Portfolio help.

[TSE]

I am applying to college for a design degree, and a certain university wants a 10-15 sample portfolio. They don't give any specifics and I sent them an e-mail asking them and they haven't responded... so...

Does anyone have any ideas on what to draw?

 

[panoz7]

Which university? Are you applying for a specific major or is it a more generic design degree?

 

[jav6454]

Usually the best of the best across a range of styles and techniques. Impressing the admission officers is key.

 

[ChicoWeb]

You're being tested before you even show up or pay! HA! Like they said, what sort of design? I would presume you should show samples of the specific program you're going for.

 

[Blue Velvet]

10-15 pages for an entry portfolio? Some suggestions:

• 1 or 2 on illustration
• 1 or 2 on 3D work like mock packaging
• 1 or 2 with some animation or storyboarding, showing the ability to think in timelines
• 2 on drawing; general and life drawing
• 2 to 3 involving type, from a layout to some display type
• 1 to 2 on branding, a logo and strapline perhaps, extending it to maybe a mock ad, some stationery or a mock web page
• 1 or 2 on something in a related field, like photography, sculpture or painting... something you have a real passion for

 

[TSE]

Oh jeeze, I forgot to add what kind of design.

I am either going to go into Industrial Design or Transportation Design. It's Northumbria University by the way.

Thanks thus far for the help!

 

[Blue Velvet]

I am either going to go into Industrial Design or Transportation Design.

Then with an emphasis on manmade products: 3D work, modelling, cutaways, schematics etc.

When stuck, peek, but don't steal at Google Images.

Could do a great mock Apple product and ad if that would also help motivate you.

 

[TSE]

I have no experience with computer modelling software, it seems like that is mostly what you are suggesting - or am I misunderstanding something?

 

[Blue Velvet]

I have no experience with computer modelling software, it seems like that is mostly what you are suggesting - or am I misunderstanding something?

OK, then use what you've got to get the best results you can. Although I'm not an industrial designer, I'll tell you about the many hot painful afternoon hours I spent at design school; drawing, with 2H pencil, as accurately as possible, from all angles... foreshortening, ellipses, negative spaces and perspective had to be spot on:

One of these.

 

[TSE]

Alright, it sounds like I just need to draw different items that require precise ratios, precise art skills, and creativity.

Thank you very much for the help people, Blue Velvet in particular!

If anyone else has any suggestions I'd love to hear them!

 

[iGav]

If anyone else has any suggestions I'd love to hear them!

If you've no background in that area, I think you should consider Blue's suggestion of a 2D drawing, and perhaps then consider producing a number of variations of the object.

For example, a simple pencil sketch. A more detailed pencil/pen drawing. Then a more precise (perhaps to scale) technical drawing produced using a variety of aids, and then perhaps producing an orthographic projection of the object. This alone will demonstrate quite a wide range of ability that will allow them to judge your suitability for the course.

Maybe even consider including rough sketches, even abstract interpretations & ideas... the absolute most important thing at this stage is to demonstrate your creativity, (which they'll help you harness and channel) rather than out and out technical ability (that will be taught over the duration of the course).

 

[LeviG]

Oh jeeze, I forgot to add what kind of design.

I am either going to go into Industrial Design or Transportation Design. It's Northumbria University by the way.

Thanks thus far for the help!

I went to uni and studied product design (UK - Huddersfield Uni) but actually applied for transport design (they said I'd be better suited on product)

What they wanted (bear in mind this is about 10 years ago now) to see was the ability to show your development of ideas, that you can sketch and in essence that you could think lol. My course actually used the first year to teach us about using marker pens (never really used them after the first year), cad software, how to 'design' a product, it was a big step up from a-level but it helped for the final 2 years.

I went in with
- sketching (life drawing in my case)
- idea creation, packaging, concept designs that sort of thing
- basic computer skills (I would assume this would be a higher standard now due to progress in tech) - think sketchup and/or other 3d software (solidworks/autocad/3ds max/alias were programs of choice on course)
- photography
- 2d plans

 

[iGav]

I went to uni and studied product design (UK - Huddersfield Uni) but actually applied for transport design (they said I'd be better suited on product)

I was going to add on my post that we had a product designer on the boards, but I couldn't for the life of me remember your username.

I'm popping into my old Uni (Coventry) in the New Year, to have a looksie at their MA options for product design. It's one of my biggest regrets going into graphic rather than product design.

 

[LeviG]

I was going to add on my post that we had a product designer on the boards, but I couldn't for the life of me remember your username.

there's more than just me

 

[iGav]

there's more than just me

But you were the one I was thinking of. It's been a while since I've really frequented the Design & Graphics forum, so I'm a little fuzzy on such things.