Insider Tips for Preparing an Art and Design Portfolio

A few tips to consider when compiling a college admission art portfolio, so that you might give it the "wow factor" the admission office is looking for.

Submitting a college application is stressful enough, but if you’re interested in majoring in an art or design field, you’ll also need to compile samples of your work into a portfolio.

Most art and design programs require a collection of your best work along with the usual college application to give the college admission office insights into your artistic strengths and interests and for merit or talent scholarship consideration.

Here are a few tips to consider when compiling a portfolio so that you might give it the “wow factor” a college admission office is looking for.

Start at the beginning

If you are staring at a pile of art and design projects with no idea where to start, you’re not alone. Take a deep breath and start at the beginning. Find 10–20 pieces that highlight all-around abilities and show your personality and willingness to dedicate time to a project. The pieces selected must be original ideas, not “borrowed” or copied from others’ works.

When deciding which pieces to include, look at your work as a group: What can each contribute to the portfolio? What does each communicate to the reviewer? Does the piece showcase a skill set? Order is important too: The first piece in the portfolio should make a strong statement and set the tone for the rest of the presentation. The following pieces should show ability, with the most expressive works placed in the middle. Once the pieces have been selected and arranged, make sure everything is labeled properly and easy to read.

Ask for help and be open to the advice

The portfolio should only include your best work. Remember, more is not necessarily better. Ask teachers, colleagues, and friends for their opinion on the portfolio before it’s submitted. It’s tough to judge your own work, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Most colleges encourage in-person preliminary portfolio reviews during the junior or senior year of high school. It’s a great opportunity to share your art projects and ask for guidance on pieces to include in a portfolio. And the college you’re interested in or a college near you may offer a course on portfolio development for high school students. Also consider attending a National Portfolio Day event, where 50–70 colleges are typically represented. You’ll have a chance to ask questions and receive informal portfolio reviews.

Give ’em what they want

You should know the portfolio requirements for each college to which you want to apply. A portfolio for one college most likely cannot be used again for another college. Many schools want to see at least one drawing from life since nearly all art and design colleges require such classes. Some schools want to see a certain number of works affiliated with your chosen major. All like the works to be recent. Fortunately, plenty of resources exist for students to create a portfolio that will boost confidence in current skills and pave the way to a life in art and design.

When it’s time to submit the portfolio, be sure to follow all submission guidelines and never miss a deadline. If you have questions about the submission guidelines, call the college. It’s better to ask than to have your portfolio disqualified. Even if you’re in a time crunch, it is worth the time and effort to ensure the pieces selected are arranged well and professionally presented—it may mean the difference between the application being accepted or rejected.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress
Jenna

Jenna

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress has helped me greatly during my college search. I used their college search feature often and it helped in comparing schools I was looking at. Now that I’ve found a college the scholarship search feature is helping me find a way to find my college experience. CollegeXpress has many helpful features and resources for anyones college search, it truly is a wonderful tool for anyone entering college level!

Mataya Mann

Mataya Mann

High School Class of 2022

To say that CollegeXpress is a helpful tool would be an understatement as it is much more than that. Before finding CollegeXpress, all I knew was that I wanted to go to college, it was going to be insanely expensive, and I felt lost. CollegeXpress has given me access to resources such as helpful tips for applications and scholarship [opportunities], and helped guide me in a direction where I feel confident moving forward and pursuing a career. CollegeXpress has helped instill a spark in me that makes me want to continue and supports me in doing so.

Mimi

Mimi

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has provided me with tips that were for college students, but as a high school junior, they were still very useful. Not only that, it also gave me an idea of what to expect when it comes to going to college or already being in college. I want to say thank you to CollegeXpress, and I hope you continue the wonderful tips until I hopefully get into college and throughout my college journey.

Christina

Christina

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me find Allegheny College with the super-user-friendly search tool for both schools and scholarships. Using CollegeXpress, I was able to search for programs I was interested in studying and find colleges that offered those programs. Also, once you search for the college, CollegeXpress can get you connected!

Ana Sophia Garcia-Cubas Assemat

Ana Sophia Garcia-Cubas Assemat

$10,000 Scholarship Winner, 2020

CollegeXpress has been an instrumental resource for my scholarship search and has given me the opportunity to try my best so I can graduate from college debt-free.

College Matches
X

Colleges You May Be Interested In

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT

New York University - Abu Dhabi Campus

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates