Interior Design Software: How AAFT University Raipur Builds AutoCAD, SketchUp And 3ds Max Skills In Its Designers

Raipur, India — Interior design software is now part of the job: studios expect new hires to draft in AutoCAD, model in SketchUp and render in 3ds Max from day one. The B.Des interior design course at AAFT University Raipur teaches the three tools in sequence from the early semesters, so students can carry a design from a measured plan to a client-ready render. 

AAFT University of Media and Arts in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, offers the four-year B.Des in Interior Design on its Kharora campus through the AAFT University School of Interior Design. 

Interior design today covers far more than decoration. Designers plan layouts, detail joinery, coordinate lighting and services, and present spaces in 3D before a wall is built. This article looks at where the work is coming from and how the software training is structured. Applications for the 2027 admission are open on the Kharora campus. 

Is Interior Design a Good Career After 12th? 

For students who enjoy space, materials and technology, the signals are encouraging. Commercial projects made up about 74% of India's interior design market in 2025, and residential interiors are forecast to grow about 16.5% a year to 2031 (Mordor Intelligence). 

A market growing at that pace needs trained designers, visualisers and site coordinators. That makes an interior design course after Class 12 a practical entry point into a large and expanding field. 

The Scope of Interior Design in Numbers 

Each line in this table points to a type of work. Commercial projects make up most of the market today, and CBRE's record office-leasing figure shows why. Every leased floor of offices needs to be planned, fitted out and furnished. 

Residential interiors are growing faster than the market as a whole. Renovation is also growing quickly, which means older homes and offices are being redesigned, not just new ones. Students who can handle both new builds and remodelling have more options. 

What the Data Means for a Student 

Which Interior Design Software Do Students Learn, and in What Order? 

The three programs are taught in sequence, because each one does a different job in a real project. Students learn how the tools connect, not just which buttons to press. 

Here is how one project moves through the three tools. A student measures a room and drafts the plan in AutoCAD. The plan is imported into SketchUp to test furniture layouts and ceiling heights. The chosen scheme then goes into 3ds Max, where lighting and materials are rendered for the client. 

Model-making labs, 3D printers and visualisation suites support this work. Students can print a scaled model of a design, which helps them check proportions that a screen can hide. 

What Sets the Curriculum Apart? 

Several features of the programme go beyond a basic design syllabus. 

1. Software built into every year. Software runs through the course rather than sitting in one short module, so students keep using it on every project. 

2. Hand and digital skills together. Hand drawing and physical models sit alongside digital work, which trains the eye as well as the mouse. 

3. Indian context in the syllabus. Vastu is taught because many Indian clients request it, and students learn to balance it with light and function. 

4. Building services, not just surfaces. Lighting, electrical layouts, plumbing points and ventilation are covered, so designs work once built. 

5. Sustainability as a core topic. Energy-efficient and sustainable interiors are part of the course, reflecting growing interest in greener materials. 

6. Management and costing skills. Project management and costing prepare students to run a site and, later, a studio of their own. 

These features are part of the four-year B.Des in Interior Design, which students join after Class 12 from any stream. 

Careers Across the Scope 

The market data translates into several distinct roles. Each role leans on a different mix of the three core programs. 

Beyond the Core Three: Tools You May Meet at Work 

Studios do not all use the same software stack. Some firms work in Revit for building information modelling, while others render in V-Ray, Lumion or Enscape. Photoshop is often used to finish presentation boards. 

Students who understand drawing, modelling and rendering logic can learn these tools faster. That is why the course focuses on strong foundations in the core programs rather than a long list of short trials. 

Three Myths About Interior Design 

• Myth: it is only decoration. Interior design involves structure-aware planning, services, costing and site work, not just colours and cushions. 

• Myth: you must already know software. Students learn software from the basics, and many start with no prior experience. 

• Myth: the work is mostly homes. Commercial work makes up most of the market, according to Mordor Intelligence, so offices, stores and hotels offer large opportunities. 

Is Your Portfolio Software-Ready? 

Before applying for jobs, students can check whether their portfolio shows the following. 

• Clean AutoCAD plans with correct scale, dimensions and annotation 

• At least one SketchUp model showing layout options 

• Two or three finished 3ds Max renders with realistic lighting 

• One set of working drawings a contractor could follow 

• Hand sketches that show how the idea began 

Industry Dean: Sunita Kohli 

Interior designer Sunita Kohli serves as Industry Dean for interior design at AAFT. Her role is to connect the curriculum with current practice in the design industry. For students, this means guidance shaped by how interior projects are actually won, designed and delivered. 

An Industry Dean also helps the school judge which skills studios are asking for. That keeps topics such as visualisation software, sustainable materials and project management close to industry needs. 

The Opportunity Outside the Metros 

Mordor Intelligence lists a shortage of designers outside metropolitan areas as one of the market's constraints. The same report shows East and North-East India among the faster-growing regions. For students trained in central India, this suggests room to work in their own region as well as in the big cities. 

Software skills also make location less of a barrier. A visualiser in Raipur can render projects for clients in other cities, and drawings travel instantly. 

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a College 

Families comparing options can use a few practical questions. They apply to any institution, including AAFT University. 

1. Which software is taught, and in which year does it start? 

2. Is there a model-making lab, and can students use 3D printers? 

3. Does the syllabus cover building services, Vastu and sustainability? 

4. Who mentors students from industry, and how often do they engage? 

5. How are internships arranged, and what do final portfolios look like? 

Clear answers to these questions say more about a programme than its brochure does. 

A Message from the President 

Dr. Sandeep Marwah, President, AAFT University, said: “Good interior design begins with understanding people and ends with precise drawings that a contractor can build from. For over thirty years, AAFT has combined creative thinking with technical training. In Raipur, our students learn to sketch by hand and then carry that idea through AutoCAD, SketchUp and 3ds Max. We want them to be designers who can think, draw and deliver.” 

How Interior Design Graduates Get Hired 

Hiring in interior design usually runs on portfolios and practical tests rather than marks alone. The career cell supports students at each step of that process. 

The career cell supports students through internships, portfolio reviews and interview practice. More detail is on the AAFT University School of Interior Design page. 

Going Further, and How to Apply 

Graduates who want advanced research, specialisation or teaching roles can continue with the two-year M.Des in Interior Design. Shorter programmes are also available for students who want a quicker start. To apply for the 2027 admission, students need a Class 12 pass from a recognised board, followed by the AAFT Global Entrance Exam (GET) and a personal interview. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How big is the interior design market in India? 

Mordor Intelligence estimates about US$31.4 billion in 2025, forecast to reach about US$65 billion by 2031, across commercial and residential work. 

2. Which interior design software should I learn first? 

AutoCAD usually comes first, followed by SketchUp for 3D models and 3ds Max for renders. 

3. Do I need a computer background? 

No. The software is taught from the basics as part of the course. 

4. Which segment is growing fastest? 

Mordor Intelligence reports residential interiors growing at about 16.5% a year. 

5. Who is the Industry Dean for interior design? 

Interior designer Sunita Kohli serves as Industry Dean. 

5. Is interior design a stable career? 

Demand is linked to real estate and renovation activity, which the data shows is expanding, but individual outcomes depend on skill, portfolio and location. 

6. Will I learn to present designs to clients? 

Yes. Juries, presentations and portfolio reviews are part of the training. 

7. Can students from any stream apply? 

Yes. A Class 12 pass from a recognised board in any stream is the basic requirement. 

About AAFT University 

AAFT University, located at Kharora near Raipur, is part of the AAFT group, which has been in creative education for more than three decades. The School of Interior Design teaches through studios, model-making labs and digital visualisation suites. The university offers programmes across media, arts and design for students from central India and beyond. 

For Admission and Media Inquiries, Contact: 

AAFT University 

Vill. Manth, Kharora, Raipur, Chhattisgarh 493225, India 

Phone: +91-9109112078 / +91-8064057209 

Website: www.aaft.edu.in 

Sources: Mordor Intelligence, India Interior Design Market (2026–2031); CBRE India office leasing 2025. 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article. All possible measures have been taken to ensure accuracy, reliability, timeliness and authenticity of the information; however Outlookindia.com does not take any liability for the same. Using of any information provided in the article is solely at the viewers’ discretion.