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Personal statement advice: art and design

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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.

How to make your art and design statement stand out

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.

• Focus on the course: Martin Conreen, design admissions tutor at Goldsmiths, University of London, urges applicants for design courses 'not to over mention art' but to stay focused on design. He also feels some applicants waste too much space on non-relevant factors like their sporting achievements.
• Your influences: Martin adds he wants to hear who your influences are, why they inspire you, and 'how their work has resonance with your own, or with your own ideas'.
• Examples of what inspires you: David Baldry, fine art course leader at University Campus Suffolk, echoes this: 'Tell us what inspires you. We want to know what contemporary art interests you, so talk about key artists or an exhibition that made an impression on you. We want to know how you respond to the world creatively, so talk about your experiences or projects you’ve developed independently. Also, edit it so it sounds punchy'.
• Demonstrate your artistic ambitions: Alison Jones, fine art admissions tutor at Goldsmiths, is looking for 'interesting individuals who have a passion for art and a commitment to developing themselves as artists. Therefore, your personal statement should demonstrate an understanding of your own work, focusing on what is unique about your practice'.
• Be original: starting your statement with a well-known quote – such as 'fashion is not something that exists in dresses only' – is inadvisable. 189 applicants quoted that exact Coco Chanel snippet last year, so it really won't make you stand out from the crowd.

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!'

Find out more about studying art and design, including entry requirements, why you should study it, and possible careers it could lead on to.  

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Art and design personal statements

On this page you'll find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study art, design 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, you'll be able to get some ideas and inspiration for your own personal statement. 

Art and design personal statement examples

More help with your personal statement.

You can find personal statement examples for other courses by using this subject list, or by returning to our personal statements by subject page.

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• FindAMasters
• Graphic Design Masters Personal Statement Sample

Written by Hannah Slack

This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Graphic Design. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement .

With the modern boom of social media and internet marketing it has become more important than ever to produce quick and easily consumable media. In the last few years, I have developed an interest in the processes and thoughts behind effective logo design. A logo not only needs to represent a brand perfectly and timelessly, but it needs to subtly communicate key brand ideals, evoke positive emotion and foster easy recognition. I have therefore chosen to apply for a Masters in Graphic Design to better understand the artistries behind effective logo design and continue to develop my skills in customer communication and software usage.

I first entered my undergraduate degree with an interest in many different elements of graphic design. Having taken an array of engaging modules in a variety of potential specialisms, I achieved an overall 1st degree qualification. The variety of modules that I took exposed me to an array of editing processes such as photo manipulation and 3D modelling. Additionally, I gained skilled in working with different types of briefs and continued to build upon my creativity through finding inspiration in different areas of design.

During my undergraduate I completed a summer internship with a large media company. My main role involved working with the package design team where I built upon my skills in teamwork. Working on package design also allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the influences effective graphic design can have on a consumer market. While the focus was on packaging, which is no longer my intended specialism, I knew logo design would be a better fit as I found the most enjoyment in constructing effective visual designs. While there are many elements that go into building and marketing an effective product, the use of shape and colour to catch the eye resonated with me the most

As I began to discover where my passion lay, I took on freelance work to help nurture my skills and build a reputation. The majority of my work has involved creating logos and banners for small YouTube channels. This has allowed me to work with a range of demographics and gain considerable experience of the design process- from the customers conception to the final piece. Freelancing has also allowed me to develop my skills in communication and learn how to balance the customer’s wants against my personal recommendations and expertise.

While I enjoy my current freelance work, I aspire to break into the larger market and work with international businesses and help create logos that will become recognised around the world. The guidance and teaching that you offer on your Masters course will help me learn to refine my skills in design software and effective visual creation. Moreover, I look forward to working with new and exciting briefs that will better replicate the industry I am aiming to enter.

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• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Art and design personal statement example 4.

I am anxious to become a creator, to design and produce things that somehow improve people’s lives, inspire them to become creators themselves - I grew up in a household full of music and art, and developed a fascination with the creations I saw around me. Before I decided what I wanted to do I knew that I wanted to create and tell stories, and I realised that there were different aspects of Art and Design beyond fine art that I could completely submerge myself in and never get bored; illustration, graphics, film.

Looking at the work of visionary creators such as Wes Anderson and Saul Bass have helped in deepening my knowledge and opinions on design, particularly for illustration and film, and given me perspective on something which was previously a hobby. This has given me confidence to experiment and attempt to produce pieces that will create change, no matter how small scale this change may be - for example, in one person's life or even day. I have always loved how art can challenge me and how I think, and I have learned from it, realising that art doesn’t have to be traditionally ‘beautiful’; it can be whatever you want it to be. The aspects of design that fascinate me are those that surround us: Type, architecture, film. We live our lives in art, and I can’t wait to be a part of that.

Because of this I have tried to travel to as many exhibitions as possible, my favourite being the London Illustration Fair – the combination of so many different styles and approaches is fascinating to me and a source of huge inspiration in my own work.

Academically, I think that psychology and English have played very well off of art and helped me to understand the discipline holistically, as well as allowing me to continue with academic studies alongside art, something that’s important to me in both an educational and professional sense – when I’ve sold commissions or illustration pieces I’ve always tried to use aspects of literature and psychology to inform the mood and intention of the work, no matter how simple the design is.

Another example of the way other parts of my live have informed my art practice would be the three weeks I spent travelling in Europe in August 2015 - we visited ten countries, some with sublime scenery, others with bustling cities, and all with fascinatingly different ways of life, allowing me to draw on these experiences as inspiration for my illustrations. I love sketching quickly, getting the idea and shape of a subject rather than the finite detail, and being able to develop this. My experience travelling allowed me to have a plethora of fast-moving models right in front of me, giving me an invaluable store of references for my work, straight from life.

Externally to my studies at University, a thriving theatre department is something I’d love to take part in behind the scenes, working in the art department to really help a production come to life. As well as this, I was on the Student Union at my Sixth Form college, firstly as Equality and Diversity officer and then as a Student Governor, and I’m very interested in joining similar societies while at University. This position, along with my jobs and Silver D of E, encouraged me to develop my public speaking and debating skills, allowing me to voice my opinions more freely and enjoy working as a leader and part of a team – for example, I worked with my Equality and Diversity counterpart during Upper Sixth to help introduce gender-neutral bathrooms at our college, which I could not have been part of without the skills from Student Union.

After my Foundation and Bachelor’s degree, I want to study for a Masters in Production or Set Design or enter the world of production itself, to help me towards becoming a practising Production Designer or Art Director: careers which I believe would give me a life doing something I love and, most importantly, helping me to inspire others.

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Notes appreciated! PLEASE DO NOT STEAL, I have this copyrighted and I have photo and date evidence of when I wrote and saved it :)

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18 of the best design portfolio examples

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. If you need to update yours, we definitely think 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.

We've included portfolios from creatives of different disciplines, including illustrators, studios and freelance designers. Each excels in different elements, for example, while one may have stunning aesthetics, another may have a brilliant user experience. 

To start building your design portfolio, you need a platform to create it on. In which case, you can see our best website builder post or you can head over to the best portfolio templates or WordPress portfolio themes , which have pre-existing templates. But for now, just scroll down to indulge in some of the best design portfolios, listed in no particular order.

Top design portfolio examples for inspiration

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.

03. Good Habit

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.

04. Studio Feixen

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.

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05. RoAndCo

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. 

06. Robin Mastromarino

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. 

07. Active Theory

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.

08. Raw Materials

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.

09. Velvet Spectrum

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.

10. Locomotive

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.

11. Studio Thomas

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."

12. Buzzworthy Studio

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.

13. Xavier Cussó

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.

14. Merijn Hoss

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.

15. ToyFight

Manchester-based studio ToyFight uses a number of whizzy effects – from parallax scrolling to animated transitions and even 3D rendered versions of the studio's founders fighting each other. All of this could threaten to overwhelm the work on show, but seeing as it's been executed with such visual humour and panache, the site is a joy to explore. This is a good lesson in how personality can also sell creatives'  work.

16. Made Thought

The London and New York-based contemporary branding and design studio Made Thought shows that bigger can definitely be better with a portfolio that's impossible to ignore. With an onslought of text and images facing you straight away, that then gives way to stunning examples of work. It certainly feels modern, aided by the fact the studio regularly updates its portfolio site to keep it looking fresh.

17. Malika Favre

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.

18. Yul Moreau

Born in Seoul, based in Paris and "raised by the '80s", Yul Moreau has a portfolio site that grabs your attention from the off with its splendidly garish background montage of retro video. This single-pager does a brilliant job of showcasing the art director's work, combining video, images, clever scroll effects and detailed text explanations to give a complete overview of his work.

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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. 

• Rosie Hilder

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• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. You may use the additional comments field to note extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, if necessary. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

Need more help?

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• Graduate School

How to Write an Effective Statement of Intent

While most students have heard of a personal statement or statement of purpose, not many can accurately describe what a statement of intent is. This grad school admissions requirement is subtly different from the other “statement” essays you may be familiar with. It is most often requested as an application component for research intensive master’s programs. It typically centers around a cohesive narrative of the applicant’s research interests, experiences, long-term goals, and what they intend to study in grad school. You’ll need to tailor your essay to ensure you meet the unique requirements for this application component.

In this blog, our grad school essay tutors reveal what a statement of intent is, how it differs from a statement of purpose for graduate school , and how to write and structure your statement of intent. You can also check out a sample statement of intent for graduate school.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 16 min read

What is a statement of intent.

A statement of intent, sometimes called statement of interest, is one of the many written essay-style components requested during the higher education admissions process to help admissions committees understand the applicant better. Specifically, a statement of intent is something you’ll need to write to get into grad school . Not all master’s programs ask for it. It is typically requested in addition to the statement of purpose or as an alternative to the statement of purpose. Research-intensive programs most often favor this type of statement. In this essay, they are looking for applicants to expand on their research skills, research experience, and specialized interests.

A statement of intent is, at its core, a functional document with an implicit argument. It serves a very specific purpose and has a singular theme: explaining how your research or career interests align with the features of the program you’re applying to.

It’s important to understand the difference between a statement of purpose and a statement of intent, especially if you need to submit both during a single application cycle. It’s easy to mix up these two essay components! They have a lot of overlap in terms of their content, presentation, and format. Both ask applicants to focus on their research interests, describe why they are interested in a specific field, expand on relevant past academic/professional experiences, and explain their long-term career goals. Admissions committees evaluate both of these statements to assess specific skills and qualities: communication skills, research skills, scientific literacy, problem solving, intellectual curiosity, teamwork, and leadership potential.

Despite these similarities, there are certain factors that differentiate a statement of intent and statement of purpose. The key difference is the scope. A statement of purpose is more general, focused on your overall suitability for the program. A statement of intent is more specific and detailed, focused on your intention to make use of actual features of the program. Statement of intent prompts often ask you to talk about which faculty members you want to work with, what program faculties you wish to use, etc.

The way you discuss your experiences is also different in each of these essays. In a statement of purpose, you can discuss your overall research vision, and connect your past experiences to your long-term career goals. While you can certainly do this in a statement of intent as well, you need to take it one step further. Programs actually expect you to use this essay to expand on the specific skills you gained through past research experiences and connect them with program details like curriculum, preferred departments or modules, faculty members, on-going projects, etc.

The statement of intent actually works as a base template for your research proposal. Many students opt to use their statement of intent to develop their research proposals later in their career. As it’s extremely detailed, some programs even opt to use it in lieu of an interview. On the other hand, some programs refer to your statement of intent as a kind of blueprint to structure your graduate school interview questions . You can expect questions that directly reference the ideas and experiences you’ve discussed in your statement of intent. That’s why it’s so important to be confident about and committed to the ideas you discuss in your statement of intent.

Are you working on your statement of purpose and looking for tips? Check this out:

The structure of your statement of intent is very important as it serves to build a coherent progression of experiences. In this type of essay, you need to provide specific, technical details related to your research interests and experiences, while also telling an engaging narrative that logically builds to the conclusion of you applying to grad school. The key to achieving this balance is creating an effective essay structure.

Start by creating an outline of your essay that is centered around your basic thesis or main point. Return to this thesis periodically to ensure you’re not straying from it as you structure your essay.

Add the following paragraphs:

Introduction:

The first paragraph should immediately grab the reader’s attention and set up a clear framework for the rest of the statement. Unlike, say, a medical school personal statement , or college essays , we don’t recommend starting with an “anchor” story or incident. Since this is a more functional document, including dramatic personal details or childhood memories would only end up clouding the key message of your statement. It’s better to go with a more straightforward introduction that succinctly sets up the main thesis. You can opt to make your introduction more engaging by adding a quote or referencing a specific book or mentor who inspired you; having said that, make sure any external references are always relevant to your actual research interest and further your central argument. Critically, make sure you don’t forget to introduce your research topic, the name of the school you’re applying to, as well as the name of the specific program/department in the very first paragraph.

Body Paragraph 1/2/3/4/5

Next, you can add 1 to 5 main body paragraphs (depending on your word count) where you build a foundation of your research work, interests, experiences, and goals. Each paragraph should be clear, concise and informative. There are certain critical content targets you should keep in mind as you write these paragraphs:

Address the prompt and talk about the specific aspects of the program you\u2019re interested in, such as faculty members you\u2019d love to work with. "}]">

Your conclusion should include a concise statement of your key qualifications and unique suitability for the program. Touch upon how you’ll make use of your time at this school, and how that will help you in your long-term career goals. Reiterate your interest in their specific program.

The word count for a statement of intent can vary from school to school, but it generally ranges between 250 to 1000 words. You should tailor your statement as per your specific word count requirements.

Top Tips for Writing Your Statement of Intent

Keep these tips in mind to write an outstanding statement of intent that effectively communicates your research strengths.

Develop your central research thesis

If you’re applying to grad school, then you probably already have some idea about the kind of research you want to specialize in. If you’re having trouble formulating this idea or condensing it down for your statement of intent, try using the following strategy to structure your thinking and organize your thoughts in a more logical flow. Break down your research interest into three levels, as follows:

Are you solving any specific problem or addressing an existing issue via this research? ","label":"Problem","title":"Problem"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

As we mentioned above, your statement of intent needs to be very specific and must reference the programs you’re applying to. Some schools even provide a specific prompt asking you to talk about which faculty members you want to work with, what sub-department you want to study under, and so on. Make sure you do the required research about what the school and the program have to offer so you can accurately reference this information in your statement. To begin with, you should check the program websites. If they don’t provide enough information, we recommend you reach out to alumni, professors, and current students to learn more.

Find out about the credentials of faculty members, their previous published work, their on-going projects, etc. Check the range of facilities that the school is offering, such as equipment, labs, and academic resources, as well as unique research or clinical experience opportunities. Don’t neglect the extracurriculars such as student support groups, prestigious clubs, and other opportunities that you won’t get on any other campus.

While you’re doing this research, make notes about how your own strengths connect to the unique features of the program. Do you have skills that could be particularly useful for an on-going research project? Do you have past research experience in the same topics that a faculty member is an expert in? When you’re actually writing the statement, these notes will help you to explain not only what you have to offer to the program, but also how you can use this program to further your long-term professional or academic goals.

Looking for a summary of our top tips for writing an effective statement of intent? Check out this infographic:

Follow the guidelines

As you begin your writing, ensure that you review all the guidelines that the school has provided and are closely adhering to then. For example, if there’s a prompt, go through it a few times, and make sure you are responding to the spirit as well as the letter of the prompt. Other considerations you should keep in mind include the maximum and minimum word count, the specific format, and “recommended” stylistic guidelines. For example, some schools ask you to write a formal statement that includes academic citations of works to support each of your research arguments along with references to works that have inspired you. You’ll have to customize the presentation, format, and content of each statement of intent to meet these kinds of specific requirements.

Tell a story with your experiences

It’s very important to remember that your statement of intent, though it is a more technical and functional essay, should not be merely a dry summary of facts, similar to a CV for grad school . Instead, you should write a logical and engaging narrative of the achievements and experiences that led you to your research goals, and how they connect to the program you’re applying to. Add details of your skills and commendable qualities backed up by actual experiences that demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for the subject. Admissions committees are always more impressed by “proof” of abilities i.e., they want applicants to show them their journey, not merely tell them about it. For example, instead of merely saying that you have an extensive knowledge of bio-chemical reactions in banana enzymes, identify the specific research experience where you honed this knowledge, and explain the circumstances in your essay. If it was a research project, then provide details about the project name and supervisor, as well as your own role in the project and the daily tasks you performed.

Check out this video for tips on writing your CV for Grad School:

Don’t clutter your statement of intent with too many experiences and achievements. Always keep referencing your central thesis and evaluating if a specific experience will add to your overall narrative or not. After you’ve worked out your central thesis, spend some time analyzing all your academic, research, volunteer, extracurricular, employment, and life experiences. Select 2 to 5 of the most suitable experiences that align with both your research interests and the program admissions criteria and add only those. If you have numerous such experiences to choose from, we suggest prioritizing current or recent experiences.

As you’re discussing each experience or achievement, be specific and detailed, and provide all the relevant information including the names of supervisors, a detailed list of your duties, and so on. You can also make your statement of intent more robust by referring to a wide variety of sources as your research “inspiration”, including classes, academic conversations, workshops, lectures, seminars, books, as well as the more typical experiences of volunteering, work, or research.

A useful tip: make sure you’re adding transitory statements at the end and beginning of each paragraph, to build that logical flow and connect one experience or idea to the next. If you think your essay is looking too dry or CV-like, this is one quick fix you can try in order to narrativize your experiences.

Since a statement of intent is a more formal document written for a very specific purpose, ensure you are using professional/academic and formal language and, if required, you can use technical terms to explain your research ideas. Your evaluators will most likely be professionals from the same field, and they actually expect you to show your expertise in that specific area.

At the same time, avoid using long, complicated sentences. Make sure you use your authentic voice and keep your tone as natural as possible. Thoroughly check your essays for grammar, spelling, clarity of thought, logical flow, and coherence.

Remember that your statement of intent is very different from a personal statement. As we mentioned previously, it’s more formal and has a very specific focus. The admissions committee is expecting to see a coherent autobiography of your academic or professional interests and experiences. That should be your focus – you should only refer to personal information as it relates to the larger context of your academic experiences. For example, avoid telling stories from your childhood about your early interests or including details about life events that shaped you, unless they are strictly relevant to your research journey.

This isn’t the right platform to expand upon excessively personal issues such as an illness or major life changes. You can briefly touch upon these topics or weave them into your professional narrative, if it makes sense. For example, if your grades took a serious dip in a specific period due to personal circumstances, you could choose to briefly address that. But don’t make such incidents the central thesis of your statement of intent. Focus on skills, abilities and contributions, and your inspiration and motivation to pursue research. Rather than expanding on irrelevant childhood details, expand on your professional, academic, and personal connections to the program and school you’re applying to.

Avoid cliches and focus on facts

You don’t need a high-level research “break-through” or nationally recognized academic or research award to make your statement of intent stand out. Many students turn to cliches such as “I want to make the world a better place” or “I just want to help people” to hide what they perceive as insufficiently impressive experiences. In fact, no matter what your past experiences, it’s much better to focus on covering the facts, rather than evoking sentimental cliches to make your experiences seem grander than they actually are. Admissions committees aren’t expecting you to have advanced achievements beyond your level – the whole point of applying to grad school is to get the opportunity to do that level of work.

So instead of worrying about the “quality” of your experiences, focus on ensuring that your essay effectively discussed your best skills and true capabilities. Spend some time self-reflecting about what you learned from your academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences, how they contributed to your journey to grad school, what new skills you developed, what obstacles you overcame, and so on.

Write multiple drafts and seek feedback from experts

A statement of intent requires a little more intensive writing and editing than your typical admissions essays and statements. We suggest sharing your essay with subject matter experts such as research supervisors, faculty members, and other academic mentors who can give you their detailed feedback about the technical aspects of your statement. Their suggestions can help you refine your essay and identify ways to differentiate your thesis from others.

If you’re sure about the technical content of your essay, but need help with the writing, flow, coherence, grammar, and other such stylistic elements, consider getting expert help from a graduate school admissions consultant . These consultants have worked with numerous other students and can help you improve your written communication skills with proven strategies that work.

Whether or not you engage the help of experts, make sure you ask at least 1 other person to review your statement of intent once, even if they’re just a friend or family member. Remember, after going over the same content over and over again for days and weeks, visual fatigue sets in. A fresh pair of eyes can spot small errors and mistakes that you might have missed.

Sample Statement of Intent

Here’s a sample statement of intent for your reference:

Program/School : Clinical Psychology Masters at Ryerson University

Prompt : Describe your reasons for pursuing graduate study in the Psychology program, your research interests, how your previous studies and experiences have prepared you for the program, as well as your career objectives and how the graduate degree will advance them. (500-1000 words)

Statement of Intent:

“What is the ticking mechanism of the human mind? How can we truly know it?”

Professor Donaldson’s words from my very first Intro to Psychology class sparked my interest in the world of clinical psychology. Following my curiosity rewarded me with the discovery of my central academic passion in life – developmental psychology and its applications for adolescent females. Today, I hope to enroll in Ryerson University’s Clinical Psychology program so I can further explore my research interests and channel them towards my long-term goals of becoming a research-psychologist, combining clinical psychology practice with research experience to make new discoveries in this area. I believe my undergraduate education has prepared me to undertake advanced research projects and I would be an excellent candidate for your program.

My initial interest in psychology at the beginning of my freshman year soon led me to take on advanced psychology coursework, targeted personal reading, and extra credit projects. I soon built up a strong foundational base in the concepts of General Psychology, Behavioral Psychology, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Psychology of Gender Roles. When completing the last course during my sophomore year, I found that I had a strong academic interest in the intersections of gender theory and clinical psychology. I was simultaneously completing a Psychological Assessment Tools course to hone my clinical lab skills. The confluence of these two courses helped me synthesize my special interest in understanding and addressing the biases in classic psychological assessment tools and analyzing their impact on incorrect diagnosis, failed treatments, and rate of relapse in impacted patients, especially women. That was when I decided that I wanted to improve my research skills so I could eventually complete advanced studies in this area.

A statement of intent is an autobiographical summary of your research interests and experiences, with an emphasis on how the program you’re applying to can help you achieve your goals. Some schools provide specific prompts for their statement of intent, asking students to describe aspects of their program they would most benefit from. A statement of intent is a more formal and functional document than your typical admissions essays, and usually only research-intensive master’s courses request this type of essay in your application.

While these two admissions essays have a lot in common – for example, they are both research-focused and help admissions committees evaluate your academic and professional credentials for their program. However, a key difference between them is the scope. A statement of purpose is more general, focused on your overall academic, professional and/or extracurricular experiences and your long-term career goals. A statement of intent is more targeted and detailed, with a clear focus on your specific research interests. In your statement of intent, you must reference the programs you’re applying to, and explain at length how you can contribute to them and which of their offerings most attract you.

This depends on the specific requirements of the program you’re applying to. Generally, a statement of intent has a prescribed word count ranging from 250 to 1000 words. Even if there’s no maximum word count provided, we recommend not exceeding 900 words. While you need to explain your research interests in detail, remember that this essay is not a research thesis and doesn’t need that level of scientific enquiry.

Your statement of intent should have the following structure:

• Introduction : This should clearly set out your central thesis and reference your research interests and the name of the program/school you’re applying to.
• Main body paragraphs : You can add 1 to 5 body paragraphs to discuss the details of relevant experiences and achievements, key skills and qualities, and your specific interest in the program you’re applying to.
• Conclusion : Here, make sure you reiterate your research thesis, and call back to the program/college name. Provide a clear statement of why you think you are a uniquely well-suited candidate for their program.

To write an impressive statement of intent, you’ll have to spend sufficient time researching the facilities and features of the program and school you’re applying to, analyzing your own research interests and skills, and coming up with a central “thesis” that aligns the two. Include details of multiple experiences, achievements, awards, and activities to support your claims and prove your passion and suitability for a specific research area. Avoid including irrelevant personal details or cliches, and instead focus on creating a logical flow of experiences leading to your current application.

No, your statement of intent must be tailored for each program you’re applying to. That’s the whole point of a statement of intent – it explains why you’re well-suited to a particular program, and how you intend to use their resources to further your research interests. If you don’t refer to their unique offerings and instead just provide a general summary of your research interests, admissions committees will not be able to gauge why you’re a good fit for their program.

No, not all graduate programs ask for a statement of intent. Some ask for an additional statement of intent along with a personal statement and/or statement of purpose, while others only require the statement of intent. You should check the admissions websites of the schools you’re applying to learn more.

We recommend that you spend at least 6 weeks writing your statement of intent. This will give you sufficient time to refine your central “research thesis”, analyze your history of experiences to identify the most suitable ones, write and edit multiple drafts, and seek out feedback from expert reviewers.

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20 unique personal website & portfolio examples for 2024

Whatever your creative expertise, find inspiration in creating your own website by checking out these 20 great personal website examples.

Use Webflow's visual development platform to build completely custom, production-ready websites — or high-fidelity prototypes — without writing a line of code.

A personal website or design portfolio is an opportunity to reach more people with your work.

It’s an extension of your personality and gives you the chance to craft a design that reflects who you are as a creative.

Having profiles on sites like LinkedIn, Behance, and Dribbble are important, but having a personal portfolio website will specifically give you the opportunity to express yourself and your personal branding in a more individualized way. 

For any creative, having an online presence not only creates exposure for your work and views via search engine optimization (SEO), it helps define who you are to potential clients and customers and  helps you land more gigs doing what you love to do.  The best part is, there’s no set way to create a personal website — just as there are many types of creatives, there are many ways to put together a personal website.

Here are some examples to help inspire you and get you started. 

1. Jey Austen

Designer and illustrator Jey Austen uses a color scheme of white text on a black background for their professional website. Though it may sound simple, they’ve created a bold and eye-catching design.

Fun touches like using the gothic font Pirata for the headers, and unique imagery like crystals and swords add to the mystique of this design. We’re huge fans of how Jey is able to maintain creativity and originality while still maintaining clarity and a great user experience.

2. Arlen McCluskey

With clouds of dreamy colors and a tidy layout, Arlen McCluskey’s product design portfolio website feels minimalist when you first land on it. However, this personal site has more than meets the eye. With its spacious layout, Arlen stylishly features his projects for clients like Airbnb, Dropbox, and JUMP, as well as deep dives into his thought process. 

The best personal portfolio websites not only show off someone’s creative output, but put it all together in a way that’s imaginative. Arlen McCluskey shows off his creative talents in this colorful and captivating design.

3. Mack and Pouya

Many photography portfolios focus solely on being an image gallery. While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, it’s nice to see a photography business that also prioritizes effort into the look and branding of their webpage. 

US-based wedding photography firm Mack and Pouya has a website with a joyful UX and design that reflects their line of work. We love seeing colorful website examples that aren’t afraid to push things forward with more daring color combinations and creative design.

Aileen is a digital product designer who has done work for Amazon, Tumblr, and General Assembly, among other clients. We’re fans of clean modern website examples like Aileen’s that have ample negative space and a meticulous focus on keeping its different elements organized.

Aileen’s portfolio in particular features a tasteful use of white space with a curated selection of muted background colors behind each product image. This web design melds artistry with thoughtful and intentional design. 

With skills in product development, UI design, and graphic design with a focus on software development, Ojieame Onimiya lays out his work and talents in a sleek single-page portfolio with clever touches. For example, Ojieame opens by saying he designs smooth user interfaces that promote user interaction — which is followed by the call to action to “scroll for more.” 

Every headline, piece of copy, image, and element of this design have a place in this layout — giving this web design a thoughtful feel.  Additionally, the site shows  a sense of content organization. Each section communicates specific points about his skills or work, with a clear throughline. 

Ojieame’s personal website is proof that it’s possible to  distill a large breadth of work into a one-page design , in a creative and cohesive way.

6. I Am Tamara

Tamara Sredojevic is a UX designer who is passionate about ethical design, accessibility, and inclusion. She starts her simple two-page site with information on the type of  work she does  along with pleasing combination of colors and laid back feel.

Tamara’s website is a celebration of simplicity. The design is based on large shapes, thin lines, and a muted color palette that demonstrates Tamara’s refined aesthetic. Every piece of this design comes together in harmony for a light and easy user experience.

7. Gal Rabaniam

Gal Rabaniam flexes her skills as a graphic designer throughout her colorful and well organized design. Along with different artistic visuals, she explains her work with informative case studies. One of our favorite touches is the yellow call to action button anchored to the top right of the screen, giving a bold call out to download her CV at any point. 

8. Colin Moy

With cleverly animated eyes to represent the “O’s” in “Colin Moy”and a golden yellow background, this website instantly draws you in.  

We love that Colin makes the letter “O” in About, Portfolio, and Contact clickable elements that open up additional information. It’s a nice touch that keeps the playfulness of the opening text going throughout the design. We also like that Colin includes links to his  Instagram and LinkedIn — giving potential customers another touch point to connect with him and his work 

The best part of Colin’s design is that he’s made it available as a cloneable , giving you the opportunity to experiment with this layout and design and customize it to your liking. 

9. Thomas Bosc

Content manager Thomas Bosc has put together a compelling and informative portfolio design that captures his content creation skills. 

When you scroll down his homepage, an animation brings up chat bubbles with comments and questions related to the content manager title. As you continue to scroll, Thomas highlights his talents as a content manager as well as  high-quality examples of his work.

It’s easy to just include a  few things in our portfolios, but so many of us have skills that don’t have a narrow scope. Thomas shows it’s possible to use a personal website to show off a diverse range of talents without it being too complicated.

10. Editorial

If you need a stylized and well-organized personal website template, start with this free cloneable, Editorial , from Em Design.

With a classy aesthetic and plenty of space for big images, Editorial is ideal for photographers, product designers, web designers, or anyone else who wants to create an image-driven portfolio. And like any template, you can fully customize it to fit your personal brand. If you’ve been looking for elegant website examples, there’s plenty of inspiration in this free template.

Build completely custom, production-ready websites — or ultra-high-fidelity prototypes — without writing a line of code. Only with Webflow.

11. Bobby Rowe

Bobby Rowe’s online portfolio starts with the declaration, “I believe that superstars are both born and forged.” His personal website is full of captivating colors and wit, showing that Bobby is a superstar in his own right.

After this introduction, scrolling through the design brings up page after page of eye-pleasing combinations of colors and attention-grabbing text. There’s a sense of confidence that’s projected throughout this portfolio with Bobby’s design chops backing up his words.

12. Alice Lee

We’ve written about Alice Lee’s portfolio before, but she’s always updating her websites with new content such as interactive illustrations, new merch in her ecommerce store, and recent episodes of her live drawing show Doodle Therapy. Alice specializes in character illustrations filled with vivid colors and a sense of organic textures, and her illustrations have a style all her own. 

This could have been a simple resume website, with a few featured projects from her  high-profile clients. But every pixel of this personal portfolio is touched by her flair for creativity, and is  expansive in demonstrating her talents as an illustrator. If you want an example of one of the best personal websites, Alice’s is right up there.

Be sure to check out her in-depth case study about crafting Slack ’s visual identity. It’s a valuable read no matter what type of creative work you pursue.

13. Emre Devseren

Emre Devseren is a web designer interested in startups and small businesses. This portfolio communicates his UI and UX skills, as well as his knowledge as a marketing strategist.

Emre opens with a clear message: “I can help your business to get online and grow fast,” and follows the statement with previous clients’ logos. This immediately gives site visitors an idea of what Emre does as well as his work experience. 

Scrolling down reveals a visually pleasing design full of color, with light pastels making up much of the backgrounds. It’s an uncomplicated single-page website, but the web design does so much in a limited amount of space. 

14. Matthew P Munger

Landing on Matthew P Munger’s portfolio transports you back in time, answering the question — what would a Webflow designer’s portfolio look like if it were made in 1996? We love personal website examples like this one that aren’t afraid to get experimental, and Matthew’s purposely low-tech design grabs your attention right away.

This retro graphic user interface feels like a time machine, bringing you straight into the early days of Mac OS. The nostalgia will bring a smile to anyone who’s ever clicked and clacked on the weighty keyboards of those beige machines. 

Replicating the UI, aesthetic, and functionality of these antiquated computers is quite the accomplishment. Yes, there’s the novelty factor, but this is still a very usable design. Along with creating a testament to his design superpowers, he effectively uses this retro website to showcase his modern work.

And for those of you who want to create a project based on this fun throwback design aesthetic, you can clone it for free on Webflow.

15. Portfolio Website - Free Template

If you want to go from inspiration directly into designing and publishing your site, check out the Portfolio Website - Free Template by DesignPilot . This cloneable project has everything you need to launch a personal website. 

The top menu bar makes this one-page website look like a multi-page design. However, the menu is actually jump links, directing you to each particular section on the single page. This straightforward layout makes it easy to showcase your work, share a bit about you and your experience, and highlight whatever you’re passionate about. Plus, the built in contact form and social media icons give site visitors plenty of ways to connect and get in touch. 

16. Dan Machado

Product designer Dan Machado opens his homepage with a simple intro header and a split-screen design. Hovering over the client names under “my work” brings up a preview image and clicking the name opens a project-specific landing page. 

While the layout of Dan’s personal website isn’t traditional, the helpful highlights over the hamburger menu items and clickable elements create a pleasant user experience. Plus, Dan includes case studies that offer deeper insights into his work and process. Much of his product design work has been done with tech startups, and he does an excellent job in conveying who these projects were for, as well as their purpose.

Dan’s unconventional yet effective design is a solid example of a personal website that grabs site visitors’ attention and keeps them engaged with specific details. 

17. Sabanna

With this stylized website, Anna Sabatini shows off her talents merging digital design with a sketchbook style.

From the opening page displaying a pencil-lined self-portrait to the hand-drawn lettering and other doodle-like drawings, Anna includes dashes of organic textures throughout. This merging of traditional graphic design with digital is further emphasized with her use of typewriter-styled typography. These elements are a nice juxtaposition to the slick scroll-triggered animation on the right sidebar.

Along with featured projects, tutorials, there’s a diary section that functions as a personal blog where Anna shares her thoughts and observations. The writings have a stream of consciousness feel, showing a more personal side of who she is.

Anna does a great job of incorporating her personality into a design that combines the best of digital and graphic design for an online portfolio with character. 

18. Cheech Minniear

As soon as you arrive at Cheech Minnear ’s UI/UX design portfolio, you’re greeted with a pleasing burst of action. An hourglass zooms in, followed by a social media block that bounces into place on the left-hand side of the screen. Animations don’t end here, with a myriad of scroll-triggered interactions that slide content and images into place.

Cheech shows off her multidisciplinary skills with great design and solid writing. Every headline tells us more about who she is as a designer. Her case studies are well-written and clearly explain her design process. 

Cheech also caters to potential customers by including a testimonial quote block, which fades in and out to reveal new quotes from past clients. With a layout full of slick animations and effective copywriting, Cheech’s online portfolio communicates what she does with a great level of depth.

19. Vance Banks

When it comes to personal websites, showing off your unique personality works to your advantage. As soon as you land on Vance Banks’s site , you see a smiling photo with a colorful background and a waving emoji. His quick bio on the homepage tells you that he is an experienced UI/UX designer, as well as a proud dog dad. 

This is another example of an effective one-page portfolio website. With a well-ordered layout, plenty of negative space, and good use of colors, the design presents a very smooth user experience.

Even though the homepage — which includes home, work, about, and contact information — follows a one-page design, Vance links out separate landing pages for detailed case studies. He provides plenty of insights about the work he put into each featured project, with user flows, personas, and wireframes to go along with this. The accompanying images show what goes into his design process.

A one-page design doesn’t mean skimping on the details. Vance gives anyone landing on his portfolio a wealth of content showing his design work.

20. Kyle Craven

With a light gray background and tasteful yet stylized typography, Kyle Craven’s portfolio has a clean and simple design. 

Kyle uses a one-page layout for his digital design and web development portfolio. All you have to do is scroll to learn more about Kyle, preview selected works, and find his social media profiles and contact information in the website footer. This is a great example of a stripped-down portfolio that still captures all of someone’s talents.

Grow your personal brand with a website made in Webflow

If you’re a creator, you need an online portfolio to show off what you’ve been working on, to connect with like-minded people, and to help you land new work. A personal website gives you a forum to present the best that you do, as well as to communicate who you are both — professionally and personally.

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The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

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User Experience Design Personal Statement Example

Find below the User Experience design personal statement that you can use for inspiration. Writing UX design personal statement can be a challenge since there are not many User Experience Design personal statement examples on the blogs to use as a guide when writing your application for university and UCAS .

User Experience Design Personal Statement

Ever since my first Design and Technology class in secondary school, I have been fascinated by the creative process of designing solutions for real-world problems. My passion for user experience design has only grown through my A-level studies in Design Technology, Business , and Physics. I believe the User Experience Design BSc program me at your university is the perfect next step to pursue my interests in an interdisciplinary field that combines design, technology, and human needs.

Beyond the classroom, I have sought opportunities to strengthen my practical skills and gain hands-on experience with design projects. As an avid bike rider, I designed and built my half-pipe ramp in my backyard, which taught me invaluable lessons in working with different materials and structural engineering. More recently, I have been sketching designs for a studio/summer house using recycled materials like wooden pallets. Through these self-initiated projects, I have developed a knack for resourceful problem-solving using whatever materials are available. I aim to continue challenging myself with more complex builds, as I find great satisfaction in creating useful products and spaces from scratch.

I have also worked to improve my technical abilities in sketching, rendering, and digital prototyping. I have been practising sketching and using graphic design software like Google Sketchup to portray my ideas. At school, I received a certificate for achieving one of the highest scores in A-level Design and Technology, demonstrating my passion and aptitude for the subject. The opportunity to learn new design and prototyping software at university excites me, as I believe these tools will be invaluable for my future career.

Beyond design, I am an active, sociable, and versatile person. Team sports like water polo have taught me the importance of collaboration, communication, and flexibility. My other interests include skiing, scuba diving, and going to the gym, as I value an active and balanced lifestyle. I believe my mix of creative, technical, and interpersonal abilities would allow me to thrive in the multidisciplinary environment of your User Experience Design programme and any professional role after graduation.

Your university’s focus on human-centred design and innovative thinking appeals to me greatly. I hope to develop a user experience mindset that considers how new technologies can be implemented to solve real user problems. The opportunity to work on practical group projects and build a professional portfolio during my studies would provide ideal preparation for a career as a UX designer. I very much hope you will consider my application, as I am eager to advance my design education at your prestigious institution.

Other Design Personal Statements

• Graphic Design Personal Statement Examples
• Product Design Personal Statement Examples
• Games Design Personal Statement
• Design and Art Personal Statement Example

Reference Examples

More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual . Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual .

To find the reference example you need, first select a category (e.g., periodicals) and then choose the appropriate type of work (e.g., journal article ) and follow the relevant example.

When selecting a category, use the webpages and websites category only when a work does not fit better within another category. For example, a report from a government website would use the reports category, whereas a page on a government website that is not a report or other work would use the webpages and websites category.

Also note that print and electronic references are largely the same. For example, to cite both print books and ebooks, use the books and reference works category and then choose the appropriate type of work (i.e., book ) and follow the relevant example (e.g., whole authored book ).

Examples on these pages illustrate the details of reference formats. We make every attempt to show examples that are in keeping with APA Style’s guiding principles of inclusivity and bias-free language. These examples are presented out of context only to demonstrate formatting issues (e.g., which elements to italicize, where punctuation is needed, placement of parentheses). References, including these examples, are not inherently endorsements for the ideas or content of the works themselves. An author may cite a work to support a statement or an idea, to critique that work, or for many other reasons. For more examples, see our sample papers .

Reference examples are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Chapter 10 and the Concise Guide Chapter 10

Related handouts

• Common Reference Examples Guide (PDF, 147KB)
• Reference Quick Guide (PDF, 225KB)

Textual Works

Textual works are covered in Sections 10.1–10.8 of the Publication Manual . The most common categories and examples are presented here. For the reviews of other works category, see Section 10.7.

• Journal Article References
• Magazine Article References
• Newspaper Article References
• Blog Post and Blog Comment References
• UpToDate Article References
• Book/Ebook References
• Diagnostic Manual References
• Children’s Book or Other Illustrated Book References
• Classroom Course Pack Material References
• Religious Work References
• Chapter in an Edited Book/Ebook References
• Dictionary Entry References
• Wikipedia Entry References
• Report by a Government Agency References
• Report with Individual Authors References
• Brochure References
• Ethics Code References
• Fact Sheet References
• ISO Standard References
• Press Release References
• White Paper References
• Conference Presentation References
• Conference Proceeding References
• Published Dissertation or Thesis References
• Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis References
• ERIC Database References
• Preprint Article References

Data and Assessments

Data sets are covered in Section 10.9 of the Publication Manual . For the software and tests categories, see Sections 10.10 and 10.11.

• Data Set References
• Toolbox References

Audiovisual Media

Audiovisual media are covered in Sections 10.12–10.14 of the Publication Manual . The most common examples are presented together here. In the manual, these examples and more are separated into categories for audiovisual, audio, and visual media.

• Artwork References
• Clip Art or Stock Image References
• Film and Television References
• Musical Score References
• Online Course or MOOC References
• Podcast References
• PowerPoint Slide or Lecture Note References
• Radio Broadcast References
• TED Talk References
• Transcript of an Audiovisual Work References
• YouTube Video References

Online Media

Online media are covered in Sections 10.15 and 10.16 of the Publication Manual . Please note that blog posts are part of the periodicals category.

• Facebook References
• Instagram References
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Nasa exploring alternative mars sample return methods.

Abbey A. Donaldson

Nasa headquarters.

NASA is moving forward with 10 studies to examine more affordable and faster methods of bringing samples from Mars’ surface back to Earth as part of the agency’s Mars Sample Return Program. As part of this effort, NASA will award a firm-fixed-price contract for up to $1.5 million to conduct 90-day studies to seven industry proposers.

Additionally, NASA centers, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, and Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Laboratory are producing studies. Once completed, NASA will assess all studies to consider alterations or enhancements to the Mars Sample Return architecture.

“Mars Sample Return will be one of the most complex missions NASA has undertaken, and it is critical that we carry it out more quickly, with less risk, and at a lower cost,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “I’m excited to see the vision that these companies, centers and partners present as we look for fresh, exciting, and innovative ideas to uncover great cosmic secrets from the Red Planet.”

Over the last quarter century, NASA has engaged in a systematic effort to determine the early history of Mars and how it can help us understand the formation and evolution of habitable worlds, including Earth. As part of that effort, Mars Sample Return has been a long-term goal of international planetary exploration for the past two decades. NASA’s Perseverance rover has been collecting samples for later collection and return to Earth since it landed on Mars in 2021.

The following companies and proposals were selected from among those that responded to an April 15 request for proposals:

• Lockheed Martinin Littleton, Colorado: “Lockheed Martin Rapid Mission Design Studies for Mars Sample Return”
• SpaceX in Hawthorne, California: “Enabling Mars Sample Return With Starship”
• Aerojet Rocketdyne in Huntsville, Alabama: “A High-Performance Liquid Mars Ascent Vehicle, Using Highly Reliable and Mature Propulsion Technologies, to Improve Program Affordability and Schedule”
• Blue Origin in Monrovia, California: “Leveraging Artemis for Mars Sample Return”
• Quantum Space, in Rockville, Maryland: “Quantum Anchor Leg Mars Sample Return Study”
• Northrop Grumman in Elkton, Maryland: “High TRL MAV Propulsion Trades and Concept Design for MSR Rapid Mission Design”
• Whittinghill Aerospace in Camarillo, California: “A Rapid Design Study for the MSR Single Stage Mars Ascent Vehicle”

NASA’s Mars Sample Return is a strategic partnership with ESA (the European Space Agency). Returning scientifically selected samples to Earth for study using the most sophisticated instruments around the world can revolutionize our understanding of Mars and would fulfill one of the highest priority solar system exploration goals as identified by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

For more information on Mars Sample Return, visit:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-sample-return/

Dewayne Washington Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 [email protected]

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CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) was introduced with the intention of recognizing individual author contributions, reducing authorship disputes and facilitating collaboration. The idea came about following a 2012 collaborative workshop led by Harvard University and the Wellcome Trust, with input from researchers, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and publishers, including Elsevier, represented by Cell Press.

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CRediT statements should be provided during the submission process and will appear above the acknowledgment section of the published paper as shown further below.

*Reproduced from Brand et al. (2015), Learned Publishing 28(2), with permission of the authors.

Sample CRediT author statement

Zhang San:  Conceptualization, Methodology, Software  Priya Singh. : Data curation, Writing- Original draft preparation.  Wang Wu : Visualization, Investigation.  Jan Jansen :  Supervision. : Ajay Kumar : Software, Validation.:  Sun Qi:  Writing- Reviewing and Editing,

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Graphic Design Personal Statement

I would like to study Graphic Communication Design at university as I would like to pursue a career in graphic arts. Graphic design is becoming ever more important as more and more people engage with companies via digital media as well as print media. I have enjoyed designing for a long time often without realising it myself. I have always had a keen interest in interior design and branding products often helping my dad make design decisions within his company. During college I have focused my work to focus on ethical, moral and social issues often those affecting the LGBT community. I want my work to challenge peoples preconceptions through art and educate them on issues.

In my graphics work I particularly enjoy the work of Paul Rand. The simplicity of his design appeals to me particularly as he is able to effectively communicate a message with a striking yet legible design structure. He also uses symbolism in addition to typography to create sometimes obscure yet legible communication, for example his work on the IBM poster. I have a particular interest in typography as a form of communication.

Outside of my college course I have developed my skills by completing design work for a number of different bodies. I am working alongside the NHS CCG in Bolton to design the branding and layout of a Mental Health and Wellbeing app. I led this project with a local charity, BAND. I was approached by the CCG at a public event that was seeking the opinion of young people. As the project developed over 12 months the opportunity for funding to build the app that I had imagined came up from the NHS and BAND asked me to remain onboard with the project and to see it through to its fruition. This experience has taught me the importance of sticking to a formal deadline in order to satisfy the client.

I also run an LGBT community group, Bolton LGBT+. We were set up at the request of the Department of Health in 2014. I was tasked with the design of the logo and the whole communication guideline. The aim of the branding was to create something inviting and easy to understand that members of the community could quickly identify and connect with. I now design all of our leaflets, posters, business cards and website (boltonlgbt.org.uk). These posters are displayed across Greater Manchester. On the back of this the Bolton LGBT Partnership asked me to work with their chair to create their brand and communication guideline. Work on this has allowed me the opportunity to increase my confidence as well as my communication skills which allows me to understand a brief better and feel comfortable to question and explore things I do not understand.

As part of my A Level coursework I am creating the Art & Design department publication 'The Collective' for 2017/18. The publication will showcase a range of content created by students, it will not only refer to art but it will also present pieces which explore topical, social and moral issues from diverse viewpoints. We plan on releasing The Collective in December and June and distributing copies around college as well as in the local area to highlight, and better understand the work that art & design students are doing. Myself and the other contributors will not only be involved in the creation of the content but we will participate in the design of the magazine, events managing, fundraising and marketing. It is a chance to work with a range of students on a group project. It will also give the me a chance to cross over into contrasting disciplines and diversify my interests and skill set.

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