Design + Change

Portfolio

For your submitted portfolio to be deemed complete, it must consist of these three components:

Assignment A "Change proposal" (2 pages)

Choose a challenge or an opportunity you see in your everyday life. It may concern the environment, technology, culture, social justice, or something else in your life. Imagine how design could contribute to change in this context and create a proposal that illustrates a desired future for the chosen topic. This could relate to objects or materials you interact with, services you use, interactions you have with others, or something important in your life that you would like to make a change in. 

Express your idea through images, sketches, models, photography, moving image, digital media or whatever gets your imagination going. Use this exercise as an opportunity to be explorative and creative! 

Include a short written explanation (maximum 200 words) that reflects on the topic you have chosen and the possibilities for change that your design explores. 

Assignment B Present Your Creative Work (6 pages)

Use the remaining pages to present your own creative work. Show any form of artistic expression or design that you are proud of and that represents who you are as a creative person. We encourage you to demonstrate a range of interests and skills.  

This helps us understand your unique approach to creativity and what you may bring to the program. 

Assignment C Personal Letter (1 page, A4)

Write a personal letter where you describe your interest in design, focusing on the following:  

• What are you curious about?  
• What do you want to change through design?  
• How do you want to use your education to reach your goals?
• What does sustainability mean to you?  

  Your letter will be assessed based on:  

• your ability to visualize and plan your future as a designer,  
• your past and intended engagement with sustainability and change,  
• your ability to express yourself clearly in English. 

Submit these three assignments as one PDF document (you can upload a maximum of 50 mb) on your application page at universityadmissions.se (in English) or antagning.se (in Swedish). 

Need help with your portfolio and letter of intent?

We are offering international students in admission round 1 who select our programme as their first, second, or third choice the chance to join a Portfolio Workshop on Wednesday, 22 April, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (local time).

In this workshop, you’ll get guidance on:

• Structuring your portfolio: Assignment A and B.
• Choosing the best design and art projects to showcase.
• How to write a compelling state of purpose/letter of intent.

A Zoom link to access the workshop will be sent to your email on 17th April. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your application!

Acceptance to the programme

If you meet the eligibility criteria, your application will be accepted and evaluated on the basis of your portfolio. Evaluation of portfolios is conducted by a selection committee consisting of faculty members, external experts, and current BFA students. The portfolio is regarded as a whole and the portfolio is evaluated in terms of the following criteria:

• Artistic quality
• Articulation of purpose
• Creative approach

The university will not disclose the reasons behind the decision to accept or reject any individual application. Approved students will be notified through universityadmissions.se or antagning.se.

Checklist for Application

• I have submitted my application through antagning.se or universityadmissions.se.
• I have prepared my portfolio assignments according to the guidelines provided.
• I have included my all three assignments in the application.
• I have uploaded my portfolio on my pages on universityadmissions.se (in English), or antagning.se (in Swedish).

Do you have any Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the application or permisson related issue don´t hesitate to inquire by e-mail to Admissions Office: admission@lnu.se.

If you have any questions regarding admissions and the portfolio contact vera.maeder@lnu.se. For questions about the programme contact the programme coordinators: programmecoordinator.dcbfa@lnu.se.

Please note that the nationwide universityadmissions.se system will mark your application as "unqualified" while it is still under review by the system. This does not mean that your application has been rejected. This only means that it is still being processed. Linnaeus University has no influence on this message.

“Melo began in May 2024 as a Design project while studying in the Design + Change program at Linnaeus University. Officially, the project began while interning at Flow Studios, a regenerative and multidisciplinary design studio started and owned by Leah Ireland, who is also a graduate from the program.”

“At the time, the studio was developing The Spill Collection, which utilized food surplus such as coffee grounds to dye textiles from PM & Vänner. The Spill collection served as a great point of influence and inspiration for Melo. It explored questions of waste, surplus, and circularity, questioning how local surplus could be re-utilized to create new value, not just economically but also environmentally and socially.”

Miguel states that by recognizing the quantity of surplus coffee grounds produced within Växjö, there was an opportunity to further reuse them for mushroom production. Beyond being a company, Melo also works with research at the university and is currently helping to look into how the leftovers from mushroom production can be used as a biofertilizer for forestry. 

What is a typical day like for you?

“The typical day varies from day to day, but I have a strict schedule that I follow to ensure mushrooms are produced on time and are as fresh as possible when they are delivered.  Mondays, for example, are always pickup days. I collect coffee from local restaurants and cafes, and then I inoculate the coffee with mushroom mycelium.  Tuesdays are always delivery days, so I package the mushrooms and deliver them to restaurants. And so on.”

He states that with mushroom production, you have to work with the time frame of the fungi; it has its own schedule, and you have to work with that. So things can take time, and you have to be patient.

“It's not the mushroom growing which is the most exciting, but rather the way you can use mushroom growing as a way to apply circularity and sustainability.”

How does sustainability connect to your practice?

Miguel states that sustainability is very crucial to how he operates the company. 

“The aim is to make the system as circular as possible, not just for Melo, but for the city in general. This means working with a variety of stakeholders in different capacities.”

An example of this is working with Ekobacken, a small urban farm in Växjö. After mushroom production, the leftovers can still be used as an enriching compost, so every week they are given to the farm. This in turn produces new veggies for the city. 

What do you see as the potential of design?

“I think design thinking can be quite an undervalued skill. It can be easy to take for granted.”

Miguel states that having the skills to, for example, ideate, plan, and present an idea has been very valuable. It has been a tool for him to engage with collaborators and stakeholders.

“I would say the most valuable skill the program has taught me is how to develop and use a design process. This problem-solving framework can be applied to a variety of fields and has been fundamental in my work across disciplines. I see a huge potential in the design process and its potential to change local and global contexts. ”

- I chose to study at Linnaeus University because of the unique design programme. It seemed much more interesting than traditional design degrees, like product or graphic design. The programme offers me an opportunity to make a change in the world and to put sustainability at the centre of my studies, which is a very valuable and important experience for me to have.

Wiktoria thinks that the best thing about her programme are the topics she and her fellow students engage with and the good relationship with the teachers on the programme.

- In our projects, we tackle global issues like climate change or gender and norms, taking in both local and global perspectives. We try to redefine what design is and how design can contribute to a sustainable future. At our department, we learn from our teachers and they learn from us as well, it’s a very open and mutual learning environment.

A supportive culture among students and teachers
A challenge for Wiktoria has been having a feeling of not doing enough, but the students have a supportive relationship and help each other.

- Having to deal with the complexity of our world is not easy and sometimes I’ve found myself feeling powerless. Thanks to my classmates and my teachers, I have learned how to turn these emotions and my awareness into action and motivation for making change wherever it’s possible. Since our department is not very big, we are all quite close with each other and we have built a supportive community among us. It feels very comfortable and empowering to be surrounded by people who are curious about each other and always willing to help. 

After graduation, Wiktoria dreams of opening her own studio.

- After graduation, I’ll be carrying what I’ve learned at Linnaeus University with me and try to plant some seeds of change wherever I go. I might continue studying for a master’s degree. My dream job is to have my own design studio and collaborate with people from different backgrounds to reimagine our relationship with nature.

The company is Växjö-based and focuses primarily on sustainability and craft-based design.

“We take on different types of assignments, like product design and graphic design but also give lectures and arrange workshops, but sustainability is present in everything we do”, Camilla explains.

They let us know how they gradually launched their business after graduating and explain that they both had other jobs on the side for more than a year to make sure they had a stable income. They point out that it takes a long time to build a business from scratch and to establish contacts that will lead to customers, something they are still struggling with. Their goal is to be able to live off their business while doing what they love to do.

“There really is no regular day at work as there is so much variation! However, we usually try to plan our days so that we make the most of the available time while also finding a balance between what’s inspiring us on that particular day and what we need to prioritise. This can be everything from administrative work to producing and creating products, marketing, meetings, or inspiring study visits”, says Emma.

Never really knowing when the next big idea or assignment comes along is what they think is most exciting about their work. And the fact that they get to work with creative processes means that they are not likely to ever grow tired of their job. The best thing about their job is that they get to express their creativity together with a like-minded colleague.

“We have a positive outlook on the future. Society is becoming increasingly open to alternative and more sustainable consumption patterns, and we hope to be able to inspire and facilitate change though our work”, they explain.

They both believe that the programme they studied has given them a head start in sustainability thinking. They explain that many companies and employers want to see more sustainable ways of working and manufacturing processes. During their studies, they both had to ‘rethink’ what they thought they knew about design, but also what they knew about themselves.

“Getting the opportunity to study with people from different backgrounds, with different experiences, and different languages forces you to challenge yourself and broaden your perspectives and how you view the world. Design + Change is a unique and embracing community. There are so many like-minded, creative enthusiasts who support each other”, they say.

A couple of tips for work life that they would like to offer is to establish networks and not hesitate to accept help from others.

“It’s not possible to master all skills yourself, so it’s important to have a humble approach and not be afraid to invite others to collaborate. You should never underestimate what you can achieve together with others”, Emma concludes.

How do I apply for Design+Change?

You apply to the programme online in English at universityadmissions.se, or apply i Swedish at antagning.se. On those pages, you also submit your documentation of eligibility for university studies and English proficiency. Besides the online application, you need to submit your portfolio to Linnaeus University (LNU) in time. Please read the instructions regarding the portfolio carefully.

I have questions regarding my eligibility for BA level studies?

Please contact: admission@lnu.se. They are taking care of the admission process and can answer all questions regarding documentations and deadlines.

Do I have to know Swedish to study a design programme at LNU?

You don't have to know the Swedish language, but you have to show proof of your English language skills through for instance TOEFL or IELTS-tests. Your level of English needs to compare to a English B in the swedish education system.

I will not be able to send all documents (like highschool diploma, result from English test...) before the deadline, may I apply anyway ?

Yes, it will be possible to send documents at a later point. Please contact admission@lnu.se to get an exact deadline.

How much is the tuition fee?

Non EU/EEA students need to pay a fee of 142 000 SEK per term, which sums up to a total of 855 000 SEK for the whole program. You find more information regarding tuition fees here.

For Swedish and other EU/EEA students the education is without charge. But cost for study trips and material apply.

Are there any scholarships for international students ?

Scholarships are not handled by the department of Design. You can get information regarding scholarships here.

When does the academic year start and end?

The Academic year is divided into two terms. Our programs start only in the Autumn. The academic year at LNU starts in the end of August and the autumn term will end in the middle of January. The spring term will run from the middle of January to the beginning of June.