scenarios 

• Visualize and draw the 3D views of the scenarios mentioned below. (each scenario carry 5 marks. Details may not be needed).
• Also try to draw shadows for all the situations, assuming a light source to the right of your view. Objects in actual size. 
• Imagine that the first object shrinks to half its size and the second object enlarges to twice its size. (each scenario carry 5 marks. Details may not be needed). 

 Problem statements:

1. A bucket (first object) and a Jug (second object), both resting on flat ground next to each other 
2. A Laptop and a coffee mug (with coffee) both on top of a flat table
3. A two-liter coke bottle and mobile phone both on the same flat surface
4. A basket full of vegetables and a bowl of soup

You may find similar questions for practice, which are already listed in - NID subjective practice questions

NID Communication Design - MDes Domain Specific Practice Questions

The following questions are meant to assist you with your NID preparation (MDes domain-specific subjective part), especially fro the domain-specific test 'Communication Design' as per the new pattern from NID 2020. I've made the following question to make you realize how easy it is to come up with your own questions using the situations around you, including the use of the internet. 

I. Question Type 1

Prepare a campaign for the below-given design problems. Tasks to be done

• Write about 5 situations in the locations mentioned in the problem statements, where the given problems can be improved, each situation not more than 2 sentences. 
• Design posters to communicate the situations you have identified for each of the problems.

Problems:

1. Prepare a campaign to spread awareness of handwashing, sanitizing and social distancing in your community or society where you reside 
2. Prepare a campaign to demonstrate the need of avoiding plastic waste as an environmental concern towards the diversity of birds. This campaign is for online sharing.
3. Prepare a campaign, to be displayed at villages, about the importance of open defecation.
4. Prepare a government-initiated ad campaign to highlight the importance of saving water at homes. 
5. Prepare a campaign - in an attempt to prevent the issues of ragging in your college.   
6. Prepare a government ad campaign to bring awareness of having a maximum of only two children - as part of the population and economy control.
7. Prepare a campaign to demonstrate the ill effects of drug addictions happenings in your college and write 5 situations in your college where the issue can be prevented. 
8. Prepare a campaign in an attempt to reduce the open splitting of pan everywhere. Write 5 situations in your city where this issue can be mitigated with some proposals. 
9. (optional) Prepare a campaign to bring awareness of the effects of forest encroachment on the ecosystem of wildlife. 
10. Prepare a campaign to bring awareness and stop the thought of abortion and killing of newly born girl babies in a nearby village. Write 5 situations where the parents thought process can be modified. 
11. Prepare a campaign to highlight the importance of education to children in a nearby local community staying inside a city. Write 5 situations showing how an educated children's life would bring a change and positively impact their next generation and hence the country.

II Question Type -2

Write a story that includes the sensory attributes or the images shown in below set of problems using all the given objects for the problem. 

• Your story should be within 12 lines.
• The objects may appear in any order in the story

Problems:

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q5

Q6

Q7

Q8

Q9

Q10

Q11

Q12

III. Question Type 3

For the following set of scenarios stated below, visualize the situation and communicate that in 4 frames. 

1. Assume that you are an examiner and have found a student cheating by using slips. You will catch the student and ask them to leave the hall. 
2. Suppose you are walking along the roadside footpath and you saw a blind girl crossing the road and looking on the other side while a bike was about to dash her. How will you save her? Visualize it in 3 frames. 
3. Illustrate the situation in 3 frames where you were standing on the terrace of your home enjoying fresh air when you saw a sparrow escape from an attacking eagle. The frames should depict you as well. 
4. Suppose you are inside a bank, waiting at the counter when a robber tried to threaten the cashier to give the money from his cash box by showing a pistol, you act immediately by punching him and locking him on your hold, making his pistol fall down and helpless in escaping. Visualize the situation in four frames
5. Suppose you are traveling in a plane and a terrorist aims his gun towards an air hoster to control the plane when you and a girl sitting on the opposite of your seat act and take control over him - you stopping the terrorist and freeing his gun while the fellow traveler girl frees and save the air hosters as she tries to make the terrorist fall down. Visualize the situation and illustrate in four frames on how you and the fellow traveler girl act and help with the situation. 
6. Suppose you are having a conversation with your mom in the kitchen. Your mom is cooking food when you noticed a plastic container/box with wheat in it, improperly stacked at the top cupboards, which was about to fall on top of your mother. Visualize in 3 frames how you prevened that to happen. You could've alarmed and pulled her or could have prevented the fall or even both.  Also, include the frame that illustrates you observing the box improperly placed and was ready to fall down. 
7. Visualize in three frames a dance sequence that you remember, no need to draw the backgrounds but the frames should make the viewer understand the step.
8. Visualize in three frames a self defense sequence. No need to draw the backgrounds but the frames should make the viewer understand the action step. 
9. Visualize the scene of your pet dog chasing away a cunning cat, that is trying to drink the milk in your kitchen.
10. Visualize the several scenes of a hospital where social distancing, precautious etc. were taken care in every frame as part fo COVID preventive measure. 
11. Suppose you saw an adult suddenly falling down in the road due to COVID affection, how will you try to give him the vaccine that you had been carrying for your safety to him ensuring your own safety? Visualize the situation in 3 frames.
12. Suppose you are enjoying the freshness of nature near a river and you saw a small kid of around 7 years old, who somehow got into the water and is now struggling to swim to the shore. How will you help the kid? given that you don't know swimming. Use some situations like availability of say a rope, a net, a tire, or even a small boat or a combination of a couple of them. Visualize and draw the situation.

(I hope the above sample exercise will make you confident enough to come up with your own practice questions) 

IV. Question Type 4

Given pictographs (graphic icons), draw one scenario using the given pictographs. Include the pictographs in your designs, at the appropriate locations/color/scale. Use color if needed. 

Evaluation criteria:

• Creative utilization of the given icons
• Scenario generation and communication

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q5

Q6

V. Question Type 5

Use each of the following incomplete objects and create at least five identifiable objects using any no. of lines or shapes. Provide a title for each object. 

(Taken from CEED 2020 updated practice exercises found here) 

(solution for similar questions available here for CEED 2020) 

Using each of the visual elements given below box, create at least three recognizable objects/elements (for all the seven images below) and give a title to each. Use only BLACK pencil/pen. Draw only within the boundaries of the boxes.

I hope the above questions helped you.....

Further - NID Subjective Practice questionsGet complete Stuff You Look blog's NID links in this pdf

Subjective (Part B) guide for UCEED design exam

From 2020, UCEED started this new pattern with the introduction of a new part-B section (subjective), which requires the aspirant to attempt a design question. This page carries the relevant resources and many practice questions to improve your design/sketch skills. 

Link 1: Free practice  questions for Part B sketching

This link covers:

1. Practice exercise for sketching. 
2. These exercises will test your sketch line quality, imagination skill, perspective, proportion and size of your drawing.
3. Object practice questions.
4. Human, scenario, room, persepctive practice questions.

Link 2: Part B Free resources (PDFs and practice videos)

This link covers:

1. Downloadable books to help with basics of sketching, perception and shading techniques
2. Books to help with how to use drawing media like pencils
3. Beginner guide to sketching
4. Youtube videos on how to improve human sketching
5. Youtube videos on how to improve drawing objects and humans with proper size and proportion

Sample design based questions - just for overview/idea....not for practice!

Link 3: Sample of how to attempt Product design type questions

I believe product design type questions have very very less chance of appearing in UCEED Part B. But, I'm including a solved design question here so that you will get an idea of how to attempt such questions. Just go through this sample product design question in 10 mins and understand how I came up with a design and where and when I added notes for the explanation. Read through the tips given at the end of the post and that's it. I would suggest not to practice these type of questions except that get an idea of how to attempt if such question appears in the exam in the worst situation.

Sketching Level required/sufficient for CEED and UCEED exams

(Watch this space.......I will update more resource links in the coming days)

UCEED Part B practice questions and exercises

Owing to the new changes from 2020, I've included the following practice questions that cover your Part-B preparation. Hope the below questions will improve your sketching skills.

UCEED brochure stated the following

So, I've come up with the questions as per the above mention. 

Practice questions 3 (for both CEED and UCEED)

Practice question 1:

Draw the scene of a school-boy sitting in a room, studying a book, intensively, with no power but only candlelight in the room, being seated on the floor.

Give preference to:

• pencil stroke
• Size of objects
• Proportion of objects with respect to the boy
• Light condition of the room because of candle light
• Finally, shading

Practice question 2:

You are sitting in a side lower berth of 2nd AC compartment of Indian rail and you are viewing the remaining (i.e opposite ) berths i.e upper and lower berths (total four berths). You need to sketch the view that includes windows, berths, AC, lights, one person sitting or sleeping on the berth, center stands, water bottle with holders and charging ports etc.

Practice question 3:

Sketch the view of a computer desk/table with the following things included

1. Desktop computer with all accessories
2. A rotatable/swinging chair in front of the table
3. Couple of speakers music preferably woofer
4. Three books placed next to the PC in a closed position 
5. A table light (for night reading) switched off
6. Dustbin on the bottom
7. Racks or cupboards included in the table
8. If possible a person working on the PC 

First make a visual plan of how to organize and arrange each of the above things, take time for the initial plan. Then go for the actual or rough sketch.


Practice question 4:

Draw the scene of a girl with the following details 

• In a room
• Sitting on a sofa
• TV and a few appliances
• Taking a selfie

As a continuation of this question, draw the above selfie image from the camera point of view (how it appear in her mobile phone camera).

Practice question 5: 

Visualize and sketch the view of a bathroom with the following things included

1. A bathtub with water tap arrangement
2. A washbasin with water tap and a mirror above it
3. Cupboard and other holder arrangements for stacking brushes, pastes and other items
4. Holders for soap and shampoos
5. A water geezer
6. A window for exhaust; preferably step-type-glass one
7. And any of your own additions

Practice question 6:

Visualize and sketch the view of a scenario

1. A boy opening a fridge
2. Show cooking stove, gas stove, kitchen appliances etc.
3. Show the fridge door as partially opened

Practice question 7:

Sketch the view of a dining table

1. With a basket full of different varieties of fruits with proper shading and surface texture. Show shadows. 
2. A glass jug half-filled with water, with a spoon inside it.
3. A few set of plates, saucer cups, and some steel utensils.

Practice question 8:

Visualize and sketch the view of an appliance showroom wall rack with 

1. Kitchen appliances like grinder, mixer, microwave oven, Induction cooktop, etc. displayed in shelves
2. Fridge and washing machines displayed on the sides. 

Practice question 9:

Sketch the bird's eye view of the scenario mentioned below: 

1. The location of a village field.
2. A tree and a well along the field boundary.
3. A farmer ploughing in the field using two cows. 
4. Water flowing from the pump connected to the well.

Set of practice question 

1. Sketch the view of a drawing room with facilities like sitting arrangement, tables, wall plates etc. All should be in perspective. 
2. Draw the scene of a mother, feeding her 2 year child with a milk bottle
3. Draw the scene of a grandfather narrating a story from a book to his grand-daughter of 9-12 years old during bedtime. Show the excited state of the grand-daughter.
4. Draw the scene of an artist making art in his/her living room.
5. Draw the scene of a manager in his office room, in front of a system (Computer) with files piled on his desk.
6. Draw the scenario of two kids competing for one another on video game
7. Draw the scene of a room with at least one person, dating back to early 40's, 1940-1950 time. The very look of the image should give the perception that the scene dates back to 40's
8. Draw a gadget tab (iPad or big sized mobile phone) showing that video was running on the screen. No background, only the gadget and the view of the video
9. Draw a villager preparing chappatis/rotis, sitting on the floor, rolling the dough while a pan/tava with a chappatis on top of a natural mud made stove, burning using wood/twigs. 
10. Illustrate the last scene of the thirsty crow-pebbles story, the scene of crow drinking water while it had already dropped some pebbles up to the half of the jar.
11. There was a power cut. Draw the scene of your father fanning you (you being a kid), while you're fast asleep at the comfort of the fanning. Your father being happy at that moment.
12. Draw a girl with head over phones on, enjoying the music like anything
13. Draw yourself in a superhero costume 
14. Draw an adult sitting on a sofa exhibiting ur happiness in watching the winning match on TV

Additional question:

Draw the view of a classroom with a few students giving an exam and an invigilator moving around observing the students. The drawing should also show the view of the classroom board and all. 

Sketching Level required/sufficient for CEED and UCEED exams

(Watch this space.......I will update more type of questions in the coming days)

UCEED subjective (Part B) resources for preparation

Get free PDFs and online study materials and videos in this page related to UCEED subjective (Part B) practice. 

I will keep adding/updating the below study materials as and when required.......In case of lengthy books (pdf) as available below - go through them very quickly - that too the syllabus required for you, to save time.

Sketching Level required/sufficient for CEED and UCEED exams

A. Sketching and Perception drawing

• Very good sketching views of drawings and general things and drawing techniques can be found in the book by David Lewis - downloadable PDF link here
• A superb book for learning sketching techniques and different facets of design (including perspective, shadowing, shading, texture, architectural facts etc) - Design drawing by Francis D.K.Ching
• A very famous complete pdf book "Basic Rendering (downloadable PDF link here)" from Robert W.Gill, which covers most of the rendering topics including perspective projections (for starters having time) 
• A book about basics of drawing instruments, holding positions, perspective, quality of lines and shading techniques for beginners by freebies4u.net - downloadable pdf link here
• Perspective made easy: from story teller A complete beginner guide, by Ernest R Norling (free time study) - downloadable PDF link here

Youtube videos to help with size, proportion and human sketching

• YouTube video on how to use pencil to draw drawings in size and proportion - link to youtube here
• Youtube help on drawing objects in proportion
• Another lengthy but detailed youtube video on drawing objects in proportion
• Video help on drawing humans in proportion

Quickly read through my tips on making exploded views: Tips for Exploded view drawing

(Focus more on sketching, then shading and detailing as given in A above. If time is running and you have less time then skip B and C sections below or give a brief and quick overview of them on how to deal with them if in case they appear in exam by any chance. In any case, be ready with hand sketching of scenario and humans/objects. Check the practice questions here)

B. Comic Strips

Japanese usually call comic strips as manga. A Comic Strip is a very good/creative form of communicating a story or idea in pictorial forms, usually with comments (also called callout). Let's check the related pages for comic strip improvement

• Steps for creating comic strip by courtsed web in PDF - here
• Wikihow gave the general procedure - here
• Basic concepts from readwritethink web - here

A very good website with complete detail about storyboard - here 

C. Storyboard and Poster making

Discussion on Storyboard and Poster making is a lengthy process and so I grouped that in a separate page. Please go through that and check the links provided for tips and guidelines.

You may check my guide on - Storyboard and poster making >>

leisure time works

Storyboard tutorial - here

A Storyboard sample - here

Some examples for storyboard - here
A Starting Guide to storyboard - here

D. Picture Composition

Picture composition means writing/narrating a story given a scenario in the form of an image or a photo. Basically, this tests the story making, creative as well as narrative skills of you. As a safer side, I've considered including this part for your practice assuming that this will help you in many ways. Quickly go through the samples given below but deliberate more on the tips given by me to ease you with such questions attempt.

My tips for writing composition given an image

Example of framing a story by looking at an image (Picture composition)

I will keep adding/updating the above study materials as and when required.........

E. Video Guide

Here's a detailed video discussion about UCEED new pattern (applicable for syllabus change from 2020). The video covers

1. Why this new pattern?
2. How that affects your preparation/selection?
3. What parts might be covered for Part B?
4. What topics are recommended to prepare - given that no sample paper is available?
5. Do you need coaching or not?
6. How to improve sketching skills?
7. If you are average, good, or below average in sketching, whether you should opt BDes or not? 
8. What will help in cracking UCEED exam?

Analysis of common mistakes in sketches