National Institute of Design (NID) is internationally recognised as one of the foremost and trans-disciplinary institutions in the field of design education, research and training for over four decades. NID has played a key role as a catalyst in development and promotion of design in the Indian Handicrafts Industry. Through its Outreach Programmes, NID continues to be engaged in design intervention initiatives for crafts sector through government and non-government organisations/institutions. Over the years, a number of craft documentations, craft design training programmes and craft development projects were undertaken by NID.The institute has also helped set up craft development related centres/ institutions like IICD, Jaipur; BCDI, Agartala; and CDI, Srinagar.
NID set up its International Centre for Indian Crafts (ICIC) with the primary aim to effectively understand the needs, strengths and weaknesses of a particular crafts sector and apply NID's interdisciplinary design expertise and knowledge base for capacity building and skill up gradation of artisans with a Global - Local approach. The unique approach is to develop a national and international network for Crafts Design Research, Training and Knowledge Dissemination for providing collaborative and sustainable linkages to the Indian crafts sector.
NID's Research and Publication Department lays particular emphasis is laid on the documentation of cultural resources culminating in publications.