Apply to MFA Programme in Design

Portfolio instructions

Your portfolio must include:

1. Background and Experience
2. Letter of intent
3. Portfolio/Work Samples

Important things to consider

• Your application must be written in English.  
• If you include projects or work in your portfolio created in collaboration with others, briefly describe the nature of the collaboration and your individual contribution.
• If you have used generative AI to create or process images, sound, or text we ask that you describe how you used it.  

Instructions 

1. Background and Experience - Max 3000 characters including spaces. 
   List your professional and academic experiences that are relevant to studying design at MFA level
    
2. Letter of intent - 1 pdf, maximum 2 pages 
   In this Letter of intent we would like you to reflect on and formulate your thoughts around four questions that in different ways relate and refer to the intentions and goals of the MFA design programme at HDK-Valand. Try to be as precise as possible and use your Portfolio and other references for support. You can also use images.    
    

• There are many different schools and design programmes, why are you interested in being a student at MFA Design at HDK-Valand?   
• How one works with design projects and develop ideas is very individual. How do you work?  Describe your workflow and reflect on how you would like this to develop.
• How could situated and relational design methods both support and challenge the development of your future Design practice. 
• What societal issues, global or local, interest you and how do you see that you could work with them within the MFA Design programme and in your future design practice?   

3   Portfolio/work Samples - 1 pdf, maximum 20 pages

Use images (or other relevant digital material) from your design practice that demonstrate the:  

• Breadth and depth of your creative work  
• Key stages of the design process to a realised intention  
• Personal direction of interest in design  
• Skills in presentation, visualisation and communication  
  
  You can also upload maximum two video files as part of your portfolio.   

Submit your portfolio

Submit your portfolio through SlideRoom

Before the deadline

• You can start your application at any time during the application period.
• You can save your progress, log out and return later.
• SlideRoom closes at midnight (CET) on the day of the application deadline.
• You will receive a confirmation email when your portfolio has been submitted.
• We recommend uploading your materials at least 24 hours before the deadline.
• Portfolios cannot be submitted after the deadline.

Assessment

Your application will be assessed based on the following criteria: 

1. The Design Process – design knowledge, methodology, materialities and organizing ones practice
2. Breadth and Depth – contexts, collaborations, skills, scales and experiences
3. Field of Interest – design questions, societal questions and relevance to the MFA Design programme profile
4. Artistic Approach – expression, method, conceptualisations and communication 
   
   The assessment is made by an admissions jury consisting of the Programme Director and representatives from the department.   

Key Dates