Create a Design Portfolio for Grad School Admission
Graduate programs in the arts are incredibly competitive, with most programs only accepting a few dozen applicants a year. Whatever degree and program that you are pursuing, you'll need to show that you've got the talent before you get accepted. Nearly all graduate arts programs (normally offering a master's in fine arts) will require a portfolio of your work.
Instructions
Create a Design Portfolio for Grad School Admission
1. Select your best work. A portfolio is a sampling of your very best work, so choose four to 10 pieces that you'd like to display.
2. Take high-quality images of your work, if applicable. Depending on what type of design work you are displaying, you may not be able to show the actual work. For example, interior design and industrial design work will have to be photographed and put into a portfolio. Use a camera with high pixels (at least 10 megapixels) and photograph in good light. Upload pictures onto a computer and have them printed on high-quality paper.
3. Arrange samples. Do you want to submit a hard-copy or digital portfolio? Either way, arrange your samples in an order that is logical (your favorite to least favorite, or chronological order). For hard-copy portfolios, you will need to laminate or otherwise protect the paper. For digital portfolios, consider creating a PowerPoint presentation that you can later download onto a CD or USB drive.
4. Create a cover page. Different schools have different specifications, so check with the schools that you want to apply to. In general, put your full name, ID number (either a social security number or a number that the school has given you) and the session that you are applying for (fall/winter/spring/summer and year).
5. Bound or download your portfolio. For a hard copy, consider taking your work to a professional printer to be bound into a book. If that is not an option, purchase a plain white or black binder to display your work. For digital portfolios, create a PDF of your portfolio before downloading the file onto a CD or USB drive or uploading directly onto the University's website.
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