Importance of Portfolio for admission to Design School

Portfolio review is a key screening process in many design schools, including the NIDs. Here we discuss why a portfolio is important and how you can make one.

Importance of portfolio in design school admission - If you are seeking admission to a top design school, be ready with a portfolio. It is because a majority of the design colleges ask for one to judge your readiness and suitability for the design coures offered by these institutes. So, if you haven't yet made a portfolio yet, START one today. Note that a portfolio will go hand-in-hand with the written exam. This means you can't ignore one for the other. To get a good score in the exam, you can to focus on both of these exam components. The portfolio review is the 2nd phase of the screening process. For instance, if you are seeking admission to any of the National Institute of Design (NIDs), you need to be ready with an appealing portfolio. The NID exam has two stages - DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The DAT Mains exam has a portfolio review round.

Typically, the portfolio review segment is included with the Personal Interview process. But there are also instances where the Portfolio is a part of the application process, for instance when filling out the ISDI Challenge application form, you also need to upload your portfolio. Do you have any idea what exactly is a Portfolio? If you only have a scratchy idea, this article is for you:

What is a Portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of your best works in the field of design. The purpose of the portfolio is to introduce yourself to the interview panel and tell them where you come from, what are your abilities, the extent of your creativity, and also to show them the ember inside you that is waiting to lighten up. 

The portfolio may include all or any of the following media:

• Drawings
• Paintings
• Performances
• Sculptures
• Graphic designs
• Animations
• Photographs 
• Sketchbook pages.

If you are uploading the portfolio online, make sure that it is within acceptable limits and in the prescribed size. For instance, ISDI Challenge recommends JPEG/JPG images with a file size not exceeding 500 MB.

Importance of a portfolio for admission to a design school

The portfolio is a means to promote your candidature by showcasing the entire range of your abilities, creativity, and skills. The whole point of the portfolio is to make the interview panel sit up and take notice.

Here are some of the key reasons why the portfolio is important.

• The portfolio is a prism through which the interview committee will take a peek at your body of work.
• Considering making a portfolio takes time and effort, the jury will be able to evaluate the skills, mastery, and presentation skills of the candidate by minutely observing the portfolio.
• Design, though is not a mainstream course, is gaining in popularity with more and more students driven towards the field. So, you need to be at the top of your game to make a mark among the pretenders. 
• The portfolio is a means to leave a lasting impact on the mind of the jury. Note that the portfolio comprises many elements like typography, picture consistency, seamless transition, color coordination, and a host of other stuff. If you can get the right balance between all these elements, you can hook the jury and get his or her approval.
• A good portfolio will bring underline your understanding of design, business communication, and concept-development and problem-solving ability. Further, it will help you sell your strengths while ironing out your weaknesses.
• In case you are finding the task of making a portfolio a bit daunting at the start, it shouldn’t deter you. It is because as you keep building the portfolio, things will start falling into their place and you will also get a better understanding of the entire process.

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Tips to create a portfolio that works

Here are some useful ideas that you can refer to for making a powerful portfolio.

1. If your portfolio is aligned with your interests and passion, there is more chance the portfolio will click.
2. So, when choosing projects, you may check if they are aligned with your area of interest or expertise.
3. If you pick a topic that is outside your sphere of interest, get ready to put in double the effort. Do the research and let loose your creativity. 
4. Remember, the portfolio is not about how much work you have done, but what kind (or the quality) of work you have done.
5. Normally, you can pick 10-15 items for making the portfolio. Make sure that the chosen items are your best work. The items among other things must demonstrate your hold over different themes, color combination, and designs.
6. If the portfolio has to be carried around, keep it within a manageable proportion. Or else, be ready for a nightmare moving them from one place to another.
7. The portfolio should start and end with a splash, so put your best pieces at the start and end.
8. The portfolio should show your range of work, so don’t stuff it with similar types of work. 
9. Label each item properly. These short labels will help the jury get a quick idea of what the item is all about.