Innovation through Business, Engineering and Design - specialisation design, Master Programme

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

1. Representative work, including your degree project and its written report, if there is such. Please send the report as PDF in low resolution.
2. Statement of purpose

1. Representative Work

Your portfolio should include a maximum of 12 pages of your most creative work, and should represent a variety of design and art approaches and outcomes. We encourage you to choose work that demonstrate the range of your interests, even outside of your studies, such as internships, etc.

In the upload form, enter a brief description of the work you upload.

2. Statement of purpose

Besides your portfolio the statement of purpose is an important part of the application –it gives you opportunity to present yourself and it gives us the opportunity to know your interests in advance. Write a short statement (max 2xA4) containing:

Name:
Application number:
Name of University at which you have studied for your BA degree:
Country you have studied for your undergraduate degree:

Answer then the following questions:

• What is innovation for you?
• What is your definition of design and what is the role of a designer in the future?
• Why do you believe you would benefit from joining a multidisciplinary program?
• What do you think you could contribute with?
• What are your career ambitions immediately after graduating from the program?

Describe then shortly how you plan to achieve the goals of the program.
Describe your experiences concerning interdisciplinary development work/process.

Finally attach a one page CV/resume to your statement of purpose

The statement of purpose will be evaluated in terms of:

• Your approach to innovation
• Your definition of design, your role as designer and the future challenges you see
• Your capacity to describe your skills and how they might contribute in a multidisciplinary team
• Your proficiency in expressing yourself in English

Application Procedure and Deadlines

The application process consists of two steps:

Step 1

Apply to the programme online at Apply to the programme in English online at universityadmissions.se, or apply in Swedish at antagning.se. Submissions of documentation attesting your eligibility for Master´s level study must be submitted here.

Step 2

Submit your portfolio to Linnaeus University at universityadmissions.se (in English), or antagning.se (in Swedish).

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 MFA students. The portfolio is regarded as a whole and the portfolio is evaluated in terms of the following criteria:

• Artistic quality
• Visualization skills
• 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 www.universityadmissions.se or www.antagning.se.

Checklist for Application

• I have submitted my application through antagning.se or universityadmissions.se
• I have prepared my portfolio according to the guidelines provided.
• I have included a Letter of intent with my portfolio.
• I have uploaded my portfolio and made sure that all my files are included, and that I have submitted written descriptions of my uploaded files.

After submitting your application and portfolio you'll be contacted if you have been selected for interview. At the interview, we ask you to bring a hard copy of your portfolio. If you're an international or EU student who is unable to attend an interview in person, we may offer a telephone/online interview.

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 the application and portfolio, or other related issue don´t hesitate to inquire by e-mail to programme coordinator Miguel Salinas: miguel.salinas@lnu.se

“In recent years, the approach to design and planning has evolved significantly, shifting towards a growth mindset. This concept is a framework I learned during my studies. It encourages individuals to remain open-minded and view challenges as opportunities for growth. Instead of saying "no" we say "not yet", allowing ourselves time to adapt and grow into new roles.”

Rong had already worked for IKEA in China where she got a taste of Swedish culture and the IKEA way of doing things. So, when it was time for further studies Europe and especially Sweden was at the top of her list. She chose to study design in the transdisciplinary programme Innovation through Business, Engineering and Design.

“I wanted something more connected to the real world, a programme where I could work alongside engineers and blend different fields of expertise.”

Working in a creative environment Rong sees change as constant, and that it’s essential to stay open to it.

“In my daily life, I focus on small actions that collectively create significant impact. Whether it's in planning, design, or sustainability, every small effort contributes to a larger goal.”

It was during her maternity leave that she found out about the master’s programme Innovation through Business, Engineering and Design, and decided to go for it.

“I chose to study the programme because I found it refreshing in comparison to what was offered in other places. I have always liked to collaborate and work with people from different disciplines. I was also compelled by the focus on sustainability and the opportunity to explore and learn about design from a Scandinavian perspective”, Juliana says.

As a PhD student, Juliana works in the intersections between Design, Sustainability and Life at Home. Her research is practice-oriented and conducted in collaboration with householders, mostly women living in Sweden and Colombia. The aim is to create space for continuous dialogue, a space to think about possibilities and actions relating to the climate crisis.

“I am interested in exploring alternative ways to understand the concept of home and sustainable living through relational cosmologies and practices. For example, I am exploring the cosmology of Buen Vivir (Living Well) from the Andean territory in Abya Yala, South America, based on relationality and reciprocity as principles to live in harmony with our planet”, Juliana explains. 

Juliana also takes PhD courses and participates in several research seminars and activities. Furthermore, she works as a design lecturer on the programme Design + Change, at Linnaeus University. 

“I enjoy teaching and facilitating meetings and interactions between people, and between people and nature”, Juliana continues.

During her studies she was introduced to the concept of meta-design as a framework that inspires and supports design for change and collaboration. Something she wants to continue using in the future.

“When I finish my PhD in 2024, I hope I can continue working at the department of design, both with research and as a design lecturer. I would like to combine this with leading research projects in collaboration with communities and organisations”, Juliana concludes.

In my class, there were students from Italy, Colombia, China and Iran – and from Sweden, of course. To have fellow students with different cultural and professional backgrounds was a great experience. In particular, I liked the group projects where we worked together with the students from the design and business specialisations of the programme. As a matter of fact, the interdisciplinary approach on the innovation master was one of the main reasons why I chose to study that programme.

The programme involved hands-on projects and enabled us to complete the theoretical part of our studies by applying the theory on real working-life situations. Through contacts with partners and contributors from the private sector, we had the opportunity to build our own networks during our studies. Also, when working in projects with companies we really felt more like colleagues than students.

Now, I am working at IKEA of Sweden as a laws & standards specialist. When I'm working with product requirement, safety, and compliance, I can really make use of the technical competencies that I gained through my studies at Linnaeus University. At IKEA of Sweden, we have a diverse working environment where all diversities melt and merge in a common IKEA culture of shared values.
Sweden truly is a great country to study in, both what goes for the education itself and the social aspect. The master programme was the perfect preparation for my working life.

/Tayfun, former student on the master programme innovation through business, engineering and design – specialisation engineerin

In simple words, the aim is to tie together a number of disciplines to create a better life at home for the many people. It deals partly with what fundamental needs we have and what furniture we need, but also with how production can be made as cheap and environmentally friendly as possible.

As a result of The Bridge, Linnaeus University has been able to establish an IKEA professorship, unique to the world. The research environment revolving around the subject area Life at Home is developed in collaboration with doctoral students. It is this research environment that makes it possible for Linnaeus University to establish the interdisciplinary master programme.

The master programme has an interdisciplinary perspective, combining engineering, business, and design. The programme enables students to learn from each other's knowledge and improves their ability to work with different projects and product development. The master programme is offered in close collaboration with a number of companies, IKEA being one of them.

Read more about The Bridge