Design admissions requirements

Your Portfolio

Applicants to Design are expected to submit a maximum of 15 creative works from two or more of the four categories listed below. An ideal portfolio would include a diverse range of projects, mediums and interests. Applicants who cannot submit a range of work should explain this in their letter of intent to show their enthusiasm, motivation and potential for success in our programs.

Visual Communication: Still images, illustration, graphic design, collage, book work, packaging, print media, typography, photography, moving images, animation, video.
Multi Media/Digital Media: Web design, 3D modelling, sound, programming, social media projects, programming or scripting, electronics.
Built Environment: Furniture, objects, maquettes, technical drawing, clothing, textile design, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, arts and crafts, exhibition, display and installation.
Design or Media Studies or Sustainability: Collaborative projects, history/theory essays, sustainable research, community work, nature inspired/biomimicry or solar/wind power projects.

General Portfolio Tips

Maximum 15 pieces of creative works.
A table of content must be included for all material submitted for review. Each work must be clearly numbered and labelled with the applicant’s name, the title of the work, the date of completion, the size of work, and the medium(s) used.
In the case of collaborative projects, applicants must clearly define their contribution to the project.
The index/start page should be clearly visible and placed outside the folder of images and other content pages.
File size: each image should not exceed 3 MB. Video (.mov, .avi, .mpeg-4, .m4v, .qt, .wmv, .flv) and sound files (.mp3, .wav, .flac, .wma) should not exceed 60 MB.
If your portfolio dossier is submitted as a website, then copy/paste the URL online.
Websites must have a SHORT URL for easy access. Use the Google URL shortener at goo.gl.

Important Notes

All portfolios must be uploaded using the “Upload Portfolio” button on the Design and Computation Arts website. You may choose to send an additional original work to the department ONLY if it is a specialized work such as a book work/livre d’artiste, promotional packaging, limited edition print design, textile work.* When sending original work also provide your student ID and proof of application.
Each work included in your portfolio should be presented with care. Take the time to document your work properly and collate individual works into a portfolio that is assembled into a structured and cohesive portfolio submission.

The Department reserves the right to refuse any portfolios that do not conform to the guidelines.

Table of Contents/List

This is a one-page description list that corresponds numerically to each piece submitted in your portfolio. It should contain the following information: medium, size, date, duration (in the case of time-based work). It is not necessary to provide a detailed description of the work.

Portfolio Retrieval

Applicants who wish to have their specialized portfolios returned to them by including a self-addressed stamped envelope or pick up their portfolios in person from the Department between April 15 and October 31 of the application year.

The Department will discard any unclaimed portfolios.