Thank you for your interest in our MA Design courses. Your application helps us assess your ability to succeed in the course, and we require a portfolio of work alongside your written application. This is because your creative output, communication skills, and understanding of design are best evaluated through the work you’ve produced rather than solely through qualifications and a written statement.

Your portfolio

Your portfolio is a key part of your application. It allows us to assess your creative and visual thinking and approach to design challenges. Here’s how to make it stand out:

Content

• Include examples of your design work and other creative projects relevant to your application.
• Showcase your design process, including development work, sketches, prototypes, and outcomes.

Descriptive Text

• Each project should include clear, descriptive text explaining the project brief or context, the goals of the work, and the main points addressed.
• Indicate when and in what circumstances the work was done (e.g. BA course, professional practice).

Storytelling

• We will review your portfolio in your absence, so ensure your text and images tell the story of your projects.

Presentation

• The organisation and communication skills reflected in your portfolio are also critical. A well-structured portfolio demonstrates your ability to present your work professionally.

We want to ensure you have the guidance to create a strong application and portfolio highlighting your potential. To help you achieve this, please consider the following guidelines as you prepare your portfolio.

Design skills

Demonstrate a range of design skills with presentation standards appropriate to your background. You should have prior education or experience in the design discipline you wish to study at the MA level. We are looking for work that meets a high professional level. 

If you do not have such academic qualifications we may consider your application individually, based on your personal, professional and work experience, and other formal qualifications. You may also be able to claim credit points, reducing the time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out how your previous learning and experience can count toward study at Hallam.

Technical knowledge

Your portfolio should demonstrate a solid understanding of the technologies relevant to your design discipline, including the production processes commonly used in your field.

Imagination and creativity

We want to see clear evidence of your ability to think imaginatively and develop creative, appropriate responses to design challenges you’ve faced.

Written communication

Your written application and any commentary in your portfolio will help us evaluate your ability to articulate ideas and present information clearly and intelligently in writing.

Professional practice experience

If you have professional experience in design or a related field, we’d like to know about your achievements, insights and skills developed through your practice. If not, you can showcase creative activities outside formal design education or highlight transferable skills relevant to design, such as problem-solving or collaboration.

Contextual understanding

One of the most important factors we consider is your ability to understand the context of your work. Successful designers can critically engage with the social, cultural, and environmental factors that impact their design practice. We hope candidates will demonstrate this ability, underpinned by qualitative and quantitative research.

Critical position

You should demonstrate that you approach design challenges, problems, and situations with an independent, critical, and innovative mindset. We will assess this through your portfolio, looking for originality, innovativeness, and appropriateness in your proposed design solutions and your interpretation of project briefs.