Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) courses have been gaining popularity in recent years. With the rapid growth in the design and fine arts industries, many students wish to pursue either a B.Des degree or BFA. But many students do not have clarity on the courses and are confused about which course to pursue. Find out how B.Des and BFA differ to make an informed career choice.
What is the Difference Between a B.Des and a BFA?
Bachelor of Design is an undergraduate course in the design sector with a three to four-year duration. The course offers various specialisations that you can choose from according to your area of interest. Some of the popular specialisations under B.Des are interior designing, textile designing, jewellery designing, product designing, fashion designing, etc. You can also read on interior design courses to get more detailed information.
On the other hand, a Bachelor of Fine Arts is an undergraduate course that provides knowledge on visual and performing arts. While visual arts comprise paintings, sculpture, photography, animation, etc., performing arts includes theatre, drama, music, dance, etc. It offers both theoretical and practical knowledge on the area of interest.
Some of the key differences between B.Des and BFA are summed up in the table below:
| Parameter | B.Des | BFA |
| Full form | Bachelor of Design | Bachelor of Fine Arts |
| Level | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
| Stream | Design | Arts |
| Duration | B.Des course duration is three-four years | BFA course duration is three-four years |
| Eligibility | Candidates must have passed 10+2 from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% marks. Candidates with any stream can pursue the B.Des | Candidates must have passed 10+2 from a recognised board with 50-55% marks.
Candidates with any stream can pursue BFA |
| Entrance exams | DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test)
JMIEE (Jamia Milia Islamia Entrance Exam) BHU UET (Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test) |
UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design)
NID DAT (National Institute of Design Entrance Exam) SEED (Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design), etc. |
| Admission | Entrance exam based/ Merit- based | Entrance exam based/ Merit-based |
| Average fee | B.Des course fees range between ₹43,000 – ₹5 lakhs | BFA course fees range between ₹30,000 – ₹3 lakhs |
| Specialisations | Fashion designing, interior designing, jewellery designing, product designing, textile designing, etc. | Dance, painting, music, sculpture, drama and theatre, pottery and ceramics, etc. |
| Average salary | ₹2.5 lakhs – ₹10 lakhs per annum | ₹2 lakhs – ₹9 lakhs per annum |
B.Des vs BFA: Syllabus
Before deciding to pursue any course, you must know about its syllabus in detail. Hence below discussed are the syllabi of the B.Des course and BFA.
B.Des Syllabus
| Art representation and transformation | World of images and objects |
| Design and human evolution | Image representations and transformation-1 |
| Fundamentals of art and design (2D) | Image representations and transformation-2 |
| Applied ergonomics | Knowledge organisation and communication |
| CAD- Photography and Videography | Applied science for designers |
| Design studio 2-Problem analysis | Design studio 1- Problem identification |
| Design, storytelling and narratives | Design, society, culture and environment |
| Typography fundamentals and exploratory printing | Design studio 4- Prototyping |
| Communication theories, visual perception and semiotics | 2D visuals Studies 1- World and image |
| Design studio 3- Creative explorations | Design, technology and innovation |
| Environmental studies- Science and engineering | Elective |
| Creative thinking process and methods | Elective 1 and 2 |
| Design management, planning and professional practice | B.Design projects |
| Electives 1 and 2 | Collaborative design project |
| Elective 3 | Global design thoughts and discourse |
| System design project | 3D form studies- Aesthetics, identity and expressions |
BFA Syllabus
| Theory subjects | Practical subjects |
| Cultural history of India | Sketching and drawing |
| English | Advertising art |
| History and appreciation of art | Lettering layout |
| Aesthetics | Typography |
| Design and Communication Practice | Poster |
| Punjabi | Communication design |
| Mural | Market research |
| Advertising profession and practice | Painting |
| Health education | Printmaking |
| Methods and materials | Design |
| Hindi | 2D art and design |
| Human values and professional ethics | Geometry perspective |
| Market research | Clay modelling and sculpture |
| Basics of computer fundamentals | Composition |
| Visual graphics | Computer graphics |
| Methods and materials | 3D design |
| Visual elements and principles | Visual art processes and practices |
| Environmental studies | Communication illustration |
| History of Indian art | – |
B.Des vs BFA: Top Colleges
B.Des Top Colleges
- Sharda University, Greater Noida
- Indian Institute of Art and Design, Delhi
- Jaipur National University
- Navrachna University, Vadodara
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai
BFA Top Colleges
- College of Arts, Delhi University
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Amity University, Lucknow
- Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
- NIMS University, Jaipur
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
- College of Fine Arts, Hyderabad
B.Des vs BFA: Career Prospects
B.Des Career Prospects
After completing your B.Des degree, you can pursue a career in a specialised field. Some of the jobs you can opt for after the B.Des course are as follows:
- Interior designer
- Fashion designer
- Art director
- Apparel designer
- Industrial designer
- Textile designer
- Graphic designer
- Brand manager
- Entrepreneur
- Product designer
BFA Career Prospects
A BFA degree allows you to build a career in the field of creativity. Some of the jobs you can opt for after completing a BFA degree are as follows:
- Musician
- Sculptor
- Painter
- Animator
- Dancer
- Teacher
- Writer
- Actor
- Production artist
Which is Better, BFA vs B.Des?
Now that you know the difference between B.Des and BFA courses, it will be easy for you to make a decision. Both courses provide a lucrative career in specialised fields. However, the choice depends on your interests, goals and eligibility criteria.
Conclusion
Hence, B.Des and BFA offer promising career opportunities in their respective fields. But there can be no definite answer to which course is better for you. It depends on your interest and goals. Moreover, before deciding to pursue a course, you must research the best colleges, their admission process and eligibility criteria to avoid hassles.
To make a well-informed decision, connect with Sunstone. With a widespread network of higher education institutes and industry-curated training, Sunstone helps students become job-ready.
