NID AIR 1 | Transportation Design | Samarjeet Aherraro | D Talks - The Design Podcast

Samarjeet Aherrao found out design colleges existed at the end of Class 12. He cracked NID at All India Rank 1.In between, he did something almost no aspirant does — three industry internships before design school. Ultraviolette, E-Moby, and Tech Mahindra, where he worked alongside people from Volvo, International Trucks and Pininfarina. By the time he walked into the NID interview, being grilled on his portfolio for 25 minutes felt like just another Monday review.This episode is the full breakdown. What the NID mains actually looked like this year — five questions, three hours, all sketching. What happens inside the studio test — still life on the ground, speed forms from the word "flying", and a three-wheeler for a milkman built from clay, wire, acrylic and toothpicks. Who sits on the interview panel and what each of them is measuring. And the hardest question they asked him, about the ergonomics of a land speed record motorcycle, he couldn't defend.If you're preparing for NID, UCEED, CEED or NIFT — or you're an engineering student wondering whether the switch to design is still possible — this one is for you.Chapters00:00 A Guinness World Record on the wall01:40 How car magazines built a designer02:58 The Mercedes SLK that started it at age seven04:23 Why he ended up in engineering instead of design04:52 The racing team in the basement07:09 Unlearning four years of engineering at Mantra Academy09:30 Ultraviolette: "I don't want to look at this. Tell me what you've done."14:35 Design from the inside out14:57 Tech Mahindra, Volvo, Pininfarina — and the Gantt chart18:24 Why a mechanical engineering degree wasn't enough19:42 How he actually prepared — lines, circles and internships21:06 Inside the NID mains22:30 The studio test, question by question24:48 The interview panel, explained29:37 The hardest question they asked31:12 They answer their own questions while grilling you32:00 When the design brain and the engineering brain fight34:49 Principles: sleep, diet, and blame the process37:22 Plan B was a motorcycle company________________________________________Introduction to Design — my book for anyone starting out in design. Winner, Kyoorius Design Award 2024. No jargon, 100+ original illustrations, written for India.________________________________________Designex Studio — mentorship for NID, UCEED, CEED, NIFT and private design entrances. Weekly assignments, and personal feedback.If this helped, subscribe — new episodes with toppers and design industry leaders every week.________________________________________Connect with Sanjay Reddy(Host)LinkedinInstagram