NID DAT Study Material 2025 – If you are preparing for the NID DAT 2025 exam, ensure that the study material is top grade.
There are multiple benefits of using NID DAT 2025 best books to prepare for the exam. For instance, these books will have very few errors, follow the NID DAT exam syllabus, explain the concepts in simple and easily understandable language, contain practice sets, etc.
So, using good study material can make NID DAT 2025 exam-preparation fun.
On the other hand, if the study material is poor, your efforts won’t bear the same fruits. In fact, if the study material is really poor, it can really sink your prospects of doing well in the NID DAT 2025 exam.
It is therefore highly recommended that you use the NID DAT 2025 best books recommended by experts and toppers to prepare for the Design Aptitude Test.
Keep reading to learn the full details about the NID DAT 2025 best books.
Latest Updates:
- M.Des DAT Mains 2025 admit card (OUT) – Download Here
- NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) result for M.Des (OUT) – Download Here
Table of Contents
Update on the NID DAT 2025 exam
The National Institute of Design (NID) conducted the DAT Prelims exam on January 5, 2025. The NID DAT 2025 exam analysis is now available for the B.Des and M.Des courses.
According to test takers, the overall difficulty level of the exam was easy-to-moderate.
NID has released the schedule for the M.Des DAT Mains exam.
NID DAT 2025 – Section-wise Best Books
| Design-Specific Books | NID DAT Preparation Guide by R. S. Aggarwal | A comprehensive guide tailored for NID DAT exam that covers both theory and practice questions |
| NID Entrance Exam Guide by Surendra Kavimandan | Includes tips for cracking the NID DAT exam | |
| How to Crack NID by D. Mittal | A detailed book with solved papers, mock tests, and design-related concepts. | |
| General Design and Creativity Books | Design Drawing by Francis D.K. Ching | A great resource for improving drawing and visualization skills |
| The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman | A must-read for understanding design principles and user-centered design. | |
| Drawing for Designers by Alan Pipes | Helps develop sketching and conceptualization skills. | |
| Aptitude and Problem-Solving Books | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R. S. Aggarwal | Useful for strengthening logical and numerical reasoning skills. |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R. S. Aggarwal | Covers reasoning topics that are often part of the NID DAT. | |
| Art and Drawing Practice Books | You Can Draw in 30 Days by Mark Kistler | A beginner-friendly book to improve drawing skills quickly. |
| Perspective Made Easy by Ernest R. Norling | Helps in understanding perspective drawing | |
| Rendering in Pen and Ink by Arthur L. Guptill | A classic book for mastering shading and rendering techniques. | |
| Previous Years’ NID DAT Question Papers and Mock Tests | NID DAT Previous Years’ Solved Papers by Arihant Experts | |
| Online Mock Tests and Sample Papers | Websites like Mosaic Institute of Design, BRDS, and Design Aspirants offer mock tests and practice papers. | |
| GK and Current Affairs | Read newspapers daily for current affairs For static GK, read any good GK book for NID exam | |
| Manorama Yearbook | ||
| General Knowledge Digest | ||
| English | The Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam by Arihant | |
| Additional Resources | Design Basics by David A. Lauer and Stephen Pentak | Covers fundamental design principles and concepts. |
| Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley and David Kelley | Inspires creative thinking and innovation, which are key for the NID DAT. | |
| YouTube Channels and Online Tutorials |
Also Read:
- Design Aptitude Test – What is it?, Questions and Preparation
- Best books for NIFT exam preparation 2025 – Section-wise Books, Important Topics
- How to Prepare for NIFT 2025 Situation Test – TEN Easy Tips, Model Making, Material Handling
Why follow the best books for NID DAT 2025 Exam Preparation?
Here we give you ten reasons why you must invest in good study material to prepare for the NID DAT 2025 exam. Read on.
- Follow the NID DAT 2025 Exam Pattern and Syllabus – Recommended books like “NID DAT Preparation Guide” by R. S. Aggarwal or “NID Entrance Exam Guide” by Surendra Kavimandan are suited to the NID DAT exam pattern and syllabus.
Consequently, these books can help you understand what to expect in both Part A (aptitude test) and Part B (design and drawing test).
- Build Design Concepts – Books like “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman or “Design Basics” by David A. Lauer introduce you to fundamental design principles, such as balance, proportion, color theory, and user-centered design.
These concepts are crucial for solving design-related problems that are asked in the NID DAT exam.
- Improve Drawing and Sketching Skills – The NID Design Aptitude Test will evaluate your ability to sketch and visualize ideas. Books like “Drawing for Designers” by Alan Pipes or “You Can Draw in 30 Days” by Mark Kistler will help you develop your drawing skills, perspective, shading, and rendering techniques.
Make sure that you practice regularly using these resources so that you can quickly and effectively express your ideas on paper during the exam.
- Harness Creativity and Innovation – Books like “Creative Confidence” by Tom Kelley and David Kelley will inspire and help you to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions, which is a key aspect of the NID DAT.
These books are designed to help you approach problems with a fresh perspective and a fresh pair of eyes.
- Practice with Solved Papers and Mock Tests – The candidate must solve NID DAT sample papers to improve their time-management and problem-solving skills. When solving sample papers, make sure that you are solving different types of questions, and not repeating the same question type over and over again. Also, you can start solving sample papers very early on in your NID DAT exam preparation; for instance, after completing a chapter, solve the related questions given in the NID sample papers. Mock tests, meanwhile, are suited closer to the exam to give final touches to one’s exam preparation.
- Develop Observational and Analytical Skills – The NID DAT tests your ability to observe, analyze, and interpret scenarios. So, you need to sharpen these skills. Quantitative Aptitude” by R. S. Aggarwal is one of the best books for this purpose. Additionally, the book will also help you prepare for the logical and analytical questions in Part A of the exam.
- Stay Updated about Design Trends – Reading design-related books will ensure you are updated about the current trends, famous designers, etc. Also, read up a bit on design history. These details can be useful for both the written test and the interview/portfolio round. For example, “The Design of Everyday Things” provides insights into how design impacts daily life, a topic often explored in the exam.
- Stay confident and relaxed – Being well-prepared with the right resources will help you build your confidence while keeping exam-related stress at bay. It is recommended that you stay in the present rather than day-dreaming and waking up to unbearable stress the next!
- Master time management – Remember, all your effort will go up in flames if you are not able to complete the paper or have to miss out on easy questions because you have run out of time. The NID DAT is a lengthy exam, and you need to prepare for that. Use books with practice questions and mock tests to learn how to allocate time effectively between sections.
- Prepare for the Portfolio Round – The books mentioned above are primarily focused on the written exam, but will also indirectly help you build a strong portfolio by improving your design thinking, sketching, and presentation skills. Remember – A good portfolio is essential for the second stage (DAT Mains) of the NID admission process.
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