Greetings and Welcome to WUD, the universe of creativity.

Last few years have seen a drastic change in career choices in India. Traditional paths like engineering and generic management are no longer considered safe career options. India is producing more than 1.5 million engineers a year, of which only 1 out of every 10 student is finding a job. Chennai has an employability rate of ~1% for engineers, Bangalore, the so-called ‘silicon valley of India’ is at a staggering 3.2% with only Delhi reaching a figure of 13%. Clearly career options are taking a turn.

Careers in the creative sector on the other hand seem to be exploding as Designers are forming a part of virtually every industry segment today. As many newspaper reports have stated, companies in diverse industry segments have discovered the potential of designers and are hiring them in large numbers and often at salaries higher than engineers or managers. Design students are being picked up by companies such as Microsoft, IBM, SAP Labs, TCS, Cognizant, Mindtree, Infosys, Wipro and InMobi, as well as e-commerce players such as Amazon, Myntra, and Flipkart for salaries anywhere between Rs 4-18 lakh, as compared to entry-level salaries of tech graduates at Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh per annum.

India’s annual consumption of design services was estimated at Rs 3,400 crore few years back and is expected to grow 400% in the coming years. Design has therefore emerged as a mainstream career option. This fast emerging sector has brought in a lot of opportunities that far outstrip the supply of design professionals. India currently produces about 1,200 creative professionals a year against a requirement of 7,000 to 8,000.

I am delighted that you are considering joining a creative career stream with WUD. You will discover that studies at WUD provide an immersive, focused, and deeply connective context to art, architecture and design (in conjunction with many other fields, ideas, and concepts). WUD campus represents a very vibrant, dynamic, and distinctive community of undergraduate students. You will be able to examine and engage in some of the multiple roles of artists, designers, agents, and change leaders in the world, and to consider from different perspectives and positions why design matters, what art and design can do for people, why we should care, and how you can help shape the future.

Envision. Imagine. Collaborate. Plan. Design. Make. are words that capture what you will be doing at WUD. Our mission is to provide our graduates with a sound design foundation for an exemplary professional practice and personal career fulfilment; to prepare them as critical thinkers and problem solvers who will serve, enrich and sustain their profession and communities.

WUD promises to transcend horizons, to go beyond the average, to put in that extra mile, and to extend beyond the ordinary. I invite you to join us in this journey

Sanjay Gupta