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.

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