Master’s Programme in Visual Communication

Vidar Francke, Visual Communication, graduated 2021.

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.

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 course English 6/English B. 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 2025 autumn admission

Each applicant submits one (1) PDF file containing a maximum of ten (10) pages. Your portfolio must be in English and contain the following three (3) compulsory sections if it is to be considered complete.

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 the samples of your work with thumbnail images (about 3x3 cm.) of all the works as well as your statement of intent. The table of contents is used when the applicant assignments are discussed by the selection panel.

For this reason, we also ask you to make visible to the viewer in which context the work has been produced. For example, if it is a self-initiated job, a school assignment or a work assignment, as well as your role in the work process.

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 and for which parts of the work.

If any of your work samples have been published in any language other than Swedish or English, we ask you to briefly summarise the project in a caption or in the table of contents.

Section 2: Your own selection of works (pages 2-8)
You should present your own selection of your works on pages 2–8 of the PDF file. The absolutely maximum number of images/films is twenty (20), which can, for instance, be divided between a number of different works. One film counts as one image.

State your name in the top left-hand corner of each page. Your selection represents your work in the way that you yourself would like to view it. All of the samples may be made using any technique you choose. Films should be represented in your portfolio by one image from the film and its title. The actual films are submitted as separate files.

Section 3: Declaration of intent (pages 9-10)
Pages 9-10 in the PDF file will contain your declaration of intent. Give a brief description/visualisation to summarise your project, a question or questions that you would like to work with, develop and study in greater depth within the framework of your Master’s programme. The declaration of intent should not be viewed as a binding document but should give a clear image of your practice and in what way(s) you can see it being challenged or enhanced. The declaration of intent should fit into two (2) A4 pages and comprise ca 2,000 characters including spaces. These two (2) pages should allow room for any visual references you may need.

Page format for the PDF file
Each applicant must submit one (1) PDF file containing a maximum of ten (10) pages. The page format must be A4 landscape format.
• Page 1: table of contents including any explanatory captions.
• Pages 2–8: five (7) pages with your own choice of works.
• Pages 9–10: two (2) pages that consist of a written statement of intent. 

Important information about your applicant assignments

Summary, files to submit:
One (1) PDF-file, 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 300 MB. The total size of the applicant assignments must not exceed 500 MB.

Read more about how to submit work samples here.