Visual Communication +Change

180 credits

Do you want to use visual communication to make a difference in the world? Then this is the right degree for you. The programme combines creative practices, visual art, and graphic design with knowledge of sustainability to prepare you for a profession as a visual communicator with a diverse set of graphic and conceptual tools.

This degree programme gives you an introduction to today’s major global concerns, as well as visual and digital tools to help bring order to a sometimes overwhelming flow of information, and to truly affect people.

The programme is delivered through a series of projects, and you will work independently as well as engage in group work. In specific modules, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with local and regional community actors in Småland.

The Visual Communication + Change programme is delivered in English and we welcome students from all over the world. This means that you as a student are part of a group defined by diversity and are well prepared for an international design career.

Visual Communication +Change is located in Växjö, Småland – a region characterized by entrepreneurship, production and craft. Collaborative projects and educational visits will give you unique opportunities to forge networks and learn as well as to build your portfolio.

The study environment in Växjö is explorative and creative, and you will work closely with our practising designers, visual artists, lecturers and guest lecturers from various departments at the university.

Career

The programme prepares you for a number of careers in the world where you can use your creative skills in relation to your understanding of the complexity of sustainability.

Recent graduates from the programme work in various disciplines and fields: working as independent graphic designers or for graphic design companies, human rights organisations, NGOs, political parties, publications, and with initiatives run by local communities or municipalities. Some have also started their own companies and many are currently attending graduate studies at prestigious Swedish universities.

Degree

Bachelor of Fine Arts with a specialisation in visual communication (Main field of studies: Design)

International possibilities

During the programme, you can do field work abroad as part of your degree project. This may involve collecting material abroad for a period of roughly two months. It is also possible to carry out an international exchange in the year following your graduation from the programme.

Learn more about what international possibilities are offered at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Linnaeus University.

Application and portfolio

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

Please note that admission to the programme is based on an alternative selection, which includes a portfolio, letter of intent, and grades. Of these selected criteria, the portfolio will be weighed highest. You have two options to apply:

  1. With portfolio, letter of intent, and grades
  2. With letter of intent and grades

Please note that letter of intent is required in both options. For portfolio and letter of intent guidelines, see below.

There is two application rounds to apply to the program:

  1. Deadline to apply for international students is 15 January 2025. Application code LNU-F2694. Your portfolio and letter of intent should be submitted, no later than 1 February 2025. Please note. The order of your ranked choices is crucial. Please carefully review the information on "Rank your selections" on universityadmissions.se.
  2. Deadline to apply for EU applicants is 15 April 2025. Application code: LNU-G0355. Your portfolio and letter of intent should be submitted, no later than 2 May 2025.
    Please note. During the second admission round, you can only apply via antagning.se. Unfortunately, it’s only in Swedish and if you need help with your application, please contact admission@lnu.se. Also note. The order of your ranked choices is crucial. Please carefully review the information on "Prioritera" on antagning.se.


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Rabea

"I've always been interested in Swedish design, and before I started studying here at Linnaeus University I had never been to Scandinavia. What appealed to me most about the visual communication + change programme was the mix of design and sustainability. The programme has made me more aware and provided me with the tools I need to reach out with my ideas and help contribute to making the future a better one. My dream job would be to run a café and freelance as a graphic designer – a dream that's about to come true since I will soon be opening a café in Kalmar! The name of the café will be Oas [Oasis]and it will focus on organic food and sustainability and offer a lot of locally produced stuff". /Rabea, student on the programme visual communication + change. #humansoflnu

Student project

Showing the cover page of My Snus Handbook

My snus handbook - Rethinking the lifestyle related to nicotine pouches is a degree project made by 3rd year students. This is a collaborative design project that uses methods from human-centered design and visual communication to help female students who use white snus to rethink, question and reflect on the lifestyle and emotions associated with nicotine pouches. The outcome of this project is a handbook containing self-reflective exercises and the thoughts and experiences of female white snus users. The project was done in collaboration with female students who use nicotine pouches, a public health developer and a dental hygienist.  

See the full handbook here: My snus handbook - Rethinking the lifestyle related to nicotine pouches (pdf file).

Dinner Time: Made by 1st year students in Kalmar during their module 3 Human Needs vs. Luxury - Motion Graphics, 2nd semester.

"The movie Dinner Time is a critical statement towards the meat consumption/production in today's society. The movie is set in a parallel universe where the roles of the animals and the humans are switched. This is to criticise how meat has become a luxury rather than a human need.
In the movie we follow a mother and her son performing their daily routine of shopping/preparing for dinner. The main characters meet other animal characters such as a bull, a sheep and a pig. These characters perform activities that are perceived as normal when done by humans. The movie begins with the main characters entering a supermarket and buying groceries. The middle scene takes place in the kitchen where the mother cow prepares dinner while watching a cooking show. The last scenes take the audience to the place where the meat is produced and transported. This emphasises the circle of meat consumption."

Josipa has found the right education

Bild på Josipa

Josipa has earlier studied sociology but even though she was passionate about the subject she felt that something was missing. When she finally came across Visual Communication + Change she felt that the programme offered exactly what she was looking for.

Curiosity led Carla to Visual Communication + Change

Picture at Carla

Carla has the opportunity to work with her passion art and being creative during her education, something that she really appreciates 

 

More information about the programme

Växjö – the student city with a living campus

Just south of Växjö’s city centre you will find Linnaeus University’s campus. In Växjö, many students choose to live on campus.

Here you will have five minutes’ walking distance to friends, restaurants, lecture rooms, gym, grocery store, the University Library, nature trails, and student pubs. If you live in another part of Växjö, you can quickly get to the university by bus or bicycle.

With its 90 000 inhabitants, Växjö is one of the fastest growing cities in Sweden. Here you will find the famous Småland entrepreneurship spirit and a lot of companies, for instance within the IT industry – perfect for when you are looking for an internship position or a job. Växjö is also a picturesque city where you are always close to forests and water.

Learn more about our student cities.

Students in house M