MDes in Design

A four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution

Applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each institution from which they have obtained a degree.

Each letter of recommendation should be written by someone who is able to comment on your qualifications for graduate study. As part of the application process you will be given the opportunity to voluntarily waive your right to inspect the completed letters.

The portfolio should demonstrate your knowledge and abilities in the field of design. You will be prompted to upload your portfolio in the online graduate student application in PDF form (not to exceed 30 MB in size) or link to an online portfolio on a website. The portfolio PDF should include up to 20 pages of your design work and a cover page. You are welcome to include web design, animation, or video content as part of your portfolio by inserting links to these sources within the document. If you prefer to submit a link to your online portfolio, you may upload a one page PDF that includes your full name and the url. Please make sure that it will be clear to the faculty where they can find the portfolio on your site.

Your resume/CV should summarize your educational background, including institutions and degrees earned. It should also include a summary of professional jobs and academic positions held (e.g. Teaching Assistantships), awards and fellowships, and any relevant publications or recognition. Please keep in mind that the design of your resume should also demonstrate your ability to handle typography, hierarchy and fundamental organizational principles.

This statement should clearly articulate your goals and the extent to which the UW MDes program can be expected to prepare you for those objectives. The statement should also describe your background, specifically in the field of design. This could include a description of your design process, your work experiences, your intentions in relation to the work you have submitted, and what you plan to focus on during your graduate study. You should also reference the particular area of design (industrial design, interaction design, or visual communication design) in which you are interested. Your statement of purpose should also include specific areas of interest or topics you might be interested in for your thesis project. Please organize your statement into three essays, answering the following questions: 1.Why are you interested in doing a Master of Design? Why this year? Why at University of Washington, in the School of Art + Art History + Design? 2.How has your background (professional experience and/or previous studies) sparked an interest in a master's degree? And, what are your career goals after graduation? 3.What area(s) of design or specific topic(s) would you be interested in exploring during your two years of study in the MDes program? Do you have a unique passion or interest that connects to design in some way?