Top 10 Software That Can Help CEED, NIFT and NID Aspirants Express Ideas Professionally
Hey, Future designers! Let’s get real, preparing for CEED, NIFT, or NID can feel like trying to tame a wild creative beast. Sketches, concepts, color theory, and problem-solving… phew! It’s a LOT. But here’s the tea: you don’t need to know a single software to crack these exams. Your hand sketches, crazy ideas, and mad creativity are what really count.
However, if you want to make your portfolio look like a million bucks and stand out in a pile of applications, learning a few software tools is like giving your ideas a glow-up. Think of software as your secret weapon — it enhances your brilliance, it doesn’t replace it.
Here’s our curated list of 10 software tools (and one bonus for those who like a tech edge) that can help you present ideas professionally, without losing your creative soul.
1. Adobe Photoshop
What is Photoshop?
Photoshop is the king of image editing and digital design. It’s what pros use to turn ordinary photos and sketches into stunning visuals. Think of it as your digital magic wand—if you can imagine it, you can make it happen.
How students can use it for portfolios:
- Clean up hand sketches and scanned drawings.
- Make mood boards, collages, and presentation-ready visuals.
- Add colors, textures, and effects to make concepts pop.
How industry pros use it:
Professionals in advertising, product design, and animation use it for photo editing, digital painting, and realistic mockups.
MAD School tip: Photoshop is about enhancing your creativity, not replacing it. Your ideas stay the hero—Photoshop just makes them shine.
2. Adobe Illustrator
What is Adobe Illustrator?
Illustrator is vector-based, meaning your designs can scale infinitely without losing quality. Perfect for logos, icons, typography, and patterns. Professionals swear by it for work that needs precision and polish.
How students can use it for portfolios:
- Turn sketches into clean digital illustrations.
- Design icons, infographics, and diagrams for portfolios.
- Keep layouts and visuals consistent across projects.
How industry pros use it:
Illustrator is used for branding, product illustrations, UI/UX icons, and scalable designs.
MAD School tip: Illustrator is neat and precise. Your sketches might be amazing, but Illustrator makes them look professional and polished.
3. CorelDRAW
What is CorelDRAW?
CorelDRAW is another vector design tool like Illustrator. It’s popular in India for product graphics, packaging, and branding. Think of it as a tool for clean lines, crisp shapes, and professional structure.
How students can use it for portfolios:
- Turn rough sketches into polished vector illustrations.
- Work on product design or packaging concepts.
- Keep diagrams and layouts clean and professional.
How industry pros use it:
- Used in branding, print, packaging, and industrial design for precise, production-ready visuals.
MAD tip: Not mandatory, but if you love vector-based design, CorelDRAW gives your work that extra professional edge.
4. Autodesk SketchBook
What is Autodesk SketchBook?
Autodesk SketchBook is a digital sketching app that feels just like drawing on paper—but faster and cleaner. It’s made for creatives who want to capture ideas quickly without worrying about perfection. Professionals love it for its intuitive brushes, smooth workflow, and freedom to experiment.
How students can use it for portfolios:
- Fast concept sketches: Bring your ideas to life digitally in minutes.
- Experiment freely: Play with colors, brushes, and textures without wasting paper.
- Show your process: Storyboards, ideation flows, and iterations look neat and polished.
How industry pros use it:
Concept artists and product designers use it to brainstorm, iterate, and refine ideas quickly. Great for storyboards, illustrations, and initial design drafts before moving to complex software.
MAD tip: Use SketchBook as your creative playground—your ideas stay messy, raw, and awesome, but digitally presentable. Perfect for showing examiners your thought process and design journey.
5. Procreate – The iPad Magic Wand
What is Procreate?
Procreate is a digital painting app for iPad that feels like drawing on paper… but cooler. With tons of brushes, textures, and colors, it’s basically your creative playground on a tablet.
How can students use it for portfolios?
- Make your sketches pop with color and texture.
- Experiment with brushes, styles, and layouts for fun, creative concepts.
- Tell your design story visually—storyboards, illustrations, or product ideas.
How do industry pros use it?
Illustrators and designers use it for concept art, storyboards, and quick renderings. It’s fast, intuitive, and perfect for showing raw creativity in a polished way.
MAD School tip: If you’ve got an iPad, Procreate is your best friend for creating eye-catching portfolios that scream “I know my design stuff.”
6. Krita – The Free Digital Painter
What is Krita?
Krita is a free, open-source digital painting software. Don’t let the “free” tag fool you—it’s powerful and perfect for illustration and concept art.
How students can use it for portfolios:
- Experiment with digital sketches and textures.
- Try out different styles, colors, and effects without spending money.
- Digitally clean up hand-drawn sketches to make them portfolio-ready.
How industry pros use it:
Concept artists and animators use Krita for illustrations, background art, and quick painting exercises. It’s a budget-friendly way to practice digital painting professionally.
MAD tip: Krita is free and fun. Great if you want digital polish without buying Photoshop or Procreate.
7. SketchUp – The 3D Shape Hero
What is SketchUp?
SketchUp is a 3D modeling software that’s super beginner-friendly. Think of it as a tool to turn your sketches into 3D models—so your designs aren’t just flat on paper.
How can students use it for portfolios?
- Visualize products, interiors, or architectural designs in 3D.
- Make your portfolio interactive and realistic.
- Experiment with scale, form, and space in a fun way.
How do industry experts use it?
Interior designers, architects, and product designers use it for quick modeling and mockups. Professionals love it for presentations and client walkthroughs.
MAD tip: You don’t need crazy 3D skills—even simple models make your portfolio look like a pro.
8. Autodesk Fusion 360
What is Fusion 360?
Fusion 360 is a powerful 3D modeling software used by industrial and product designers. Think of it as SketchUp’s big, professional cousin with all the technical bells and whistles.
How can students use it for portfolios?
- Make precise product models and technical designs.
- Show your ideas with realistic renders.
- Add a professional touch to industrial design projects.
How do industry pros use it?
- Used for product prototyping, 3D modeling, and engineering designs.
- Professionals use it to visualize, iterate, and present designs professionally.
MAD tip: Beginners can keep it simple—even a basic 3D model in Fusion 360 will wow examiners.
9. Adobe InDesign
What is InDesign?
InDesign is a layout and publishing software. Basically, it’s the secret sauce to make your portfolio look clean, organized, and easy to read.
How can students use it for portfolios?
- Arrange multiple projects neatly in one file.
- Keep colors, fonts, and layouts consistent.
- Present your work like a pro designer, not just a student.
How do industry pros use it?
- Graphic designers, publishers, and ad agencies use InDesign for magazines, books, portfolios, and brochures.
- Ensures layouts are professional and print-ready.
MAD tip: Your ideas are amazing—InDesign just makes them look amazing too.
10. Canva / PowerPoint
What is Canva / PowerPoint?
Canva is a simple, fun, and online-friendly design tool. PowerPoint is a classic go-to for presentations. Both are easy ways to make your work look neat.
How students can use it for portfolios:
- Quickly make mood boards, infographics, or presentations.
- Organize projects without spending hours learning complex software.
- Perfect for online portfolios or submission files.
How industry pros use it:
- Canva is used by designers for quick marketing visuals and layouts.
- PowerPoint is used for presentations, pitches, and showcasing design processes.
MAD tip: Fast, simple, and effective. Sometimes less is more, and these tools get the job done without stress.
11. AutoCAD - The Bonus Tool
What is AutoCAD?
AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D drafting software. Think of it as your technical design powerhouse—perfect for interiors, architecture, and product designs that need exact measurements.
How students can use it for portfolios:
- Make precise technical drawings of furniture, products, or architectural projects.
- Show your understanding of scale, dimensions, and structure.
- Great for NID PG or product design aspirants.
How industry pros use it:
- Architects and industrial designers use it for floor plans, furniture layouts, and product designs.
- Ensures drawings are accurate, professional, and production-ready.
MAD tip: Not mandatory, but knowing basic AutoCAD can make your work look super polished and industry-ready.
None of these tools are mandatory—CEED, NID, and NIFT care about your creativity, sketches, and problem-solving more than software skills. Software is a glow-up for your ideas, making them professional and presentable.
At MAD School, we teach students how to use the right tools smartly to make stunning portfolios in our portfolio making classes, keeping creativity intact while presenting ideas professionally.
