The Department of Graphic Design seeks applicants who are curious about the world and socially aware; are interested in the relationship between words and pictures and demonstrate the potential and desire to manipulate them; are energized by technology and a variety of media; are verbally articulate; and who think they would enjoy applying their creative and academic skills to communicating through visual form to the culture at large.
Follow these steps to apply
Step Three: Present Creative Work
If your application is referred to the College of Design by the University Admissions office, the Department of Graphic Design will ask all qualifying applicants to submit a PORTFOLIO, DESCRIPTIONS OF THE WORK submitted, and an ESSAY (see "present creative work").
Portfolio
Consists of 10 to 12 examples of visual work† done in the last two to three years. At least a small variety of work is preferable, but only if the range represents the best of the applicant’s abilities. Skills and experience can be demonstrated through artifacts in any medium (however, any web or motion work must be presented in the form of story-boards or printouts). Large scale and/or particularly bulky work—such as heavy sculpture or paintings exceeding four feet—should be represented in clear, well-lit photographs. (We recommend shooting such work outside, in indirect sunlight).
Most importantly, the portfolio should demonstrate:
- Inquisitiveness and imagination—Projects that simply copy other work are fine for showcasing drawing and other visual skills but insufficient for proving the capacity to invent. Wherever possible show original ideas that reveal imagination.
- Visual communication skills—At least some work should clearly express specific ideas, feelings, attitudes, events, stories or perspectives.
- Drawing and painting experience—Work might show (for example) composition ability, color or texture manipulation, some variety of technique, attention to detail, sensitivity to materials, understanding of volume and depth, or rendering abilities, etc.
- Mechanical and/or digital technology engagement—In addition to drawing and painting examples, some work should prove involvement with mechanical and digital reproduction technology such as a camera, print making processes, computer and/or video camera, etc.
Of the 10-12 examples (each counts as one piece), the portfolio must include:-
- at least one sketchbook
The sketchbook should span at least a three-month period and may contain drawings drawn from life, from photographs or from historic art; preliminary sketches for subsequent work; visual and written notations, ideas; letterform drawings or sketches; collages; compositional studies; media technique studies; observations; doodles; and more. A sketchbook is not a complete work, but a personal archive of creative process and creative thinking.
- one serial work
A minimum of three different linked pieces, such as a series of themed photographs or drawings; different composition options of one idea (iterations); a single image or subject executed in different media; a series of related designed pages; etc.
- self-initiated work
The majority of work will most likely be projects assigned in art classes. But work initiated and completed outside of the classroom should be included, even if advice was sought from an art teacher during the process.
Descriptions of Work
The applicant will write 40 words or less per piece explaining what the project is and how it demonstrates the applicant’s abilities.
Essay Response
The Essay will be on the subject of graphic design and will be sent with the letter of invitation by the College of Design. The essay response is an opportunity to reflect on the social and cultural implications of design while demonstrating writing skill.
The College of Design reserves the right to deny applicants who submit fraudulent or plagiarized materials. The portfolio and essay should be the product of the student only.
Applicants will be invited to participate in Admissions Review Days on either Saturday January 19, 26 or February 2. Upon arrival a personal interview will be scheduled and portfolio spaces will be assigned. Interviews (approximately 10 minutes per applicant) will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude at 1:30 p.m. The applicant will engage in a brief discussion with two graphic design faculty members about a design-related question posed at the beginning of the interview. The question is very open-ended.
Graphic Design faculty and a current student in the program will also review the portfolio in a closed session. Applicants are not present in this review, but must retrieve their work after 1:30 p.m. Graphic Design faculty and one current student will evaluate and score the portfolio. Faculty will evaluate and score the essay. Scores are then tabulated by the department and applicants with the highest combined scores will be forwarded to the Dean's office for final ranking.
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