Reflect on your experience, motivation, and research goals. What drives your research motivations, and how do your motivations link to your background and long-term goals?
Think beyond the technical space when brainstorming ideas for your personal statement. What do you care about and value—besides getting a higher-level degree? Include experiences that demonstrate your leadership, organization, and communication skills as well. Whether it’s growing up on a farm, mentoring high school students, or leading a robotics team, these experiences can be used to demonstrate motivation, commitment, and a good work ethic. These are attributes that can help you be successful in a research lab.
To demonstrate how well you fit with the program, you must know what they value and what they are working toward. Each department has different goals and missions; some might value fundamental science, others engineering innovation, and others societal impact. Here are initial steps to take while researching a graduate program:
A graduate committee will review your application and determine if you would make a successful graduate student in the department. Although the determination varies from committee to committee, the reviewers will be looking for the following criteria, which you should specifically address in your statement:
A graduate committee is usually composed of faculty from the program of interest—and may be the same people who will spend years working with you if you’re accepted. They more than likely have the following:
If applying to MIT’s Nuclear Science and Engineering department, you can assume your audience knows what a tokamak is, but you cannot expect (all of) them to know every component. Likewise, you need not list all of your courses but could emphasize one or two advanced subjects if they are relevant to your past and intended future research.
Return to Contents
As long as you stay within the specifications set by your target program, you have the freedom to structure your personal statement as you wish. Still, you can use the structure shown on the right as a loose guide for demonstrating match.
Build a personal narrative that ties together your personal history, experiences, and motivations. In addition to a few paragraphs (2-3) at the beginning of your statement, you can weave your motivation and goals throughout your document to create a cohesive story. This cements your identity into the minds of the graduate committee. If they remember you, they will be more likely to accept you!
When crafting a personal narrative, consider the following:
Keep these questions in mind as you are writing other sections of your personal statement.
This section is typically 2-4 paragraphs long, with examples to illustrate your point. To decide which experiences to share, ask yourself these two questions: In which ways did this experience help me grow? Why should the review committee care? One common mistake is to describe an experience in great detail and then fail to translate it into relevant strengths that the committee would care about. Therefore, explicitly say what that experience means for your future goals, including your work as a graduate student.
Spend 1-2 paragraphs describing your research goals. Briefly summarize the projects you want to work on (and professors you’d like to work with, if applicable), and how those fit in with your experiences. Describe how your past experiences have prepared you for working on this new project in graduate school. If you’re already in graduate school, you can spend more time on this section, as it is also a part of your past experiences.
Finally, your long-term career goals should be a logical completion of the personal narrative you’ve built throughout the document, and usually takes up one paragraph. How will this graduate program fit into your future career? How will graduate school in general allow you to pursue these goals? Because your personal statement should show that you are a qualified match, describe how your goals overlap with those of the department or program. Your readers will not hold you to these goals, but they will see you are forward-thinking and have ambitions.
3.1. use concrete examples.
Make your relevant experiences tangible by stating specific outcomes such as awards, discoveries, and publications. Whenever possible, try to quantify the experience. How many people were on your team? How many protocols did you develop? As a TA, how often did you meet with your students? Here are some examples of vague and concrete experiences:
(less effective) | (more effective) |
My mind was opened to the possibility of using different programming languages together to create code that is faster to run and easier to understand and modify. | During this project, I collaborated with other group members to develop a user-friendly Python wrapper for a 10,000-line Fortran library. |
I won the physic department’s Laser Focus prize. | I won the physics department’s prize for the top student in my cohort of 20 students. |
I learned about how particle accelerators work. | I took apart and repaired two electromagnetic steering filters inside of a particle accelerator. |
Even if it feels obvious to you, you need to explicitly answer these questions to your audience. Here are some examples experiences that have been expanded to contain meaning:
“As a senior, I received an A in a graduate-level CFD course.” | “My advanced coursework demonstrates my ability to thrive in a challenging academic environment. A graduate-level computational fluid dynamics course challenged me to…” |
“I independently developed a digital data acquisition software for gamma spectroscopy.” | “My research experiences have developed my problem-solving abilities. When the commercial software was insufficient for my gamma spectroscopy project, I … This has given me the confidence and software skills to attack open-ended research problems.” |
Here are examples of graduate school personal statements from students who have been accepted into MIT NSE. Note that prompts vary from program to program, and sometimes from year to year within the same department. Be sure to follow the prompt for your program and your application cycle.
To get started or receive feedback on your graduate school personal statement, make an appointment with one of us. We would love to help you!
Visual Communications Personal Statement
I believe that life is an infinitive creation process in which art is the background of the world. Owing to the passion for creativity and sharing ideas, I consider to deepen the knowledge of visual communication, design studies in a university degree. In addition, it may become a big success for a future career and the best solution to explore the disciplines of applied art in communication, advertising and management fields.
Apparently, it is required to have certain skills for virtual and actual design. Such skills as drawing techniques (assumed after 6-year drawing courses), problem-solving and creative abilities, self-motivation and initiative gained either in school and life are effective. Whereas A levels at Art, History and English only increases my interest in various contexts of visual communication and design spheres. As well as linguistic scope, which enables to communicate with dissimilar culture people, as I am a multilingual person I am able to speak in five languages (English, German, Russian, Polish and Lithuanian), historic analytical thinking is also rewarding while perceiving humanities and art influence.
I had a major experience in creative industries while I was managing a bar-gallery. Starting from public relations with clients to designing advertisements and organizing events, the practice broadened my knowledge about business itself applied with art. It showed that art is flexible and relevant to different spheres and contexts. For instance, when volunteering in various open-air festivals I usually worked with decorations, currently I have a part-time job as a waitress and either the responsibility for advertising, printing jobs is set on me, as I have the best creative skills in the crew.
An active lifestyle represents my universal personality the best. Great responsibility and devotion, leadership and team work skills reflects the positions of a form prefect, being chosen for sate basketball team and trusted as its captain, participation in public conferences, volunteering in social-charity work. What is more, I enjoy reading, especially books which are written in foreign language, while it is possible to have a deeper insight to various contentions. This stimulates my muse for composing texts about life including art.
Design field is indeed flexible, whereas my characteristics, life experience and universal personality would definitely cooperate in the world of creative industries. I have genuine interest for tuition at university as it could help me to discover far more about visual communications. Even so it would be a great chance to reveal personal ideas securing further career or creating brighter tomorrow.
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Comments on the statement:.
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Discover personal statement examples written by students accepted onto design and related courses. Read through the examples to help shape your own personal statement.
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The underlying message is that tutors want to know about you, your practice, your inspirations, and your aspirations, and for your personal statement to act as written accompaniment to your portfolio and performance at interview.
Admissions tutors prefer to read personal statements that don't stick to a predictable formula – here are a few tactics to ensure yours packs a punch.
It's all summed up nicely by Arts University Bournemouth whose advice is:
'Be focused on the field you're applying for (no scattergun approach), name artists or designers you admire, think contemporary, reflect on exhibitions or galleries or events you've visited, and don't think "I'll tell them at the interview" – put it in the statement!'
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Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.
Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.
A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program. You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.
A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.
While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.
Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.
However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.
When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.
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A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:
Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).
You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.
A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.
Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.
A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.
Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.
Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.
While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.
You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.
Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.
Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.
PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies
For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.
Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:
Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.
PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition
This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.
Here’s what works well in this statement:
This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important. However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:
PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health
This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:
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Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.
Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.
This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.
It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.
Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.
Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.
If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.
Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.
In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.
Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.
In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.
Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.
This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.
Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.
This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.
I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.
The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.
This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.
So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.
Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.
This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.
The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.
These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.
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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).
These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.
Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.
This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.
Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled
It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.
In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)
We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:
Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.
Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.
Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.
Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .
If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .
Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.
See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .
Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon
A personal statement lets a student state his goals and communicate his ultimate mission. If you need to write a personal statement for a communications studies program, it should focus on what you hope to gain from the experience. The statement should be well written, increasing the likelihood of being accepted to the program.
Make a list of your goals and the reasons why you want to major in communications.
Order the list in terms of what is most important to you. A personal statement is more effective when you let your convictions govern the comments instead of writing what you think the reader wants to hear.
Write one statement that encompasses the main reason why you want to enter the program. This should be the first sentence of your personal statement.
Follow with three or four more reasons why you want to enter the program and what it would mean to you. Mention the focus of study you plan to pursue.
Proofread your paper and fix any grammatical mistakes. Have at least two other people read it over, too, including anyone whom you consider a good writer.
How to write a strong personal statement.
How to write an essay with a thesis statement.
Miriam C has been writing since 2007. She earned her bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University. Among her many jobs, Miriam C has taught middle-school students. She's written for Families.com and other clients on finances, family and education.
The best design portfolios come in all shapes, sizes and formats.
Getting your portfolio right is vital – it can be the difference between getting hired or not. And there's no end to how creative you can be with your portfolio design. If you need to update yours, looking at a few examples is a good place to start, which is why we've collated this list of the best design portfolios around.
To start building your design portfolio, you need a platform to create it on. Check out our best website builder roundup, or you can head over to the best portfolio templates for pre-existing designs. But for now, just scroll down to indulge in some of the best design portfolios, listed in no particular order.
01. bruno simon.
Paris-based creative developer Bruno Simon has approached his portfolio in an unexpected way. You can actually drive a virtual car between his projects and experience using a keyboard. In 2019, it won Site of the Year at awwwards , and it's not hard to see why. We wouldn't recommend this type of portfolio to everyone, but if you can make the design of your portfolio show off the skills you want to highlight, then you should.
Gus is a creative strategy company rather than a straight design site, but we think there are plenty of lessons to be learned from its brilliant site. It's cleverly laid out on a grid, and strikes an irreverent tone while giving the reader exactly what they're looking for, with an easy to navigate UX. We particularly like the ' frequently asked questions ' section.
London branding and design studio, Good Habit , has a fun and fresh portfolio that beautifully displays its work. A plainer Studio section outlines what the studio does, while the brands section displays projects with large format photography intermixed with sections of texts. It really works.
This Switzerland based design studio is absolutely jam-packed full of fun and characterful work. Studio Feixen perfectly showcases its vibrant work with a mix-match style portfolio that abstains from a 'less-is-more' approach. Despite the examples being framed in a range of different sized shapes on the portfolio page, the site still looks cohesive.
Founded by creative director Roanne Adams, NYC-based RoAndCo offers beautifully crafted design, branding and creative direction to clients in fashion, beauty, tech and lifestyle. Viewing RoAndCo’s portfolio is an experience in itself, in keeping with the studio's work ethos. Projects are presented in an editorial-like fashion, allowing the viewer to flick through split-screen images, animated web presentations and full-screen video. It's a carefully considered design portfolio and a pleasure to view, whether you're browsing on a computer or a mobile device.
Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.
Paris-based interface designer Robin Mastromarino employs some neat UI animation touches to keeps things fresh on his design portfolio site. His projects appear as though they're on a wheel, juddering into view, which is an engaging effect. The images in each case study respond to scrolling by warping slightly. It's an effect that we wouldn't recommend for every creative, but for a UI design specialist, this strikes the right note and gives a taster of what the designer can do.
Entering Active Theory 's portfolio website is like visiting a whole other world. It employs a moody, almost cyberpunk aesthetic throughout, and to great effect. From the atmospheric homepage animation with mouse-activated glitch effects to the trippy About page, the setting all gels together to form a cohesive package. The studio keeps things cleaner for its project pages. Each example features a full-screen animation overlaid with a short blurb and relevant links to further information, including detailed case studies hosted on Medium.
Raw Material' s site is a feast for the eyes. The Work section is particularly fun, with more detail on projects shown through diagrams and images. We also like the 3D models in the 'Hello' section, which also appear in 'Contact'. Overall it's a fun fresh site that makes the studio stand out from the crowd.
Velvet Spectrum is the online moniker of visual artist and designer Luke Choice. He shows that simplicity can also make an impact on his homepage, which shows a montage of uber-colourful thumbnails that lead through to visually arresting super-size examples of his work for maximum impact. The black background keeps things clean and helps the work stand out. It makes for a simple but highly effective design portfolio.
Locomotive , a studio based in Quebec, Canada, specialises in crafting digital experiences, so it's taken care to make its design portfolio site an all-round delightful and engaging experience. Playful, entertaining animations bring the site to life, and not just on the homepage. It seems like thought and effort has been put into every detail. Little surprises keep the viewer's interest while they browse through the site, making this a perfect example of how animated flourishes can be used effectively without them becoming gimmicky or distracting.
Named after its two creative directors, Thomas Austin and Thomas Coombes, Studio Thomas in East London creates visual communication for both physical and digital worlds. Its portfolio is a superb example of Brutalist web design with plenty of neat touches. Projects are presented in an orderly but eye-catching way with clear visuals and wireframe models. The site perfectly reflects the studio's explorative and experimental attitude, and it backs up the studio's claim to offer "design for bold brands."
Describing itself as a "badass digital studio in Brooklyn", Buzzworthy Studio really needed to come up with the goods to back up that claim, and happily, its portfolio does the job. It features dazzling web techniques from the off. Bold typography and animation combine to grab your attention, and a strong eye for aesthetics ensures that viewers stick around to explore all of Buzzworthy's projects. It's one hell of a calling card.
This stunning portfolio site for Barcelona-based designer Xavier Cussó was built by Burundanga Studio. It shows off Cussó's work with bold colours, in-your-face typography and practically every animation and parallax scrolling trick in the book. But that doesn't make it feel overloaded. The animation makes and impact and maintains the viewer's attention throughout.
Illustrator and artist Merijn Hoss takes a more pared-back approach, but his design portfolio is still very effective. Hoss creates beautifully detailed psychedelic works of art, but his profile presents his work in quite a simple, clean format. It's one of the most traditional approaches we've included on this list of design portfolios and isn't nearly as flashy as some of the previous examples, but it works well because the colourful thumbnails really pop out of the gallery's white background, putting the focus on the artist's work. Click the thumbnails, and large project images and a short description are revealed. Hoss's design portfolio is proof that you don't need all the bells and whistles to make an impact.
Illustrator Malika Favre uses a full-screen edge-to-edge tapestry of thumbnails to entice visitors into viewing her vibrant artwork in more detail. The colours and layout already draw attention, while the arrangement of animated pieces within still artworks serves even more to keep eyes on the screen. Once clicked, the thumbnails reveal a full-screen gallery presentation of the work featured. It's displayed on complementary coloured backgrounds that show off her work to great effect and makes for a bold, colourful presentation that grabs the viewer's attention.
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Ruth spent a couple of years as Deputy Editor of Creative Bloq, and has also either worked on or written for almost all of the site's former and current print titles, from Computer Arts to ImagineFX. She now spends her days reviewing mattresses and hiking boots as the Outdoors and Wellness editor at T3.com, but continues to write about design on a freelance basis in her spare time.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday authorized System leaders to begin the design of the second building for the Texas A&M-Fort Worth research campus.
Just last summer, the Texas A&M System broke ground on an eight-story, $180 million Law & Education Building to house its education components. Thursday’s vote authorizes the design of the Research & Innovation Building A, which primarily will be home to A&M system agencies participating in the research campus in southeast downtown, near the expanding convention center.
The building could cost up to $260 million, including 150,000 gross-square-feet of offices and lab space for the Texas A&M System at an estimated cost of $150 million. The remainder would be for private sector partners as well as parking that could be used by campus tenants and the public.
Among the tenants of that building will be the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
“Our state agencies bring a whole different dynamic to the campus, whether through research, workforce training or other services to the community and local businesses,” said Chancellor John Sharp. “The A&M System is here to support the regional economy.”
The Law & Education Building is being paid for with bonds backed by the Permanent University Fund. The Research & Innovation Building A is being financed with a combination of tenant leases, donations and parking revenue.
Long-range plans leave space for future expansion for Research & Innovation Building B. Also, the existing law school will eventually be demolished and replaced with a multi-purpose community building called the Gateway Building.
In other action, the board:
Media contact: Laylan Copelin, Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications, 979-458-6425 or 512-289-2782 (cell), [email protected]
Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is exploring participation with the new campus.
Howdy Week will kick off on Thursday, Aug. 15 with six days of activities and events including the President's Picnic and Rec-A-Palooza.
A Texas A&M veterinarian says owners should be aware of the risks of letting their dogs drink from public water sources.
These accelerated aging effects include high cholesterol, heart problems, arthritis and early onset dementia.
Subscribe to the Texas A&M Today newsletter for the latest news and stories every week.
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Graphics/illustration personal statement example.
Studying a foundation in Art and Design has given me a better insight into what path I want to follow in the future. I have always been interested in creating graphic designs using computer software, but I am now finding that using traditional means are just as enjoyable, if not more rewarding. In my work i draw inspiration from my past and present life experiences. I find this is a good way to express myself and my ideas. I often draw inspiration from the daily happenings of things around me, such as humorous conversations I hear throughout the day, interesting architecture and stories in the newspaper. I enjoy being creative and I view Art as a natural way for me to express myself.
After completing a BTEC in Graphic Design, I worked voluntarily at a local publishers that were willing to offer me a temporary work placement designing book covers and learning about the industry. I learnt the values of team work, meeting deadlines, working on my own initiative, and about the various Graphic programmes used such as In Design, Photoshop, and Illustrator. After a few months working there I was given more and more freedom, working with clients to design book covers, posters, business cards and invitations. I learned a lot about the influence of type and image in enhancing visual communication. It was very rewarding to see my work in print, and made me believe even more that this is what I wanted to do. However, I wanted to push myself further and learn more, which led me to the decision to take on an Art Foundation course.
The foundation course allowed me to experiment with different media, and bring out more of my creative side. I was drawn to this course because it offered more freedom. Throughout my time here I have realised that I am also very fond of illustration. I am excited to try out new techniques and different ways in which I can illustrate and put across ideas. I have also had the chance to use traditional techniques while on the course rather than just using the computer. I have developed a new interest in photography, both digital and with film.
I am very influenced by the works of Russel Fei, a children's illustrator from Japan, he is often inspired by dreams and creates beautiful unique, fantasy worlds using a mixture of ink, print and photoshop. I have also started a dream diary which I am hoping to take ideas for my own work.
In my spare time I enjoy reading horror novels and thrillers, these often give me inspiration for illustrations and design. I love visiting art galleries and exhibitions, after visiting the Tate Gallery in Liverpool, the Josh Kirby exhibition caught my attention in particular. He was the original Discworld illustrator and really brought Terry Pratchett's ideas to life.
Studying Graphic Design and Illustration at university will develop my skills, help develop a more individual style of illustrating and designing, and also help to build a strong, individual portfolio leading to a successful career.
This personal statement was written by Shellie2010 for application in 2011.
This personal statement is unrated
Tue, 20/03/2012 - 21:22
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog. Great.
Thu, 25/07/2013 - 07:02
Great blog.Really thank you! Really Cool.
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Applying for an Communication Design at your university will facilitate me in achieving my goals as I aspire to pursue a career in Graphic Design. There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous. Author's Comments. Please I am about submitting this for an application at Robert Gordon ...
Personal Statement Example: Introduction. "The power and value attached to the tools and processes of mass communication are incredible, to the extent that the exchange of ideas through digital media fills our lives. Contemporary social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook spread information and knowledge that affects everyone ...
Graphic Communication Design Personal Statement Example. Although growing up in a practical household full of businessmen, I've always been inclined towards art, and I recognise myself as a creative personality - being the first in my family to choose the creative arts as my future path. Art has always sparked as a simple interest, colouring ...
Graphic Communication Design Personal Statement Example . Although growing up in a practical household full of businessmen, I've always been inclined towards art, and I recognise myself as a creative personality - being the first in my family to choose the creative arts as my future path. Art has always sparked as a simple interest, colouring ...
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Graphic Design Personal Statement 3 The way visual communication can engage people's minds from a simple sign to an elaborate advert has always interested me. ... For example. you will see that a media and communication personal statement sample includes relevant information to the course and that it describes the main argument through ...
Structure of a personal statement. As long as you stay within the specifications set by your target program, you have the freedom to structure your personal statement as you wish. Still, you can use the structure shown on the right as a loose guide for demonstrating match. 2.1. Create a personal narrative.
Media and communication personal statements. On this page you'll find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study media, communication and related courses at university. These personal statements are written by real students - don't expect them all to be perfect! But by reading through a few of these samples ...
Graphic Design is always around us, and learning how to communicate in a visual manner has inspired me to learn more about the subject. The words 'create' and 'design' have always sparked a sense of enthusiasm and excitement within me. From an early age I have always had a creative characteristic which I feel is my most dominant. For many years I have enjoyed designing logos, packaging ...
Personal Statement:Visual Communications 1. Visual Communications Personal Statement. I believe that life is an infinitive creation process in which art is the background of the world. Owing to the passion for creativity and sharing ideas, I consider to deepen the knowledge of visual communication, design studies in a university degree.
Degree Course Quiz. Find the ideal university course for you in minutes by taking our degree matchmaker quiz today. Browse our range of Design personal statement examples. Gain inspiration & make sure you're on the right track when writing your own personal statement.
What art and design tutors are looking for. The underlying message is that tutors want to know about you, your practice, your inspirations, and your aspirations, and for your personal statement to act as written accompaniment to your portfolio and performance at interview. 'Stay on task, focus it, and try to get across your personality and ...
I decided to pursue my bachelors degree in Arts University Bournemouth for Visual Communication4tgtgr. This personal statement is unrated. Growing up in a practical household of science and mathematics, I was always recognised as the creative personality- being the first in my family to choose the creative arts as my future path.
7. Professional statement for a graphic designer. 'I'm an award-winning freelance graphic designer who has delivered creative and engaging solutions across brand identity, print, packaging and digital media. My work has been featured in various publications, including Pape, Travel Now and Ocean Magazine.'. 8.
Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3. PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 - Public Health. This is my successful personal statement for Columbia's Master's program in Public Health. We'll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I'll highlight a couple of things that ...
ca. contribute to the prog. m to which you are applying. It should communicate these 5 things:1. Y. ur Writing Abilities. This is your opportunity to SHOW your writing and communication skills. A well-written personal statement demons. te. your skillf. grammar, organization, creativity, and ability to communicate effectively. 2. Who You Ar.
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The personal statement, an integral component of most graduate or professional school applications, gives you an opportunity to tell your story to the admissions committee. A well-written, reflective personal statement can greatly enhance an application. It will not only demonstrate your writing skills but also explain why you are a qualified ...
A personal statement lets a student state his goals and communicate his ultimate mission. If you need to write a personal statement for a communications studies program, it should focus on what you hope to gain from the experience. The statement should be well written, increasing the likelihood of being accepted to the program.
I am looking forward to moving away from home and gaining more independence. I am eager to meet like-minded people and I feel that I have the attitude, skills and enthusiasm to be successful at university and in becoming a professional designer/illustrator. This personal statement was written by rricky for application in 2009.
Its portfolio is a superb example of Brutalist web design with plenty of neat touches. Projects are presented in an orderly but eye-catching way with clear visuals and wireframe models. The site perfectly reflects the studio's explorative and experimental attitude, and it backs up the studio's claim to offer "design for bold brands." 12.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday authorized System leaders to begin the design of the second building for the Texas A&M-Fort Worth research campus. ... Media contact: Laylan Copelin, Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications, 979-458-6425 or 512-289-2782 (cell), [email protected]. Related Stories Campus Life ...
Art & Design Personal Statement Example 2. "Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one" Stella Adler. Where the line of normalcy is shaped differently in the eyes of artists, as everything is relative, there exists the freedom that only artists can create - the space, colour and texture on which that line of ...
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Studying Graphic Design and Illustration at university will develop my skills, help develop a more individual style of illustrating and designing, and also help to build a strong, individual portfolio leading to a successful career. This personal statement was written by Shellie2010 for application in 2011. This personal statement is unrated.