Vidar Francke, Visual Communication, graduated 2021.
About the programme
During two years you will be given the opportunity to challenge and deepen your graphic design and/or illustration practice in relation to broader social, cultural and economic contexts. With a take-off point in norm criticality, we study how identity, norms and borders are formed through the landscape of visual communication. Through this process norm creative and practice based methods are developed to expand your own practice as well as the field. This programme provides a unique collaborative environment through supervision, seminars, feedback, workshops and lectures alongside teachers who are active in their fields. During the programme your own work is in focus through processes of making and discussion.
Norm criticality involves the highlighting of power. For instance it implies to make visible and question norms that construct and support discriminatory attitudes and practices. Norm creativity embodies the aim to transform norm critical analysis into practice. An early definition of this concept is found in the book Normkreativ, Settings / Premiss förlag, 2014.
How to apply
1. Apply online at universityadmissions.se (or antagning.se for Swedish-speaking applicants). Please consider the ranking order of the selected educational programmes/courses.
2. Submit all the necessary documentation to verify your eligibility at universityadmissions.se before the deadline. This includes paying the application fee or providing evidence of your fee-exempt status.
3. Upload your application assignments to konstfack.se following the instructions for your chosen programme.
Important dates
1 December 2026: Online application opens at universityadmissions.se and konstfack.se opens for uploading applicant assignments.
15 January 2027: Deadline for applications at universityadmissions.se and for uploading applicant assignments to konstfack.se.
1 February 2027: All documentation submitted to verify eligibility or ongoing Bachelor's studies must be registered at universityadmission.se, including proof of payment of the application fee or proof of exemption.
February/March 2027: Assessment of assignments and potential interviews.
1 April 2027: Selection results published at universityadmissions.se (and antagning.se).
23 August 2027: All documentation submitted to verify a Bachelor’s degree must be registered at universityadmissions.se. This applies only to applicants who have previously submitted documentation confirming their ongoing Bachelor’s studies.
30 August 2027: Start of term.
Language of instruction
All teaching, tutoring, and examinations are conducted in English.
Credits and form of study
120 credits (2 years), full-time, daytime, on campus.
The teaching includes a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, exploratory course elements in our print studio and other workshops, as well as independent work. The first term requires a lot of group participation, but already in the second semester you start developing your degree project in dialogue with your peers, staff, as well as professionals. As a student on the programme, you have access to a personal workplace at the school.
Degree
Degree of Master of Fine Arts in Visual Communication.
After graduation
The Master’s programme prepares students for a professional career and third-cycle studies.
Students who have graduated from the Visual Communication programme are now working as graphic designers, type designers, art directors, creative directors, illustrators, animators, picture book makers and/or with comics and news graphics, among other things. Our alumni work at museums, set up their own freelance studios and/or maker studios, work in agencies, with publishing, research and/or teach.
Specific requirements and selection
Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts (equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits), or the equivalent. And proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary school English 6/English B/English Level 2. Read more about English language requirements here.
The selection is made on artistic grounds and is based on assessment of artistic portfolio, project proposal and interview. Read more about requirements and selection here
Assessment of applicant assignments
In addition to applying via www.antagning.se, you must submit applicant assignments (portfolios/files) to Konstfack's website. If you are applying for more than one programme at Konstfack, you must submit applicant assignments (portfolios/files) for each programme you apply for. Read more about how to submit work samples.
The artistic assessment is carried out by a special assessment group consisting of professors, teachers, students and representatives from the professional field.
The selection process takes place in two stages. The first stage involves the assessment of the applicant's submitted assignment and statement of intent, on the basis of their ability to express themselves artistically and to adopt an investigative and reflective attitude, as well as degree of independence in expression. We also evaluate technical proficiency and craftsmanship.
In the second stage, a number of applicants are invited to an interview where the applicant’s motivation for undertaking the programme, ability to reflect on their own artistic attitudes are discussed in relation to the previously submitted applicant assignment. Based on these criteria described, an overall assessment is finally made. Communicative skills within the context of visual communication are prioritised in the selection. Read more about artistic assessment here.
Applicant assignment for the 2027 autumn admission
Each applicant submits one (1) PDF file containing a maximum of ten (10) pages.
The PDF should be A4 landscape format.
Your portfolio must be in English and contain the following three (3) compulsory sections to be considered.
Section 1: Table of contents (page 1)
Page 1 should contain a table of contents listing all the images in the document, including your declaration of intent.
The table of contents should function as a clear summary of your portfolio with a title, thumbnail images (about 3x3 cm.) as well as the following information (if applicable) for each work sample:
• The context in which the work has been produced. For example, if it is a self-initiated job, a school assignment or a work assignment.
• Your role in the work process. Especially important in a group project.
• If you have been using imagery generated through AI, or if have used any other type of AI technology, you should specify how you have used it, why and for which parts of the work.
Section 2: Your own selection of works (pages 2-9)
Pages 2–9 of the PDF file is a portfolio of your choosing.
State your name in the top left-hand corner of each page.
The maximum number of images/films is twenty (20), which can, for instance, be divided between a number of different works.
A page from a comic or graphic novel counts as one (1) image.
One film counts as one (1) image – films should be represented in your portfolio by one (1) image from the film and its title. The actual films are submitted as separate files.
If any of your work samples have been published in any language other than Swedish or English, we ask you to briefly summarize the project in a caption next to the work in the portfolio.
Section 3: Letter of intent (page 10)
Page 10 in the PDF file will contain your declaration of intent. Give a brief description to summaries your project, a question or a theme that you would like to work with within the framework of your Master's program. Please note that the letter of intent is not in any way binding but will be used as a way for the admission group to understand how you view your practice and in what way(s) you can see it being challenged or enhanced.
Visual references are encouraged.
We encourage you to articulate your practice in your own words–education is about questions more than answers and this master course is a chance to explore and expand.
If you do feel the need to use AI please consider crediting it, intelligently.
Table of contents for the PDF file
• Page 1: table of contents with titles, thumbnail images as well as any explanatory captions.
• Pages 2–9: a portfolio with your own choice of works. Max 20 images.
• Page 10: a letter of intent.
Important information regarding the rules on work samples, cover letters and AI tools
Summary, files to submit:
One (1) PDF file in A4 landscape format consisting of ten (10) pages, plus optional moving images/video/animation.
Name your files using this format: Forename_Surname.
Your application must be written in English.
Technical specifications
To be able to assess your portfolio correctly, it is important that you comply with these technical specifications.
PDF
The PDF files must not be password-protected or set to force the presentation into full screen.
Page format for the PDF files: A4 landscape
Colour coding: RGB
Video, Films and Animations
If you submit film, video material and/or animations they must have a total length of no more than 15 minutes altogether. Submit a brief synopsis/trailer or an excerpt if your films are longer.
Approved formats for video: MOV, MP4 or AVI
The videos must be compressed using H-264 compression.
Maximum resolution is 640 x 480.
Unless otherwise stated in the instructions for the applicant assignments, individual files must not exceed 300MB. The total size of the applicant assignments must not exceed 500MB.
Read more about how to submit work samples here.