UI/UX Design vs Graphic Design: Which Course Should You Choose in Mumbai?

Published by Shikha Kumari on Oct 14, 2025

UI/UX design courses in Mumbai like Pearl Academy’s 4-year B.Des at INR 8,00,000 total fees emphasize user research and Figma prototyping for digital product roles at INR 4-6 LPA starting salary, while graphic design programs like Rachana Sansad’s 3-year B.Des at INR 2,50,000 annual focus on visual communication and Adobe Illustrator for print and branding jobs at INR 3-5 LPA, making UI/UX better for tech-driven careers in startups like Paytm and graphic design for creative agencies like Leo Burnett.

In this guide, you’ll learn UI/UX design vs graphic design differences in eligibility with Class 12 50% for both but UI/UX preferring basic coding, durations from 3 months for UI/UX certifications to 4 years for graphic B.Des, curriculum contrasts like user journey maps in UI/UX versus logo creation in graphic, fees INR 50,000-8,00,000, job prospects with UI/UX 85% placement at INR 7 LPA average versus graphic 75% at INR 5 LPA, and choice factors for 2026 intake to target UX researcher or visual designer roles at Ogilvy or Accenture.

UI/UX and Graphic Design Careers in Mumbai

Mumbai’s design sector employs over 8,000 professionals with 20% annual growth, where UI/UX designers handle digital interfaces for 300+ tech firms like Paytm earning INR 7 LPA average, while graphic designers create visuals for advertising agencies like Leo Burnett at INR 5 LPA. Both fields overlap in tools like Adobe XD, but UI/UX focuses user experience for apps, graphic on static branding. This dual demand motivates Class 12 graduates to pick based on tech interest for UI/UX or artistic print for graphic, as Mumbai’s ecosystem blends advertising with fintech, supporting diverse paths from 3-month certifications to 4-year degrees with 80% placements at INR 3.5-5 LPA within 6 months.

Eligibility Criteria: UI/UX vs Graphic Design

Eligibility criteria for UI/UX design courses in Mumbai require Class 12 completion with 50% marks from any stream for diplomas like Pearl Academy’s B.Des, no prior experience needed but basic computer skills help for Figma modules, while graphic design programs like Rachana Sansad’s B.Des accept 10+2 with 40% aggregate, open to arts students for Illustrator basics. UI/UX often adds aptitude tests on user flows, graphic emphasizes portfolio sketches. This low barrier allows commerce students into UI/UX for digital roles, arts into graphic for branding, with 90% programs offering bridge sessions on color theory in the first month.

Duration Comparison: Short vs Long Programs

Duration comparison for UI/UX design courses in Mumbai ranges from 3 months for Madrid Software’s certificate on Adobe XD interactions to 4 years for Pearl Academy’s B.Des with AR/VR projects, while graphic design durations span 6 months for Animaster’s certification on Photoshop to 3 years for Jain University’s BA in Communication Design with print layouts. Short UI/UX suits quick upskilling for jobs, long graphic builds comprehensive portfolios. This flexibility helps working professionals choose 3-6 month UI/UX for Figma, freshers 3-4 year graphic for Adobe suite mastery, with intakes from December 2025 allowing planning for 2026 to align with agency hiring cycles in Lower Parel.

Curriculum Differences: Digital vs Visual Focus

Curriculum differences between UI/UX and graphic design courses in Mumbai highlight UI/UX’s emphasis on digital user experiences with Pearl Academy’s 4-year B.Des starting year 1 on design thinking through 10 user interviews and surveys for persona creation, year 2 on Figma wireframing for low-fidelity layouts, year 3 on Adobe XD for interactive animations and A/B testing with 15 participants, and year 4 on capstone projects for 300 hours of portfolio readiness. Graphic design curricula at Rachana Sansad’s 4-year B.Des begin with color theory and typography in year 1 for visual foundations, advance to Illustrator logos and InDesign layouts for branding in year 2, Photoshop image editing in year 3 for campaigns, and print production in year 4 for 250 hours. UI/UX stresses human-centered digital flows, graphic visual storytelling for static media. This split prepares UI/UX for product teams, graphic for marketing agencies, with 80% practical hours in both ensuring graduates handle real briefs from Ogilvy or Paytm.

Before the table, curriculum trends show UI/UX 60% tools like Miro, graphic 50% software like CorelDRAW.

UI/UX prototypes interactive, graphic static compositions.

Fees Structure: UI/UX vs Graphic Design

Fees structure for UI/UX design courses in Mumbai average INR 50,000 for 3-month certifications like Madrid Software’s to INR 8,00,000 total for Pearl Academy’s 4-year B.Des with GenAI. Graphic design fees range INR 50,000 for Animaster’s 6-month certification to INR 2,66,575 annual for Jain University’s BA. UI/UX offers EMI at INR 4,167 monthly, graphic scholarships for arts students. This pricing reflects UI/UX tech premium, graphic creative accessibility, with 70% EMI usage for affordability in 2026.

Job Prospects: UI/UX vs Graphic Design

Job prospects for UI/UX design in Mumbai reach 85% placement within 6 months at INR 4-6 LPA for junior roles like UX researcher at Paytm, with 10,000 openings yearly from fintech boom. Graphic design offers 75% placement at INR 3-5 LPA for visual designer at Leo Burnett, 8,000 jobs in advertising. UI/UX grows 25% annually with digital shift, graphic 15% in branding. This favors UI/UX for tech salaries, graphic for agency creativity.

Salary Expectations in Mumbai

Salary expectations for UI/UX designers in Mumbai average INR 7 LPA, starting INR 4 LPA for freshers with Figma skills, rising to INR 12 LPA mid-level at Paytm. Graphic designers average INR 5 LPA, entry INR 3 LPA with Photoshop, mid INR 8 LPA at Leo Burnett. UI/UX 40% higher due to fintech demand.

Placement Support Comparison

Placement support for UI/UX design in Mumbai includes Pearl’s 90% aid with Leo Burnett drives, Rachana Sansad’s 85% for MNCs. Graphic at NIFT 82% with Ogilvy ties, EDIT’s 80% agencies. Both provide resume reviews, UI/UX edges with fintech networks.

Choosing UI/UX or Graphic for 2026

Choosing UI/UX or graphic design in Mumbai for 2026 intake depends on interests—UI/UX for tech with Pearl’s B.Des at INR 8,00,000 if digital appeals, graphic for creativity with Rachana Sansad’s B.Des at INR 2,50,000 if branding suits. Trial classes in Bandra help decide.

Conclusion: UI/UX vs Graphic Design Key Points Mumbai 2026

UI/UX design vs graphic design in Mumbai for 2026 shows UI/UX requiring Class 12 50% for Pearl B.Des (4 years, INR 8,00,000, 90% placement), graphic 10+2 40% for Rachana Sansad B.Des (4 years, INR 2,50,000, 85%), durations 3-4 months UI/UX vs 6 months-3 years graphic, curriculum user research UI/UX vs typography graphic, fees INR 50,000-8,00,000 UI/UX vs INR 50,000-2,66,575 graphic, jobs 85% UI/UX at INR 4-6 LPA vs 75% graphic INR 3-5 LPA. Pick UI/UX for tech, graphic for branding—apply December 2025.