Mumbai, Aug 11: ITM Institute of Design & Media successfully concluded its orientation program for the incoming batch of design students, providing a seamless introduction to campus life, academic practices, and its industry-driven learning environment. The orientation featured creative explorations, community-building activities, and inspiring industry interactions with professionals such as Ms. Mrunmayi Avachat from Nikayi Fashion Studio, Mr. Anukul Kukade of Triodoxic Digital, and Atish Tripathi from Parijat Animation Films & Productions.
The orientation also marked the beginning of the students’ hands-on design journey, opening the doors to a learning environment where they can start experimenting and creating from the very first semester. As part of the programme, students are provided with personal MacBooks with Adobe Creative Cloud licences, specialised AI softwares and art kits, giving them access to the professional tools and resources they need to explore ideas, build skills, and bring their creative concepts to life from day one.
The orientation program also introduced students to IDM’s experiential learning approach, which integrates classroom education with masterclasses, industry exposure, collaborative projects, certifications, and continuous engagement with design experts throughout the four-year programme.
During the first two years, students at ITM IDM experience a structured learning journey that builds strong creative foundations before progressing into specialised disciplines. The initial six months are dedicated to the Common Foundation Programme, where students develop a deeper understanding of core design principles through subjects such as Colour Theory, Perspective Drawing, and Material Exploration. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to explore different design fields, identify their creative strengths, and make informed choices about their specialisation.
The third year enables students to deepen their specialisation through a range of electives aligned with their chosen discipline and career interests. These electives are complemented by major and minor projects, helping students develop advanced, industry-relevant skills and build a stronger portfolio. In the fourth year, students gain hands-on industry exposure through a full-semester internship, where they work on real projects under professional supervision. The programme culminates in a Graduation Project, allowing students to integrate their learning across foundation subjects, core specialisation, electives and industry experience into an independent project that reflects their professional capabilities.
“When students have access to the right tools, resources and creative environment from the very beginning, they do not have to wait until the later years of the programme to discover where their interests lie. At ITM IDM, that journey of exploration begins right from orientation. We see students start experimenting with self-initiated projects as early as their first semester, and over the first two years, these experiences help them understand what excites them, where their strengths lie and what kind of designer they want to become. By the time they move into specialised pathways, they are making those choices with greater clarity and purpose. Our role is to create the environment and provide the resources that allow this discovery to begin early and evolve into a meaningful professional direction,” said Ms. Nisha Chanda, Director, ITM Institute of Design & Media.