Online Design Courses Vs. Campus Design Education – Reality Check

From the moment we entered the age of the Internet, it became apparent very soon that it was going to be a perpetual thing. Soon enough, we started shifting more and more of our tasks to the internet, or the web, as everyone started calling it. It was only a matter of time before entire college courses were available online.

Online Design Courses have since become a common thing in the education sector. However, its rival, Campus Design Education, still stands tall amidst all forms of courses, knowledge, and information available online.

While many believe that online courses are very helpful, most people still rely heavily on campus education. Let’s settle the debate on whether online design courses are more effective than campus design education. Here’s delving deeply into the online design courses vs offline discussion.

What Are Online Design Courses?

Online design courses are comprehensive educational courses packaged together for beginners looking to learn the fundamentals of the course. In this case, an online design course will cover all the basics and important concepts of any design field. The program would cover key design fields such as graphic design, UI/UX design, fashion design, etc.

Students or individuals opting for an online design course would learn key creative skills using digital platforms for flexible learning. It would cover principles, such as color and typography, and software, such as Adobe and Figma, for creating the visuals for print, web, or app.

Online design courses cover core principles such as color theory, typography, layout, composition, branding, and visual storytelling.

What Is Campus-Based Design Education?

Campus-based design education refers to the education that is taught within the physical University setting. This is the old-fashioned, traditional way of imparting knowledge and educating young students, which is still the most prevalent mode of learning. It focuses on hands-on, project-based methods and design-based learning.

Here, students in a classroom learn together about the various design concepts taught by the faculty. There are industry visits, internships, seminars, and other physical modes of learning, all of which help them tackle real-world problems.

They get access to campus facilities like labs, studios, parks, sports arenas, and libraries, where they can either learn or choose to spend their leisure time.

They get to interact with faculty, industry, fellow students, etc. This way, they get to foster creative problem-solving, innovation, and practical skills for design careers. Campus-based design education integrates theory with doing.

Online Design Courses vs Campus Design Education – Key Differences

Cost Comparison – Online Vs. BDes in Design

An online design course may cost somewhere between INR 10,000 and INR 3 lakhs. It will usually be a course of duration between 3 weeks and 12 months.

A BDes in Design will cost far more than the online course. It depends on the college providing the education. However, it may generally range anywhere between INR 5 lakhs to INR 25 lakhs. The Strate School of Design charges INR 26 lakhs (6.5 LPA) for its BDes course across all specializations.

Career Outcomes & Placement Reality in India

For campus-based design education, the reality is that the placement situation remains very structured. For top colleges such as the National Institute of Design and the National Institute of Fashion Technology, there are established on-campus placement drives and industry connections.

For other design schools, such as Strate School of Design, too, campus placement is the norm. Most, if not all, design students with a passion for their field of work get placed in a decent-to-good company.

As far as salaries are concerned, NID placements cite very high offers. In some rare cases, it even reaches up to INR 72 LPA. Strong average package reflects top-tier recruiter demand. Elite design institutes ensure that their students get placed in top-tier design firms or companies, with an envious package.

Strate School of Design has offered a package of INR 19 LPA to at least one of its students.

In comparison, online design courses don’t really ensure placements for the individuals. It is usually done to learn something new by beginners in design or to improve existing skills by professionals who want to upskill in specific software or design areas.

It may not provide you with a direct job, but it will surely pave the way for you (skill and knowledge-wise) to get a fast entry in the design job market.

Since there is no direct placement available after an online course, there is no question of an earned salary. However, entry-level salaries via online course pathways start around INR 3 LPA and may reach up to INR 6 LPA. But, it has been proven that designers with experience started getting better jobs with a higher pay scale after they undertook an online design course. So, once again, it provides good support to earning potential as well.

Online courses are cheaper to pursue in comparison to campus-based education. However, they are a real enhancer of one’s design traits, skills, and knowledge. All of this helps in getting a better job in the future.

Which Option Is Better for Different Student Profiles?

As far as getting a secure job that pays well and is exactly the ideal amount of work is concerned, then campus-based education are stil the way to go. They not only provide education, impart knowledge, and enhance skills, but also provide a platform for students to get a job.

On-campus placements, especially in top-tier design colleges, are a great start to any student’s career. They are an additional advantage that is generally missing in online design courses.

Online design courses, however, have their own advantage. They are more specialization-focused and are designed in a way to teach the exact thing that a student or professional undertaking that course is looking for. They can learn whatever part or sub-part of design they need to, and with that added skill, they can apply for better jobs with better pay.

Therefore, campus-based education wins the race against online design courses. However, online design courses serve a different purpose.