Find out more about the application process for the Art & Design Access Programme. You will be expected to bring along a portfolio of work to the interview. The portfolio presentation is an important part of the application and interview process, as this helps us to get to know a bit more about you, your work and interests. There is no such thing as a perfect portfolio and everyone’s work and approaches will be unique. We are looking for ways you express yourself through your work and how you may explore and develop your ideas. Here are some tips to help you in preparing your portfolio: Conveying a Sense of Individuality We are looking for your passion and enthusiasm for the creative arts through your portfolio of work. The portfolio should demonstrate your skills and interests to create a rich, lively and dynamic portfolio of ideas that are unique to you. Selecting Works How many pieces of work should I include in my Portfolio? Don’t bring everything you have produced, but try and put together a selection of works that demonstrate a range of creative and practical skills and which may also show the development of a theme or idea. Should I include any sketchbooks, ideas for development or unfinished works? Yes, consider bringing along supporting work and sketchbooks, this will be a great way to talk about a finished piece, by showing where the idea started from and how it evolved! If you have anything large or sculptural then take photographs from various viewpoints and possibly in a context of a space so we can get a sense of scale. Presenting your Work Don’t just turn up to the interview with a random selection of images - respect and organise your work. Take care in presenting your work so that it looks its best: this could be done for no cost, as you could simply make sure edges to works are cut cleanly and straight. You may wish to mount your works. If so, we recommend that your works should be mounted on thin card, this ensures each piece of work is seen in isolation and with a minimum of distraction. Organise your work, for example, chronologically or by theme; this may help you to organise your thoughts when speaking about your work. Practice presenting your portfolio by yourself, or to a friend or family member; this will help you decide what you are going to say and make you more comfortable during the interview. What are we expecting to see in the work you bring to the interview? We want to get an idea of your creative passion and one way of discovering this is through the portfolio of work you will bring to the interview. First and foremost, we hope to get an overall flavour and sense of your personality pursued out of your own personal interests through your work. We are also interested to see: any sketchbooks, which will give us a sense of how you explore your ideas and what your interest are; some explorations in the using a range of materials, which will show us a sense of your ability and willingness to be experimental; some contextual references, adding any images by artists or designers you like and who have influenced your ideas, giving us some insight into your knowledge of other artists. Interview Process How long will the interview last? The interview should last for around 30 minutes. What happens during the interview? When you arrive, you will be asked to talk through your portfolio to the interview panel consisting of two people. You will be asked questions about your portfolio as well a series of further questions relating to your interests and desire to study. This article was published on 2024-10-14
