The secrets of creating a portfolio for admission to creative specialties

For successful admission to British universities for programs related creativity – art, design, fashion industry, - require applicants to provide a portfolio of works for assessment of their abilities and creative skills.

The portfolio is your entry ticket to education in the arts at prestigious universities, who gave the art world a large number of brilliant graduates. And to approach this very responsible task, you have to be very professionally and creatively.

Why do I need portfolio?

Portfolio is the main instrument through which members of the selection Committee appreciated the talent and ability of the applicant to a career in the art world. A successful portfolio reveals you as a creative person and evidence of potential for creative activities.

In those cases, when the portfolio is considered in absentia, without conducting interviews with the applicant, it is the decisive factor based on which the admissions Committee decide whether you are worthy to take a place in their University.

An important function of portfolio lies in the fact that it is not just a "static" list of works – learning portfolio, an experienced teacher is able to see the process of your development, the dynamics of creation from the initial idea till its complete implementation.

How to create a successful portfolio?

When preparing a portfolio it is important to determine the amount of available material, a small number of works will not allow you to fulfil your potential and ability, but too many will not allow you to focus on the key elements of creativity. Portfolio with 5 projects and a notebook with sketches (it shows the process of working on the idea), can be recommended as the reference version, although there are no restrictions and encouraged an individual approach. Try to include in the portfolio a variety of work, avoiding the same type of material, made in the same style and technique.

You should not copy someone's portfolio or to try to guess what the admissions officers want to see in the submissions. Many foreign students believe that they must demonstrate work in a style that conforms to the European cultural circles. In fact, identity, creativity and ability to Express in literary form the traditions of the environment where you grew up, is a huge plus to assess your abilities to occupation of art.

A key aspect of creating a portfolio is that it should have dynamics, presenting the unfolding story of your development for a certain period and by showing the creative process of work on each project. And at the end of this story is don't need to put a point – the secret of the creative approach to portfolio development is to create the feeling that you are ready to move on and achieve more. It is on this factor and not by a static listing of the material, an experienced teacher will evaluate your potential.

5 practical tips for portfolio development

• Don't make common mistakes – do not place work in chronological order. Start with strong works and they're finished portfolio. In the middle of the imagine experimental or unfinished materials – they complete the picture of your creative process.
• Attach a notebook with sketches of work performed when working on projects, or recording thoughts and ideas. This is a very important element of the portfolio in which the faculty assess your creative abilities.
• Think carefully about the structure of the portfolio – it should be logical and easy to comprehend. Remember that a portfolio is a story about you, and it should be read easily.
• Give each job a name and indicate the date when it was created.
• Show ready portfolio to friends, especially those who you think are creative, and ask them to give assessment and advice.

It should be borne in mind that students must submit a portfolio for admission to a program of any level: preparatory courses for foreign students (International Foundation), undergraduate, postgraduate educational programs. The requirements for the degree of professionalism of the works selected for the portfolio are different for each level.

Advice teachers and students of the University of Kent

The University of Kent is famous for its programs in architecture and art. Teachers and students created a short video with tips on how to create the perfect portfolio and interview:

>> Learn more about the University of Kent

Assistance in the preparation of portfolio

Universities with educational programs in the arts, which is required to submit a portfolio, tend to have special courses that help students to learn the secrets of creating a portfolio at the level required for admission to the University.

It can be as full time courses portfolio for the period from semester to 1 year, and short workshops from 2-3 days to several weeks.

Note: drawn from University of the Arts London