Portfolios
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio & Interview Process
This consists of a review of your portfolio of art/design work, secondary or post-secondary transcripts (include photocopies of transcripts in your portfolio), a one- to two-page written statement of your educational and career goals, a resume outlining your education and/or work experience (including dates), two reference letters, and completion of a short questionnaire.
For more specific information concerning portfolio guidelines, please refer to the Portfolio Guidelines section below.
If qualified you will be invited to attend an interview with GDMA faculty to discuss your portfolio and educational objectives.
Outcomes
The portfolio review and interview process is how GDMA faculty assesses the likelihood of your success in the Program. As a result of the portfolio and interview process:
- You may be offered a seat in the GDMA program or,
- You may be asked to reapply next year. Applicants who need to develop their portfolios and other skills may be referred to the Foundations In Design (FIND) program.
If you are thinking of applying to the GDMA program, or have already done so, this sheet will help you prepare and present your portfolio appropriately in a timely manner. Follow the guidelines carefully, but remember that every portfolio should reflect your own individual ability, experience and achievement. In short, your portfolio should demonstrate to us how you think and work.
Please ensure that you have already read the above application information concerning the portfolio review and interview process first, as it will provide you with information on all other aspects of your application.
Acceptable Formats
Portfolios can take many acceptable forms. They can be:
- Hardcopy (e.g. zipper cases with work inserted into plastic sleeves or mounted on matte board, or work presented in customized containers);
- Audio-Visual (e.g. photographs, slides, video, animation)
- Digital (e.g. on CD, DVD, USB Drive, or Website URL)
Quantity and Content of Work
Between 10-15 examples of varied work is sufficient for your application, including such items as drawings, illustrations, posters, typography, computer graphics, animation, video, paintings, printmaking, photography, drafting, crafts, and three-dimensional pieces. A journal, sketchbook or collections of ideas is essential to demonstrate your thinking processes.
A poster or a drawing would be considered one piece; a project that is made up of more than one part, e.g. stationery or a booklet would also represent one piece.
As you select work for presentation keep in mind that we are more interested in seeing what you consider to be your best work, demonstrating your skills and abilities. A wide range of varied items is better than several of the same kind of work. As a graphic designer you will be expected to work on a wide repertoire of tasks, so you need to show versatility. Also, if you can, include one project that shows how you began (e.g. research, notes, early sketches), though to development stages (revisions and tests), and then the final result. Graphic design typically involves taking projects through several stages before completion.
Originals or Reproductions?
You may submit originals photographically or digitally reproduced. Please do not submit work larger than 18 x 24 inches, make sure all original 2D work is flat (not rolled up or folded), and drawings are protected to prevent smudging.
Digital Work
Digital work submitted on CD, DVD, USB Drive or by Website URL, organized as one multimedia presentation. Files must open easily and seamlessly. Ensure you're your digital submission will display accurately on either a Mac or PC platform. Faculty cannot be responsible for digital files that do not open properly. If you have any questions about setting up your files, please check with our program assistant, Nick Frühling (604-599-2827 or email), well ahead of the portfolio deadline.
Audio-Visual Work
The time allocated for each portfolio is limited, so please cue VHS videotapes and other single examples of audio-visual work for approximately three minutes.
Identification and Supporting Information
Make sure that your work is logically organized, properly labeled with your name and address, and that there is a short legible caption of what each piece is to help us understand your projects: titles, explanations of what you were trying to achieve, dates, sizes, medium, whether school work or done in your own time.
