NIFT situation test
View complete NIFT info at http://blog.malvikajain.com/nift-admission/
NIFT situation test
A lot has changed since I joined as a clueless student with a Science background.
I remember wondering what the situation test was about. Did they throw the candidate into various situations and judge his natural reactions? Imagine a dark room with disturbing lights and distant howls. No they don’t, in case you are still wondering!
So what is a situation test? Here is letting you know about the pitch before you go out to play your innings.
If you have passed the written test for NIFT, you will now appear for the practical test – called the situation test. It is held at the various NIFT centres.
In this 3 hour test you are given a set of things like adhesive, needle, thread, plastic sheets, straws, paper, ice cream sticks and aluminum foil. Out of this material you have to make a prototype of a design. Our batch was asked to design a shopping mall. Earlier batches have been asked to make a city bus, ladies handbag, magazine stand and a police kiosk.
You also get a sheet of paper on which to write about your design. It is advisable to write in a tabular fashion pointing out a particular feature of your design in each line.
Most candidates are eager to get cracking and begin to stick and cut as soon as they get the Question paper. It is a much better idea to use the time to think, ideate and then create. The whole test is about managing space and filling it with a few appropriate elements. Leave enough time to change your plan though, if your earlier vision is not taking shape.
*********************************
Nitasha Gaurav, an ex-faculty member of NIFT and the new fashion editor at Femina, has judged the entries of the situation test innumerable times. Here is her advice to candidates:
1.
Have a proper concept
Spend time thinking and planning
Make some sketches
Don’t just start without planning
And make sure you leave your work-sheets behind
2.
Remember you are working within a time limit.
So don’t be overambitious.
It’s better to have a good idea that’s simple than a messy complication
3.
Try and use as much of the material as u can.
Use all the different types of things provided but don’t force it.
4.
When you leave, make sure all your stuff is properly placed on the table with the necessary roll number, write-up, work sheets. Throw the rubbish in a dustbin.
*********************************
One information-seeker wrote to me –
Hey,
That’s really awesome!!! I am sorry I didn’t write earlier. I had a cold and was sleeping all this week. I let my brother Vipul know about you and also directed him to your blog.
I think the basic things he wanted to know about NIFT situation test are:
1. How much time do they give for the exam and how did you manage the time?
2. How did you go about creating your shopping mall model?
3. How did you create little objects like people and other things quickly and creatively?
Hope you had a fun time in Kashmir and back to normal now.
Vividh
Answer 1: Time
They gave 3 hours. I used half the time to think and the other half to execute my idea.
Answer 2: Going about it
Here is the design procedure of the shopping mall I made.
First I thought of the overall shape and size and checked whether I
had the material for it. The main thing was that the mall should be free-standing and look very 3D.
I didn’t want to waste time making the walls. So, I simply made the wall of the mall by making a wide cylinder with the plastic sheets we were given. I could have been more innovative with the shape, of course. A cylinder, I reasoned, was quite a stable structure, not wonky or to liable to collapse.
Walls and staircase
So I started thinking of how to make all the 2D material into 3D elements. Making plastic sheets stand does not make it 3D. I used a flat plastic sheet to make a 3D winding staircase. This I did by cutting a spiral out of the sheet. I raised this spiral from the middle point to give me a dropping spiral in the way some Diwali decorations are. Then I ran a stick through this spiral so that it could stand on its own. I put in the centre of the mall. I called it an escalator though, now that I think of it, I have never
seen a winding escalator.
I did not cover the mall so that the judges could admire my spiral escalator by peeping in from above!
Floors
I made shelf like levels inside the mall to indicate floors.
The floors were divided according to what was sold on each floor.
Now how does one show the product divisions on all these floors?
I made an icon/ a symbol to represent each product type and stick it on the floor level. I drew this symbol on a 1×1 piece of plastic with a marker.
Ground floor Apparel dress symbol
First floor Sports and technology racquet and TV symbol
Second floor Food coffee cup symbol
Front Face
Then I put promotional cut outs on the front of the mall. This is called giving the mall a façade – a front face. I enjoyed sticking a piece of rectangular plastic sheet that represented the front of the mall. I used a marker to give the mall a name and further stuck cut-outs of human figures in postures of wild abandon. This was the detailing I incorporated in my design. I did not mess about making noses and eyes on the figures.
Environment
I also gave it a boundary and a car park as I thought that the judges would notice that I thought beyond the mall, about its environment too. I thought about the person who comes to the mall from the moment he parks his car. Yes, it is very important to
consider the WHOLE EXPERIENCE of the person you are designing for.
One of the ways to go about your design and also writing about it is
to imagine the experience and design at various ‘interaction points’.
For example -
The mall goer parks his car.
He enters the mall (from inside or outside?)
What does he do on entering? He looks at a mall directory/map perhaps.
Where does he want to go? He wants skates and goes to the first floor where the sale of sports goods is indicated by an icon showing a racquet.
So maybe he just ran into the mall as he wished to go to the washroom. I added signs indicating the washroom. I threw in fire exits for good measure. I made the doors as plastic flaps on the walls.
And then he goes to the car park and goes home. Anything missing?
Keep the TARGET CONSUMER in mind.
Use the word ‘target customer’ in your write up.
Something New
All these elements like escalators and floors are always found in a mall. Do you have any new idea? Something totally innovative? An idea would really score with the judges. It would be the USP of your situation test.
Lets see -
Maybe you could have a babysitting corner on the ground floor
Maybe u could have a timepass cafe on the ground floor where it says
that people are here to mix with no strings attached and no future
obligations - this is for people who come with families. They are bored and
don’t want to walk around but would like to chit chat a bit.
A platform for events - education info stalls, Greenpeace campaigns,
college street-plays perhaps.
Thematic game stall - Valentine’s day, Diwali, Halloween
Or yes, a PCO! A basic need, not found in malls.
I made no details like people although it might be a good idea if youare good at details. However one has to remember that the main job to achieve is a good mall design and people should be thought of later, if one has time left.
Designing smaller objects
The situation test was taken in batches as there are so many people who attempt it. The other batch was asked to make a coffee table. Now this design would not require the intricacies and the elaboration of a mall but would require a simpler and more thought out design. Every curve of the table, every leg should contribute to the overall designvision you have. In this design ERGONOMICS is important. This means that the design and its contact with the human body should be easy and pleasant. For example, by curving the sides of the table inwards you could make it easier for the person sitting at the table to lean further inwards.
I would attempt a coffee table by first deciding whether I am making an elaborate carved table,
minimalistic curvy table,
portable lightweight table
or a multipurpose table.
After my decision I would mould all the features of the table along my primary decision. Do not treat a design in parts. First have the whole view in place.
I might also try to incorporate the MOOD of coffee drinking by making the table-top by laying a glass top over a layer of dark coffee beans. Now how would you make this? Make tiny paper balls by scrunching up bits of paper, pack them together in a layer and press down with a transparent/translucent plastic sheet. Explain in your write-up.
I am sure Vividh’s third question has been answered too!
The write-up
Mention-
Material (for example if you used a pink sheet over which you drew the patterns of wood, mention that the pink sheet is wood in your design)
Dimensions
Surface treatment
Purpose of design
Target consumer
Interaction points between the consumer and the design
Mood of the design (Luxurious, Masculine, Minimal or Plasticky)
If your English in not too good, Just list points instead of messing with tenses and stuff..
Tips
- Finishing is very important in the situation test. Your product must look polished, a design at a pro level, not a crafty school kid thing with glue and cello tape all over.
- There is not much space to write. It’s about half an A4 sheet, if I remember correctly. It is a good idea to keep the writing simple and tabular and meaningful. It’s quite a job for judges to read through so many write ups.
- Name your design if u have a great name
- Put in a USP - never been done before idea- something special about your design.
What they judge
Aesthetic sense
· Practical sense - usefulness of design
· Technical soundness
· BANG idea!
· Integrity of your design
· Sense of 3D
· Exploitation of materials provided
Hope that helps,
Best of luck!
May 25th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Very nice writeup..
You are talented
May 31st, 2007 at 12:18 am
Nice advice. Can any one tell finally, what ratio is being selected approximately? They select 3:1 for Situation test. Whether any wait list is also there?
May 31st, 2007 at 4:36 am
Hi Ruchi,
yes there is a waiting list and ppl do get through it.
Malvika
February 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Thanks a ton for dis information and advice… !!!!
It really proved a very appealing solace..
March 13th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
wwoooooowwwwww….this is amazing advice….now im a bit more nervous!!!!!
March 14th, 2008 at 2:37 am
hey
thanks a lot!!… i was just feelin the same way as u.. a clueless science student!!.. i didnt even know there was a 2nd round.. thanks a lot!!!!!
u saved my life gal..
lots of wishes and luck 4 ur career
munmun
March 15th, 2008 at 3:46 am
hey ur adwise was great! thanks alot
i want 2 know if we have 2 use all the materials given lik 4 a paper weight just 2 materials would be enough 2 make the design
March 15th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Hey Malvika,
I just found out that i made it through the written test!! *does a lil’ jig*
and i was looking for something to enlighten me about the situation test….this write up has been a real nerve soother……
thanks a bunch ..
March 15th, 2008 at 4:58 am
No, you don’t have to use all the material. However, the simplicity of your design concept should go hand in hand with a very strong and impressive design vision to justify your use of only two materials.
You know what I am saying - The direct interpretation of the use of only 2 materials should not seem like lack of imagination on your part.
I don’t think NIFT would ask you to make an object as mundane as a paper weight, but in case they do… I can think of ideas for it! Maybe the exploration of the concept of weight.. like modelling a paper weight cum pen stand under which is written “When your words carry weight…”
March 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Very nice write up!! I want to know how did u make da floors in da mall??
March 17th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Dear Mavika Di,
Hope you are fine. Last year I could get 869 rank in Nift, hence could not find a seat. This year I have been again shortlisted and preparing for the sitauation test. Your precious advise is excellent. Should you advise joining any classroom coaching or which may be a good one? Thanks
March 18th, 2008 at 1:06 am
i had a circular mall which eliminated the need of making 4 walls stand. To make the first floor i simply cut a plastic sheet in a round shape with a few flaps and stuck it to the cylindrical sides of the mall. the first floor had circular cut out in the middle- to overlook the atrium in the mall.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:17 am
i wanted to know that ..can we mould or give a different shape to a given object..?????
example:if we r supposed to make a coffe table and we are given a candle in the list of materials can we change its shape??
March 18th, 2008 at 6:19 am
You can do anything you want to! Why are you looking for lines to toe and rules to follow? This is creativity and there is no one who can tell you this is allowed and that is not. Do whatever you cannnnnn!!!!!!!!! Only your imagination and the time limits you.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:27 am
thanks andd i wanted to know how many people get selected for dis round?
and
is it ok we choose a theme ourselves if theres nothing mentioned …like if we are supposed to make mobile stand ..can we write whats our inspiration ..and make our own theme?
March 18th, 2008 at 6:29 am
i dont know how many people get chosen.
and you are still looking for me to tell you Do’s and Dont’s
March 21st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
hi!nice advice!! but they would give marks a complicated one or a simple one?
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:10 am
well…
iam shortlisted for the situation test for this year.
so…, should we color our models that we did?
if at all we got to color, should v bring our own colors?
March 27th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Hey gud guidance.
I wanna know when the AIr will be out for NIFT.
Did all fashion designin institute hav almost same situation test or not.
Can you give one xample for How to wirte about our design .
do you know any institute which perepare student for such designin colleges in indore.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:05 am
to vaishu,
well..d ranks will be published after d situation test is over…
its 20% of situation test, 40% of CAT and 40% of GAT
well…can v color our models??????????
r paints allowed???/
March 28th, 2008 at 7:09 am
The rules are you cant bring your own materials. So, deciding whether ‘paints’ comes under materials is left to your own discretion. Very probable that a judge would wrinkle her nose at it.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Hey….
Thanks a lot for you tips….
Wanted to know what size does our model have to be???….and can wee ask for more materials like color papers and pins or do we just have to manage with whatever is provided to us???
April 1st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
well..i made a mobile stand…but i couldn’t use al d items dat were given..
i made it with just plastic sheet, aluminium foil, cardboard and thermocol..
were do u think dat i can use something like buttons, clay etc?
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
hey malvika!! nice blog…
i hv been selected fr d situation test.. n nw i am preparing fr it…
i hv made a table time clock fr a fashion designer.. im not sure hw good it is… is der any way i cn mail it u so that u cn give me ur opinion on it???
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:49 am
nw…again i face d same problem!
i made a lamp shade….i finished it with jus thermocols, thread, buttons, straws, cardboards , aluminum foil, and glass sheets! nw…i nvr used clay, color paper,etc…..
kindly help me [:(]
April 4th, 2008 at 12:31 am
hey malvika… waiting fr ur reply..
April 4th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Hey Sreeja,
http://blog.malvikajain.com/mock-situation-test/
April 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
wat do we do if d material is leftt …shud we take it wid us or leave it dere…..????
n ive made a mobile standd …how can i maill it to u for ur commentt………….????
April 8th, 2008 at 12:10 am
clean up. throw the leftover material in a dustbin..take it with u… just get rid of it! Presentation matters.. leave ur doodles and rough sketches around in a neat stack if u hav any with your exam answer sheet on top
April 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am
waitin for ur reply
April 8th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
acc to u .. wat is imp..
the techincality wid not so neat presentation
or
a simple and neat presentation ??
April 9th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Good level of technicality with a very neat presentation..
C’mon its not tough..
April 9th, 2008 at 5:51 am
this page is like godsent!!! u r atleast !!
i wanted to know if practising for the situation test makes a difference…also if i still wanna practise ,how can i go abt it?
waiting for ur reply..
April 9th, 2008 at 10:56 am
ive sent the pics of my mobile stand on ur id ….plzz gv d response soonn waittiinnnnnnnnn…!!!!!!
April 9th, 2008 at 10:58 am
ivew sent the mobile stand pics on ur email id…plzzz gv ur response soon …waitingg…….!!!!!!!
April 10th, 2008 at 12:54 am
How to try for it.. Look at http://blog.malvikajain.com/mock-situation-test/
April 10th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Hey tanvi… patience! I don’t have a situation test bureau here. I do a job u know..
April 11th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Hello, nice write-up…..this proved useful for me…….but i would like to know how much time should i allot for writing about the concept in 50-100 words…does the presentation have to explained or written?……AND ARE WE ALLOWED TO USE EXTRA MATERIAL OTHER THAN WHAT IS GIVEN….Eg: poster colors….
April 11th, 2008 at 11:46 am
smart person that i am!
i stumbled upon ur site like 8hrs b4 the Situation test!
okay, wish me luck.. helped a LOT!…CONSIDERING i really havent studied for it .. only my school competitions will help…and this ofcourse.
U are a life saver.
thank u.
p.s. if i get thru NIFT ur the one to thank.
BTW…how does one get to know their rank? thts how u get selected for the city u study in rite??
April 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am
hey gayatri.,.. u’r welcome. YOur results will be posted online.
Check http://blog.malvikajain.com/orientation-programme-for-ug-design-courses-at-nift/
April 12th, 2008 at 1:42 am
hey…thanx a lot…
finally d situation test is over…
i did well..
my model was creative to d core…’
but i don’t think it’s sooooo attractive..
i made a flower vase…
of course…it was neat .., tidy, and all…
still…i got to thank u a lot malavika…
nw…am waitin for d results.
April 15th, 2008 at 2:37 am
HEy great! You are really welcome man.. Lemme know your results.. a ‘flower vase’.. unusual topic! how long was the situation test for? 2 hrs or 3?
April 20th, 2008 at 10:28 am
it was 2 hrss……..!!!!
i did a sports compition trophy …………
myyy idea was damn creativee its lookin gud….but i couldnt use al d materials…like d wire was so thick dat it was hard to break it hence i didnt usee
n my write up was also gud…..but d whole look could hav been much btrr……..with copper wiree………..!!!
hw many days aftr d situation test does d result cm ……..????? eagerly waitin for it>………….!!!!!
May 19th, 2008 at 2:03 am
hey..dis info is very handy..but i was unforunate enuff 2 nat see it b4…
ma nift sat went fine..i made a memento for arts fest…
can ne1 tel me when d final result wil b announcd..??..am dyin 2 knw..n also aftr delhi..which nift centre is gud..?
May 25th, 2008 at 1:27 am
HURRAY, RESULTS R OUT….I GOT ALL INDIA 1ST RANK!!!!!!!!!
GOTTA THANK U A LOT….AS I LEARNT A LOT FROM UR BLOG!
THANX A LOT…LUV YA…
May 26th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Hey Malvika, Please help me. Im really tensed. I tried asking a few friends but they dont know anything about this. I got ranked 157. You think I can get through? its really important for me. All i need is the final interview.. I know I will impress them. Can you please help? will i get through?
May 27th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Interview? Are you talking of UG course or PG course?
Which city are u in?
May 27th, 2008 at 7:38 am
nw help me…which is better to choose??
FC or FD and tell me why plzz…
May 27th, 2008 at 7:41 am
purushu, pls look at the last comment (currently the last one) on http://blog.malvikajain.com/orientation-programme-for-ug-design-courses-at-nift/#comment-2094
also search for the NIFT placements blog-post on Malvika’s ramblings
May 28th, 2008 at 12:01 am
UG.. and i think they have like a final interview kinda thing right? thats what i heard.. :s Im from Jaipur. And I so badly wanna get into Delhi. ok now seriously, rank 157. is that good enough to get thru?
May 28th, 2008 at 12:40 am
157 is a great rank. and you can certainly get Delhi with it, maybe not the course of your choice. Or you could get the course you want in some other centre. There is no interview.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:25 am
thank you so much! =) I owe you.
And another thing.. what other centres are good you say? bangalore? bombay?
May 28th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
dnt u thnk its too much for the students fr fashion? as if they r choosing interior designers . to know their creativity they shd thnk of something els like sketching a dress etc they are all coming to learn uc. if they wr d expert y wd dy need to join ds university. anyways dees r my views.
May 29th, 2008 at 1:05 am
hey jannat..i dunno centre specialities
May 30th, 2008 at 6:33 am
hey malvika..
thanks a lot for your help regarding the situation test….it really helped…i got thru nift but i am in the waiting list…my rank is 724 which i knw is pretty low..do you thnk i have a chance to get a seat?…from what i am aware of there are a total of 840 seats.. but sme of them are reserved and some new centres are opening too….do mny people drop out too?…please reply
May 30th, 2008 at 9:00 am
hey..i dunno abt all ths number stuff concerning seats. the creative stuff is more my thing. sorry
June 12th, 2008 at 2:45 am
hi malvika i hav been slt threw obc n know i have my sitution test on 22nd june…..so plz help me ,tell me how to ready in just limmited days……
June 12th, 2008 at 2:46 am
i really dont want to miss this chance…..
June 21st, 2008 at 10:12 am
hey….u studied in sum university at toronto also…
after completing fc frm nift…….
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:44 am
no i did not. i went to ryerson university in toronto as an exchange student from nift for one semester
June 28th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
i really liked the way u hav described or directed for situation test!!!! i noe very well that this wud help the other students tooo !!!!! m impressed with ur ideology n the way u hav expressed …..ur inovative idea to create a 3d model ….
thanx alot for helping students like us!!!!
enjoi….
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
hello malvika..the day i saw ur blog i felt so relieved..for a fact that even i am from a science background..and am really confused and nervous about my situation test…
i knew that we’ll be asked to make 3D models..but didnt know how and on what basis our models will be judged?
i have it on 10th and 11th of july..and i’m really nervous!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:58 am
hi there
am veryyyy nervous cos f the so called “situation test”.
jus 5 days are left nd nw i hv read ur blog…its a gr8 hlp…THANX A TON
tk. cr.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Hey Malvika,
Im sana nd i have jst passed my HSC in commerce in the year 2008 frm Mumbai. Nw im continuing with 1st year bcom. I want 2 join NIFT nd so i dont have any clue to d entrance nd the situation test. I need ur help…. I have no clue at alll… i read wat u have written bt i dint get abt the situation test thinggiii….. how 2 mek d mall nd stuff… have we 2 tek any classes for NIFT entrance exam??? nd d questions asked on the which level i mean the Maths…????can u plz help me with this….
October 21st, 2008 at 2:02 am
is dis test taken in groups?????
October 21st, 2008 at 2:09 am
Hi vinita,
everyone attempts the situation test individually. half the candidates are called for one round of the situation test; the other half is called next to attempt another question. all are seated together in a few rooms/halls. No one approaches the problem together.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:25 am
hi!! malvika can u plz plz plz let me know when r d admission forms of NIFT r available in lko and at which branches of axis bank? still i m not able 2 get to knw about availability f forms? y itz gettin late?