In a move that marks a significant leap for vocational education in Tier-2 India, Queens School of Design (QSD), Mysuru, is set to launch a 1-Year Gen AI Integrated Design Programme. Aimed at students, working professionals, and aspiring design entrepreneurs from non-metro regions, the programme will combine foundational theory with hands-on industry exposure. This launch comes at a time when Gen AI is increasingly entering vocational certification courses, but most remain metro-focused or expensive. With this integrated programme, QSD aims to bridge the gap between aspiration and access; bringing 21st-century tech skilling to the heart of Karnataka.

Founded in 1995 by Karnataka’s renowned educationist, Professor M.H. Dhananjaya and D. Sudhanva, MD & chairman of Excelsoft Technologies, QSD is a pioneering ITI in Mysore registered under National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). The design school has consistently evolved with time expanding its courses from Fashion and interior design to emerging fields such as Digital Design, User Experience and Design (UX). Each of these courses fall under National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) Level 3.5 and 4 and are certified by the Government of India. 

The introduction of the Gen AI programme in design represents the school’s vision to make new-age tech accessible for small-town youth and emerging entrepreneurs. The Gen AI curriculum will be a blend of theory and real-world case studies. It is designed with a strong focus on application in sectors where QSD already has institutional expertise such as Fashion Design, Interior Design, and UI-UX. In Fashion, students will use Gen AI to prototype apparel designs, generate visual prompts for style boards, and understand how global fashion houses are leveraging AI for forecasting trends.

In interior design, learners will explore how AI can assist in spatial planning, generating mood boards, identifying suitable materials for flooring, upholstery, and surface finishes, and creating detailed 3D interior layouts for residential and commercial spaces. In UI-UX, participants will explore how AI tools can assist in designing interfaces, generating wireframes, and personalising user journeys, combining visual design with functionality. The course is designed in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) as well as Karnataka’s skilling roadmap. It will be delivered at QSD’s training centre with mentorship from AI professionals and creators.

Announcing the launch of the Gen AI programme, Shankar Prasad, senior manager, Queens School of Design said,  “It is pretty clear that Gen AI will transform how work is done across every industry. Our goal is to ensure that students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 India are not left behind in this shift. Gen AI is streamlining everything from concept development and mood board creation to product and spatial visualisation. This programme will help learners build the skills to work with these tools and adapt to how design workflows are evolving across sectors like fashion and interiors. In addition to the I year programme, we are also exploring a short-term 3 month course in implementation of Gen AI in design.”

Comments Sudhanva Dhananjaya, MD & chairman, Excelsoft and Founding Member of Queens School of Design, “Over the last 25 years, Queens has consistently introduced learners to the tools that define each era of design education. From AutoCAD and 3D rendering to digital collaboration platforms, our goal has been to ensure that students are fluent with the latest tech tools. Gen AI is a natural progression in that journey, and it’s important that our learners gain early, hands-on exposure and relevant experience in an industry that’s evolving faster than ever.”

Admissions will open from March to June, with the new cohort starting in July. It will also offer scholarships to meritorious candidates and students from economically weaker backgrounds, with the aim of making Gen AI education accessible to learners from Tier-2 and Tier-3 India.

Over the last 15 years since its NCVET certification, Queen’s School of Design has trained an average of 100 students each year. Many of them, including homemakers, have become self-employed, launched boutique tailoring studios, or established their own design firms. Others have joined garment export factories, worked with leading interior design companies across the country, or taken up roles as CAD engineers in design agencies.

Established in 1995, Queens School of Design (QSD) is a NABET accredited, premier Industrial Training Institute (ITI) located in Mysuru that aims to provide quality education and training in the field of design, engineering, manufacturing and associated disciplines.

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