Design School Myths vs. Reality

In a world shaped by algorithms, interfaces and invisible systems, it is design that shapes our experiences. Design is everywhere, and it is no longer just about posters and Photoshop. It has a strong presence in UI/UX, web design, app design, simulation models and more.

And yet, even today, design education remains trapped in a fog of misunderstanding. Across households, classrooms and career counselling sessions, deep-rooted myths still persist:

• It is only for those who can draw.
• It leads only to fashion or interior careers.
• It lacks structure, rigour, or relevance in a job-driven world.
• You can “learn it all online” only.

The myths around design schools are holding back curious, capable students.

In this blog, we unpack these myths. Not with vague counterpoints, but with clarity, depth and real-world relevance. We’ll explore what design education actually involves and what structured programmes like the B.Des in Design Innovation and M.Des course offer.

Myth: You must be born with artistic talent to become a designer.

Reality: Design is taught, not inherited.

Design isn’t about whether you can sketch a perfect apple. It’s about how you solve problems with systems thinking and creative logic.

Formal education, like a B.Des in Design Innovation, starts with the basics.

You’re taught how to see, not just how to draw, you learn how colour affects behaviour and understand user journeys, not just interfaces.

You don’t need to be a prodigy. You need to be curious and creative.

Myth: If you don’t know drawing, you can’t design.

Reality: Drawing helps, but it’s not a dealbreaker every time.

In the design work, you will use many tools such as:

1. Figma
2. Blender
3. Adobe Creative Cloud
4. Canva
5. Rhino

These tools are here to convert your idea and creativity into a design masterpiece. Your ideas matter more than the lines you can draw on a sheet. You could design a public transport system without sketching a single seat; what matters is how people experience it.

This is exactly why B.Des in Design Innovation now focuses on design research, user behaviour and strategic thinking. You collaborate, model, prototype and pitch – not just draw.

Drawing helps you visualise. But design asks: Can you think clearly and express it in form, flow or function? If the answer is yes, then you can go for design courses.

Myth: Design school teaches you how to use tools, make things pretty and send them off.

Reality: Software is a small part of what you’ll actually learn.

If you think a design degree is about learning Photoshop, you’re being sold short. Good design schools are studios for critical thinking.

In a structured B.Des in Design Innovation, you’ll study:

• Design ethics and social impact
• Visual communication theory
• Semiotics and user psychology
• Systems design and service flows
• Real-world projects with industry mentors

Myth: Four years is too long. You can learn design from YouTube in six months.

Reality: Design maturity takes time, and that time shapes your edge.

There’s a reason every global design school follows a 3 to 4-year degree model. You need time to build:

• Conceptual clarity
• Collaborative skills
• Iterative thinking
• Research capabilities
• A strong, strategic portfolio

In the B.Des in Design Innovation course:

1. Year 1 builds fundamentals.
2. Year 2 explores tools and contexts.
3. Year 3 introduces real-world briefs.
4. Year 4 is where you define your design voice and solve real industry problems.

A 10-hour crash course or weekend bootcamp cannot teach that.

What You Learn in a Design Degree vs. a Short Course

Myth: Design is only about designing dresses or making a decorative layout of a living room.

Reality: Design is everywhere, and it touches almost every industry.

This narrow view of design is common. Fashion and interiors are well-known, visible and often used as shorthand for “design.”

But the field is much bigger and more influential. Design now covers more than 20+ specialisations. Some key areas that students explore include:

Every major sector, health, education, mobility, finance, governance, etc, requires design input. Not just logos or layouts, but deep thinking on how people interact with systems and solutions.

When you choose a formal design path like a B.Des in Design Innovation, you step into a growing, global network of skills that industries actively recruit for.

Myth: Recruiters only care about your portfolio, not your degree.

Reality: Employers care about both: degree & portfolio, and your education gives you a sharp edge there.

A good portfolio gets attention, and a strong degree builds trust. Most design-led companies look for:

• Critical reasoning
• User-centric thinking
• Collaborative skills
• Research-informed decisions

Recruiters today are also looking for:

• Exposure to interdisciplinary teams
• Familiarity with design ethics and inclusive design
• Long-term thinking, not just visual style

You build these in a structured design programme, not in isolation.

Myth: Online learning tutorials and self-study resources can replace design school.

Reality: Self-learning builds skill, but design school builds depth, process and perspective.

There’s no doubt that you can learn tools on your own. Plenty of self-taught designers make beautiful work. But when it comes to strategy, systems and long-term growth, structured design education gives you more than just skills.

Here’s what often lacks in self-study:

• Peer critiques that sharpen your thinking
• Exposure to real client needs and constraints
• Mentoring from professionals who’ve led projects at scale
• Frameworks for ethical decision-making
• Understanding design in social, political and cultural contexts

You can always start by teaching yourself. But if you want to build a career, formal education gives you the rigour and recognition that short paths can’t match.

Myth: Designing has very limited opportunities and cannot be picked as a career.

Reality: Designers are required in many industries for different roles, and opportunities are just rising.

Many people consider design a side hobby and not a career field. They worry about financial security, job prospects and public recognition. This fear isn’t irrational, but it’s built on years of limited access, few examples and unclear career paths.

But things have changed. India now has a booming design economy.

Design is not an “arts and crafts” career. It’s a future-proof path with real outcomes. And formal degrees help you navigate it with purpose and credibility.

If you want to build a career in design, there are undergraduate courses and post-graduate courses available:

• Des in Design Innovation
• Des course

Both courses are built to challenge outdated thinking.

B.Des in Design Innovation gives you:

• A multi-disciplinary foundation in visual, digital and physical design
• Access to live industry problems from year two
• Studio-based learning where process matters as much as the final product
• Exposure to systems design, sustainability and design ethics

M.Des courses take it further with:

• Specialisations like interaction design
• Immersive fieldwork and collaboration
• Design for scale, inclusion and long-term impact
• Thought leadership through critical writing, publishing or exhibitions

Design is never about just making; it’s about thinking, testing, changing and making again.

Choosing where to study design isn’t just about picking a college; it’s about selecting a space that shapes your ability to think, innovate and lead through design. Not every programme is built to equip you for the realities of today’s design roles or the demands of tomorrow’s. This is where Mahindra University shines among the rest.

The B.Des in Design Innovation and M.Des course at Mahindra University are shaped by the belief that design is more than craft; it’s a way to improve systems, rethink industries and create meaningful change.

Here, design education doesn’t sit in a silo. It works across disciplines, with engineering, business and public policy, just as you would in the real world.

International faculty roster, global exposure and research focus, contemporary and updated curricula and an MoU with Pinnifarina Design for a joint M.Des programme make Mahindra University an ideal place for the new generation of design leaders and innovators.

Design is not what most people think it is. It’s not just drawing, not only for artists and certainly not a fallback option. Whether you want to improve user experiences, drive business strategy, or design for social change, structured programmes offer clarity, credibility and long-term value.

Formal programmes like the B.Des in Design Innovation or the M.Des course offer a structured learning path, mentorship from experts, real-world exposure and more.

If you are keen on making design your profession and not merely as a skill, then Mahindra University is the place which realises your aspirations and is capable of mentoring and skilling you.

Apply now. Design what matters. Lead what’s next.

• Can I get a job after a design degree?
  Yes. Design graduates work in tech, healthcare, education, marketing and other sectors. Your degree opens doors to UX, product design, strategy, research and leadership roles.
• Do I need to know drawing to join design school?
  No, drawing helps, but design schools focus on problem-solving, creativity, and systems thinking.
• Is the design field growing in India?
  Yes. Design is expanding across sectors. With more government, private and global opportunities, it’s one of the most versatile career paths today.