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Home  Admissions The Portfolio Building Your Portfolio |
Portfolios can take a myriad of forms – drawings on paper, data
compressed on a DVD, sculptures made of found objects, products that
don't yet exist except on a napkin.
While there’s no formula for creating a successful portfolio, all portfolios have some things in common:
Technique
tech·nique n
1. the procedure, skill, or art used in a particular task
2. the way in which the basics of something, for example, an artistic work or a sport, are treated
3. skill or expertise in handling the technique of something
4. a special ability or knack
Technique is the most obvious, accessible and visible component of any
piece of art or design. While technique will vary from media to
media and discipline to discipline, developing an understanding of "how
things work" is critical to your portfolio development. The most
basic technique to develop is observational drawing skills.
Concept / Idea
con·cept n
1. something that somebody has thought up, or that somebody might be able to imagine.
2. a broad abstract idea or a guiding general
principle, such as one that determines how a person or culture behaves,
or how nature, reality, or events are perceived
3. the most basic understanding of something
4. a method, plan, or type of product or design
From the most basic gesture drawing, to the most complexly designed
advertising campaign, it all starts with an idea – a concept. For
the gesture drawing, the concept may be simple, i.e. "capture the arch
of the spine" or "get a feel for the space". And obviously the
thought put into a company's entire presence is created in a long,
deliberate process to realize that concept.
While defining a "strong" concept is too difficult to address properly
here, you should realize the importance of idea in your work.
What you trying to accomplish / convey / express in a given piece or
series of pieces?
Design / composition skills
com·po·si·tion n
1. the way in which something is made, especially in terms of its different parts
2. the way in which the parts of something are arranged, especially the elements in a visual image
3. the act or process of combining things to form a
whole, or of creating something such as a piece of music or writing
Whether you are working on a traditional drawing, a photograph, or a
commercial art piece, composition (the creative arrangement and
placement of parts in a work of art) is one of the most important
elements. After all, composition is the most basic way of looking at a
piece of art, whether it is complicated or very sparse. Whatever the
project, make sure to spend as much time working on the composition as
you do working on the idea or actual rendering. For graphic design
work, composition is a critical skill to build. The way information is
presented is as important as the information itself. If you are working
with typography, explore the different ways type can be used;
experiment with color too.
Variety / media and style
va·ri·e·ty n
1. the quality of being varied or diversified
2. a particular type or kind within a general group
3. a collection of varied things, often belonging to the same general group
There is debate over whether a consistent portfolio is better than a
portfolio with a wide range of media and styles. Our answer is simple –
pick your best work. However, all good portfolios will have both black
& white as well as color work, and work that ranges in subject
matter and media. As a general rule, more work is better.
Remember, MIAD requires 12-20 pieces for your portfolio review.
Creative problem-solving
cre·a·tiv·i·ty n
1. the quality of being creative
2. the ability to use the imagination to develop new
and original ideas or things, especially in an artistic context
Perhaps the most difficult issue to address in a portfolio is
creativity. We want to see artwork that is unique, that comes up with
new solutions to old problems. Even something as conventional as a
still life can spark a sense of newness to the viewer, if seen
through fresh eyes. This can be accomplished by close cropping, using
color or texture in a new way, or collaging elements onto the paper
instead of using more traditional drawing or painting techniques. Make
every piece of artwork something new for you; learn from the work, and
your unique approach to artmaking will appear.
Communication skills
com·mu·ni·cate v
1. to give or exchange information, for example, by speech or writing
2. to transmit or reveal a feeling or thought by
speech, writing, or gesture so that it is clearly understood
3. to share a good personal understanding
Another important element to being an artist or designer is strong
communication skills and an understanding of art history. Study the
masters and look at contemporary work as part of the portfolio
development process. Talk and write about your own and others’ artwork
as much as possible, and keep a journal of your thoughts and ideas.
Remember that there are no absolutes in art. We are equally impressed
by traditional work as well as work that breaks away from tradition.
What is important is that it is done well.
Identity
i·den·ti·ty n
1. who somebody is or what something is, especially the name somebody or something is known by.
2. the set of characteristics that somebody
recognizes as belonging uniquely to himself or herself and constituting
his or her individual personality for life
The ultimate goal of every artist or designer is to have a unique
identity. While this will probably take years and training to
accomplish, each person has an individual identity waiting to be
uncovered.
Use this website to help develop your portfolio – read the various
articles, try the assignments, and look at the expansive collection of
MIAD student and faculty work. Critically evaluate the work for
its concept, content, technique and identity – and use it to help you
in your own artistic pursuits.
Good luck in your portfolio development!
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