BS25401 Professional Ethics and Law – Semester IV – BDes – R-2025

Subject Code & Name: BS25401 – Professional Ethics and Law

Regulation: R-2025

Semester: IV (Fourth Semester)

Branch: B. Des. (BDes)

Credits / L-T-P: 3 Credits | L-T-P: 3-0-0

Course Objectives

• To introduce the foundations of design ethics and professional practice, including office management, professional conduct, and fee structures in interior design.
• To familiarise students with legal frameworks governing design practice in India, including intellectual property rights, contracts, and professional obligations.
• To develop competency in managing designer–client relationships, contracts, and tender processes, ensuring ethical decision-making and professional accountability.
• To enhance the ability to integrate ethical, legal, and professional practices into real-world design scenarios through case-based understanding.

Full Unit-wise Syllabus

Unit I – Foundations of Professional Ethics and Practice

Introduction to ethics, values, and responsibilities in professional practice. Understanding professional conduct, workplace behavior, accountability, and decision-making in creative and technical fields. Concepts of office organization, teamwork, communication, documentation, and management practices. Overview of professional fees, contracts, labor welfare provisions, and workplace responsibilities. Introduction to legal awareness, professional obligations, and ethical issues through case-based discussions and practical examples.

Unit II – Designer Client Relationship, Contract and Tender

Designer-client relationships, handling conflicts, and understanding professional accountability in the Indian market. How to ensure ethical decision-making in design practice, avoiding exploitation, and respecting traditional and indigenous knowledge. Drafting basic contracts and understanding design-related legal documentation in the Indian context.

Unit III – Legal Frameworks for Designers in India

Introduction to Indian Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) – Overview of copyright laws, trademarks, patents, and design rights under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, Indian Patents Act, 1970, and Design Act, 2000 – Protection of creative works and industrial designs and their implications for designers – Role and functions of professional bodies and agencies such as the Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) – Understanding contracts and agreements in professional design practice with clients, consultants, collaborators, and manufacturers.

Unit IV – Ethical and Legal Challenges in Digital and Emerging Design in India

Ethics in Digital Design in India: Understanding user privacy, data protection, and the ethics of digital platforms in India, with references to The Information Technology Act, 2000 and Data Protection Law. Emerging Technologies and Ethics in Indian Design: Ethical considerations in the use of emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and block chain in Indian contexts.

Unit V – Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Inclusivity in Indian Design

Exploring the role of design in addressing Indian societal issues, such as poverty, accessibility, and marginalization. Examining India’s environmental challenges and how design can contribute to sustainability (e.g., use of local materials, waste management). Addressing design for differently-abled users, elderly, and other marginalized communities in India. Socially responsible design projects, including design for rural India, urban planning for the under privileged, and eco-friendly initiatives.

Course Outcomes (COs)

• CO1: Knowledge of professional practice, tender processes, contracts, and legal frameworks in interior design.
• CO2: Ability to consider ethical, social, and sustainability aspects in design practice within the Indian context
• CO3: Familiarity with materials, estimation techniques, and office management in interior projects.
• CO4: Understand the role of socially responsible, sustainable, and inclusive design practices in addressing societal, environmental, and accessibility challenges within the Indian context.

Assessment Pattern (Quick Note)

• Weightage: Continuous Internal Assessment: 40%, End Semester Examinations: 60%
• Internal methodology: Two Assessments with equal weightage. One Assessment as Internal written Test /Examination (50%), second as Assignment (50%) of any mode such as study, seminar, and or a combination of modes, etc

Source: Official Anna University – B. Des. R-2025 Syllabus
Last Updated: October 2026