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What You Actually Learn in the First Year of a B.Design (UX/UI) Program

The blog helps you explore the subjects you will learn in the first year of your B.Design UX-UI Course at Rishihood University in Haryana

design course

Admissions Open 2026

design course

Admissions Open 2026

bdes dgree
bdes dgree

TL;DR

The first year of design education is about shaping how students think, feel, and act as creators. It covers the tools they’ll use to bring visions to life.

Introduction

The field of design today is as diverse as it is dynamic. For students dreaming of careers in UX/UI, product innovation, fashion, or immersive media, the starting point isn’t just about talent—it’s about choosing the right academic journey. At Rishihood University, that journey begins with the Foundational Year of the B Design program, a unique, multidisciplinary year that lays the intellectual, technical, and creative groundwork for every aspiring designer.

Unlike conventional programs that rush students into specializations, Rishihood University’s B Design course spends the entire first year building core design instincts, practical skills, and cultural awareness. Only then do students choose between two specialized tracks:

  • UXID & Communication Design (i.e., UX/UI)

  • Product & Lifestyle Design

This thoughtful approach not only broadens their perspective but also helps them make informed, experience-driven choices about their design futures.

Let’s take a deep look at what actually happens during this critical first year—and why this makes Rishihood one of the best B Design colleges in India.


1. The Purpose of the Foundation Year: Learn First Year in B. Design


In today’s career landscape, many students are pressured to pick a major even before they understand what that field really entails. Design education is no different. Unfortunately, this often leads to confusion, disinterest, or an unbalanced skill set.

Rishihood’s B Design degree fixes this. Year One isn’t just about ticking off subjects—it’s about giving learners the time and tools to:

  • Explore the fundamentals of design thinking

  • Understand cultural, societal, and environmental contexts

  • Master analog and digital skills across materials, forms, and platforms

  • Reflect on their personal design voice and professional goals

Only after completing this year do students opt for the UX/UI B Design specialization or Product & Lifestyle—based on real understanding, not vague expectations.


2. The UX of Learning: Year One Curriculum Breakdown


The UX UI first year subjects at Rishihood aren’t limited to wireframes and mockups. Instead, they build a creative foundation across disciplines—perfect for students who eventually want to pursue a B Design UI UX course.

Here’s a breakdown of key academic areas:

✦ Design Fundamentals (Semesters 1 & 2):

  • Art & Design Basics

  • Form and Space

  • Material Behavior

  • Fabrication Labs

  • History of Design (Pre-Modern Perspectives)

  • Principles of Design

These core elements are essential whether students choose to design apps, physical spaces, or product ecosystems.

✦ Digital Creativity Modules:

  • Digital Creativity I & II

  • Introduction to Visualization & Prototyping

These are aligned with the eventual UX UI degree syllabus, but introduced early so students gain fluency in visual thinking, interface logic, and storytelling.

✦ The Rishihood Foundation (Interdisciplinary Humanities Block):

  • Self & Society

  • Understanding India

  • Global Grand Challenges

  • Technology & Public Policy

  • Systems Thinking & Environment

These modules distinguish Rishihood’s B Design course from others, by rooting design in context, culture, and consequences.


3. Hands-On Learning: Beyond the Classroom Walls


Design is not taught through lectures alone. And Rishihood doesn’t pretend otherwise. The foundational year is built on experiential learning, where studios, labs, and real-world exposure do much of the teaching.

Key Highlights:

  • Studio Visits & Industry Tours
    Students interact with real designers, brands, and spaces early on.

  • Jury Reviews & Critiques
    Work is constantly evaluated by industry professionals, preparing students for real-world feedback cycles.

  • Role-Plays, Simulations & Case Studies
    Whether solving a design challenge or pitching a fictional brand, students learn by doing.

  • Earn While You Learn
    Paid campus jobs help students apply and monetize their skills from Day 1.


4. The Design Stack: Mastering the Industry’s Most Powerful Tools


No modern UX UI course can function without tool mastery. Rishihood arms its B.Des students with a software toolkit that rivals most design studios.

Tools & Platforms Students Learn:

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Premiere Pro)

  • Figma & Canva (UI/UX prototyping and design systems)

  • Unity & Unreal Engine (AR/VR and immersive interfaces)

  • Rhino 3D & Blender (3D modeling and rendering)

  • KeyShot & Twinmotion (for visualisation)

  • Autodesk AutoCAD (for precision product/spatial work)

  • Trello & G Suite (for project collaboration)

  • Midjourney (for AI-driven creative exploration)

    Behance Pro & MS Office (for portfolio and professional documentation)

Each student also receives a MacBook Pro on Day 1, ensuring they’re industry-ready from the beginning.


5. Faculty, Mentorship & India’s Coolest Design Community


Rishihood’s B.Design program isn’t run by traditional professors alone. It’s a hybrid learning experience led by creators, entrepreneurs, startup mentors, and change agents.

Students also gain access to:

  • 50+ alpha design mentors from industry

  • DesignX, a curated peer and alumni community where ideas, feedback, and opportunities constantly flow

  • International exposure through global study treks and exchange programs

This high-touch ecosystem gives students far more than a b design degree—it gives them an identity as a designer.


6. Interdisciplinary Power: Minors That Matter


Rishihood allows design students to customise their journey through minors—making the B Design UI UX course ideal for anyone looking to blend design with tech, psychology, or entrepreneurship.

Available Interdisciplinary Minors:

  • Computer Science – Great for students heading into UX/UI, AR/VR, or game design

  • Entrepreneurship – For those wanting to launch brands or design startups

  • Psychology – Crucial for user research, behavioural design, and cognitive ergonomics

  • Finance – Helpful for product designers working in fintech or business tools

These minors aren’t cosmetic—they’re fully integrated and mentored by experts, making the ux ui b design specialisation far more powerful than a standalone course.


7. UX/UI vs Product & Lifestyle: How the First Year Helps You Choose


A lot of students come into design unsure if they want to build:

  • Apps and digital interfaces (UX/UI)

  • Products, spaces, or fashion concepts (Product & Lifestyle)

The Foundational Year at Rishihood solves this. By engaging students with both analog and digital design methods, they gain the clarity and confidence to choose the path that suits:

  • Their skills (craft vs. code vs. conceptualisation)

  • Their interests (fashion vs. tech vs. strategy)

  • Their values (social impact vs. luxury vs. accessibility)

This flexible model ensures students don’t fall into the trap of pursuing a specialization too early—or for the wrong reasons.


8. Why This Makes Rishihood the Best B Design College in India


Other design schools may offer a shiny syllabus or trendy campus, but Rishihood delivers deep transformation.

What Sets It Apart:

  • ₹1 Lakh Creative Grant for student projects

  • Complimentary MacBook Pro

  • Paid internships built into the curriculum

  • 13+ advanced labs for prototyping, testing, ideating

  • 6+ pro software subscriptions from Day 1

  • Global design exposure

  • Peer and industry mentorship woven into every semester

If the goal of a B design course is to help students design the future—not just observe it—then Rishihood’s approach is a masterclass in execution.

Final Thoughts: First Year, Forever Impact

The first year of design education is not just about sketches and software. It’s about shaping how students think, feel, and act as creators. It’s about awakening them to the problems they want to solve, the people they want to serve, and the tools they’ll use to bring visions to life.

Rishihood’s B.Design foundation year does this with unmatched clarity and care. Whether students go on to specialize in UX/UI or Product & Lifestyle, they do so with eyes wide open—and a creative compass built on real experience.

So what do you actually learn in Year One?
You learn to design—not just as a skill, but as a way of seeing the world.

Author

Sahil Aggarwal is a social entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Rishihood University. He has co-authored a book on public policy, co-designed a card game on politics, and keeps writing for national dailies.

Sahil Aggarwal is a social entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Rishihood University. He has co-authored a book on public policy, co-designed a card game on politics, and keeps writing for national dailies.

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व्यक्ति | विचार | व्यवस्था

NH-44 (GT Road), Delhi NCR, Sonipat, Haryana 131021

About Us

Rishihood University is India’s first and only Impact University, dedicated to nurturing leaders who drive meaningful change. Founded by a collective of scholars, mentors, and changemakers, Rishihood offers an education that is Indian in spirit, global in outlook, and future-ready shaping learners into impactful leaders who embody the essence of ‘Rishihood’.

Programs

BBA

B. Design

B.Sc Psychology

B. Tech CS & AI

B. Tech Data Science

Quick Links

Admissions 2025

UGC Performa

Apply Now

Pay Now

Schedule Campus visit

Gallery

Careers

Blogs

Team

Rishihood University has been established under The Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020
and is empowered to award degrees as specified in section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.

व्यक्ति | विचार | व्यवस्था

NH-44 (GT Road), Delhi NCR,

Sonipat, Haryana 131021

About Us

Rishihood University is India’s first and only Impact University, dedicated to nurturing leaders who drive meaningful change. Founded by a collective of scholars, mentors, and changemakers, Rishihood offers an education that is Indian in spirit, global in outlook, and future-ready shaping learners into impactful leaders who embody the essence of ‘Rishihood’.

Programs

BBA

B. Design

B.Sc Psychology

B. Tech CS & AI

B. Tech Data Science

Quick Links

Admissions 2025

UGC Performa

Apply Now

Pay Now

Schedule Campus visit

Gallery

Careers

Blogs

Team

Rishihood University has been established under The Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020
and is empowered to award degrees as specified in section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.

Share this blog:

Share this blog: