• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university

• Online application form and non-refundable $80 fee

• Official college or university transcripts

• Three letters of recommendation from instructors or practicing professionals, submitted as part of online application form

• Résumé - include any professional experience, internships, print or web publications, and awards

• Proof of English proficiency (required of applicants whose primary language is not English)

• Upon acceptance to the program, international applicants are required to submit documentation of sufficient financial resources to attend SVA.

• Portfolio (further explanation below)

• Statement of purpose (Approx. 500 words; more info below)

Your portfolio should be a collection of 6-to-8 projects.


Projects should:

• Demonstrate an ability to identify and think through a problem

• Articulate the designer’s approach and resolution in compelling ways

• Offer creative solutions.


Your projects should show the process and the finished work. We want to see how you came to a resolution, including some of your decision points along the way. Do not be afraid to show broken models, failed attempts, iteration, and learning. Finally, we are looking for the “whole person,” so every project in your portfolio does not have to be a piece of design. Side projects, fine art, and hobbies are all interesting to us as well!


** For non-designers: SVA Product Design welcomes candidates who do not have a formal design degree or experience in professional design practice. Here, your portfolio will be a collection of projects that convey your ability to problem solve and to think critically and analytically. Projects might take the form of writing, business plans, community engagements, volunteer initiatives, crafts or hobbies, etc.


Portfolio Submission Format:
Only the following formats are acceptable:

• URL link to an online portfolio (preferred)

• PDF document

** Please do not send loose jpg images or links to DropBox folders.

Beyond your portfolio, we want to know who you are as a designer, how critical thinking takes shape in your design work or other pursuits, and why you are choosing to apply to the SVA MFA Product Design department at this time in your life.

Below are some suggestions that may help you structure your statement of purpose. Feel free to borrow some of these points (all are not necessary) as they seem most relevant and natural for you to speak to:

• Why are you applying to the MFA Products of Design department at this time; what appeals to you about the program; why do you feel that it is a good fit for you?

• What is your design story? In other words, what is your relationship to design, making, problem solving, visual art, craft, UX/UI, business thinking or otherwise? Give us a sense of who you are as a designer and who you want to be. If you are not yet a designer, give us a sense of what type of designer you want to be.

• How do you plan to leverage design to affect and influence change? In what ways are you dreaming about?

• How do current events, politics, your life experience, identity and history affect your thinking and creative life?

USE OF AI: Please do not use AI for your writing. Your Statement of Intent must showcase your individual and authentic voice with writing that is new and original. If you use the assistance of a translation tool, please cite this at the end of your statement.