Portfolio Guidance
This page provides portfolio guidance for UK students, or EU students living and studying in the UK.
Portfolio submission deadlines
We would ask you to submit your portfolio within four weeks of making an application. We will make a decision on your application as soon as possible when we receive your portfolio.
The guidance below sets out our typical requirements, but in light of the current circumstances please be aware that you can submit: GCSE work, and work from last year; work in progress such as sketches of ideas; photos of your work; fewer examples of your work than we have recommended in the guidance.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do contact us.
We look forward to seeing your work.
Undergraduate courses that require portfolios include:
- BA (Hons) Architecture
- BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
- BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture and Design
- BA (hons) Product and Furniture Design
If you are an EU or International Student then you can find the relevant portfolio guidance here.
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BA (Hons) Architecture – Digital Portfolios
Architecture and Design can be explored in different ways and offer a diverse range of experiences. During your studies you will be able to develop your graphical and verbal communication skills, your technical skills, how to operate in a professional context and knowledge on the discipline. Most importantly you will be encouraged to experiment and cultivate an individual approach, which will help you on your career path as an aspiring designer/architect.
Your portfolio is the starting point for you to demonstrate your interest on the discipline and for you to showcase your technical skills, creativity and your passions that are relevant to architecture and design.
What we want to see
- Your creative and innovative thinking.
- Your appreciation of space and form.
- Your existing communication skills (technical drawing, graphical skills, analogue and digital skills and use of software).
- Your passions, talents and interests on the discipline.
You can demonstrate the above utilising a variety of means; sketches, photographs, visuals, physical and digital modelling, 3d work, collages, painting etc.
Below we have included a guide that can help you develop your portfolio.
Size
Between 10 - 20 slides.
The overall file should be submitted as one combined PDF not more than 10MB, and not as individual files.
Layout
A clear layout; show us your ability to present and visualise your skills. Include short descriptions.
Subjects
- Design and architecture: any design related work you have undertaken.
- Art: any examples of art you have created.
- Photography: any examples of interesting photography; preferably related to design, architecture and culture.
- Technology: any examples of use of technology relevant to design and architecture, materials, processes.
Media
Use a variety of media illustrating a range of your skills and talents.
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture – Digital Portfolios
The following guidelines will help you to create your portfolio, but it is important to note that you aren’t restricted to these. Whatever you choose to include, the most important thing to show is that you’re interested and passionate about landscape architecture.
Content
- Use a front cover, 1st page, with name and course applied for
- You can use a website, video, or a PDF format. For PDF, please ensure your portfolio is between A3-A2 page size, try to keep below a 20mb file. For video, please either host your work on a platform such as Youtube, or upload the original file (up to 50mbs).
- Tailor your portfolio towards your audience (the reviewer) by starting with your best piece of work.
- Provide brief notes (annotations), which explain your work. Try to summarise why, where, and how you did it: we are interested in the details!
- Show us a diverse range of work, perhaps including: technical drawings, observational sketches, drawings, paintings, three-dimensional work, CAD work, graphic designs, or photos of construction or horticultural work
- We suggest between 10-20 pages of work
- If you don’t have much work of your own, research landscape architecture projects and explain why you like them, or how they’ve inspired you.
- If you're coming from a traditional route such as A Level or BTEC training try to include evidence of drawing, collage, photography and artist process pictures of landscape.
- If you come from a more specific landscape architecture background it would be useful to include: technical drawings (use of CAD), construction knowledge and planting knowledge/ experience e.g. projects built.
- To represent large 3D pieces, take a few of photographs from a variety of angles, play with perspective, perhaps so that they look like the view a person would have when looking at the structure or from a particular view you may see.
- It is important to show final pieces, but it is perhaps even more important to show the development of them. We want to see the thinking behind your work and how your ideas develop. This can be demonstrated through sketchbooks and journals with notes.
Skills we would like to see
- Hand drawing.
- Creative thinking.
- Evidence that you’re enthusiastic about the subject.
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture with Urban Design – Digital Portfolios
The following guidelines will help you to create your portfolio, but it is important to note that you aren’t restricted to these. Whatever you choose to include, the most important thing to show is that you’re interested and passionate about landscape architecture.
Content
- Use a front cover, 1st page, with name and course applied for
- You can use a website, video, or a PDF format. For PDF, please ensure your portfolio is between A3-A2 page size, try to keep below a 20mb file. For video, please either host your work on a platform such as Youtube, or upload the original file (up to 50mbs).
- Tailor your portfolio towards your audience (the reviewer) by starting with your best piece of work.
- Provide brief notes (annotations), which explain your work. Try to summarise why, where, and how you did it: we are interested in the details!
- Show us a diverse range of work, perhaps including: technical drawings, observational sketches, drawings, paintings, three-dimensional work, CAD work, graphic designs, or photos of construction or horticultural work
- We suggest between 10-20 pages of work
- If you don’t have much work of your own, research landscape architecture projects and explain why you like them, or how they’ve inspired you.
- If you're coming from a traditional route such as A Level or BTEC training try to include evidence of drawing, collage, photography and artist process pictures of landscape.
- If you come from a more specific landscape architecture background it would be useful to include: technical drawings (use of CAD), construction knowledge and planting knowledge/ experience e.g. projects built.
- To represent large 3D pieces, take a few of photographs from a variety of angles, play with perspective, perhaps so that they look like the view a person would have when looking at the structure or from a particular view you may see.
- It is important to show final pieces, but it is perhaps even more important to show the development of them. We want to see the thinking behind your work and how your ideas develop. This can be demonstrated through sketchbooks and journals with notes.
Skills we would like to see
- Hand drawing.
- Creative thinking.
- Evidence that you’re enthusiastic about the subject.
BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design – Digital Portfolios
Interior Architecture and Design can be explored in different ways and offer a diverse range of experiences. During your studies you will be able to develop your graphical and verbal communication skills, your technical skills, how to operate in a professional context and knowledge on the discipline. Most importantly you will be encouraged to experiment and cultivate an individual approach, which will help you on your career path as an aspiring designer/architect.
Your portfolio is the starting point for you to demonstrate your interest on the discipline and for you to showcase your technical skills, creativity and your passions that are relevant to architecture and design.
What we want to see
- Your creative and innovative thinking.
- Your appreciation of space and form.
- Your existing communication skills (technical drawing, graphical skills, analogue and digital skills and use of software).
- Your passions, talents and interests on the discipline.
You can demonstrate the above utilising a variety of means; sketches, photographs, visuals, physical and digital modelling, 3d work, collages, painting etc.
Below we have included a guide that can help you develop your portfolio.
Size
Between 10 - 20 slides.
The overall file should be submitted as one combined PDF not more than 10MB, and not as individual files.
Layout
A clear layout; show us your ability to present and visualise your skills. Include short descriptions.
Subjects
- Design and architecture: any design related work you have undertaken.
- Art: any examples of art you have created.
- Photography: any examples of interesting photography; preferably related to design, architecture and culture.
- Technology: any examples of use of technology relevant to design and architecture, materials, processes.
Media
Use a variety of media illustrating a range of your skills and talents.
BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design – Physical Portfolios
The following guidelines will help you to create your portfolio, but it is important to note that you aren’t restricted to these. Whatever you choose to include, the most important thing to show is that you’re interested and passionate about product and furniture design.
Content
- The ideal portfolio is one that is easy to open, not too full and allows easy progression through it. A standard, flat A2 or A1 centre hinged portfolio with clear sleeves is ideal.
- Arrange work in a logical order (chronological, project or medium based) so that each piece leads easily to the next. Ensure each piece is either mounted or presented neatly and thoughtfully
- The work contained within your portfolio can be work produced as part of a formal course of study, or anything you have produced independently as a result of your personal interest (this could also include any work you have produced professionally).
- We will be looking for an obvious interest and passion for your subject.
- A range of drawings displaying your skills in different mediums. If possible include a variety of styles, as this will give us a much clearer idea of your artistic ability.
- Sketchbooks are great to see! We like to see how your ideas have evolved. You can also include visits to relevant exhibitions, galleries, buildings, interiors, work experience etc.
- Any projects concerning problem-solving (taking a project brief and producing a solution) are essential, especially anything three-dimensional e.g. sculpture, model making, ceramics, furniture, interior projects etc. Photographs or slides of any 3D work are acceptable and technical drawings would be good to see.
- If including photographs please ensure they are properly mounted, do not leave them in their wallets. Avoid rolled drawing or anything that cannot be easily viewed unless they are essential.
- Any graphics based work is also worth including.
Skills we would like to see
- Hand drawing.
- Creative thinking.
- Evidence that you’re enthusiastic about the subject.
Preparing for your portfolio review
The last part of putting your portfolio together is to practise speaking about it, as we will ask you about your work and what made you apply to the course during your portfolio review.
Remember, this isn’t to put you on the spot, but it’s a dialogue to help us understand your aspirations and how the course fits them. When preparing for your review consider the following questions:
- What is your favourite piece of work and why?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are you inspired by?
- What are your aspirations?
- Why do you want to study BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design at Birmingham City University?
BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design – Digital Portfolios
The following guidelines will help you to create your portfolio, but it is important to note that you aren’t restricted to these. Whatever you choose to include, the most important thing to show is that you’re interested and passionate about product and furniture design.
Content
- Use a front cover, 1st page, with name and course applied for
- You can use a website, video, or a PDF format. For PDF, please ensure your portfolio is between A3-A2 page size, try to keep below a 20mb file. For video, please either host your work on a platform such as Youtube, or bring the original file.
- Tailor your portfolio towards your audience (the reviewer) by starting with your best piece of work.
- Provide brief notes (annotations), which explain your work. Try to summarise why, where, and how you did it: we are interested in the details!
- Show us a diverse range of work, perhaps including: technical drawings, observational sketches, renderings, design process, three-dimensional work, CAD work, graphic designs, or photos of made objects.
- We suggest between 10-20 pages of work.
- If you don’t have much work of your own, research contemporary product/furniture examples and explain why you like them, or how they’ve inspired you.
- If you're coming from a traditional route such as A Level or BTEC training try to include evidence of a 3D design process.
- If you come from a more specific Product/Furniture background it would be useful to include: research, technical drawings (use of 3D modelling if appropriate), testing models, design development sequence e.g. full projects to completion.
- Photograph large 3D work and consider the context where it would be used to give a sense of scale i.e. with users and in an appropriate environment.
- It is important to show final pieces, but it is perhaps even more important to show the development of them. We want to see the thinking behind your work and how your ideas develop. This can be demonstrated through sketchbooks and journals with notes.
Skills we would like to see
- Hand drawing.
- Creative thinking.
- Design Development.
- Evidence that you’re enthusiastic about the subject.
MA Design and Visualisation – Digital Portfolios
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. Please see below our guidance to help you organise and create your MA Design and Visualisation digital portfolio.
Content
- Please start your portfolio with a short statement introducing yourself, your aspirations, what we can expect to see in your portfolio, and if there are any specific parts that you would like us to focus on and why. When preparing your personal statement, please answer the following questions:
- Why have you chosen to apply for MA Design and Visualisation at Birmingham City University?
- What course you studied before applying for this course?
- What can you bring to this course?
- What do you want to learn from this course?
- What interests you about this course?
- We would like to see at least 4 ideas and concepts. You should include at least one project from start to finish – showing your source of inspiration, all iterations for the concept, technical ability, and research processes.
- It is useful to include any live projects, competitions or industry projects, as this can highlight your potential.
- We would like to see a variety of work using a variety of techniques. This can be from any design-based courses you have undertaken, and should highlight your interests linked to the MA Design and Visualisation course.
- The order you present your work in is the order we will view it, so structure your work in a clear and organised way. For example, you may find it useful to start with your best-detailed project that shows your journey in a project from start to finish followed by the other projects which could just be a short statement on the Design Objective, Rationale and the final outcome with any key techniques you want to highlight to us in that project.
- If you are including work that was created as part of a collaborative team project, it is important that you state what your role was in the project and evidence the specific design elements that you contributed towards the project.
Skills we would like to see
- Evidence of creative thinking.
- Use of a structured design process for idea development, linked to contemporary or historical theories.
- Evidence of experimentation using a range of media, materials and technologies.
- Problem-solving abilities and rationale.
- Evidence of your 3D digital software skills (important).
- Evidence that you are passionate about the course.
Format
- Submit your digital portfolio as a single PDF file.
- Your digital portfolio should be no more than 20MB. Please compress your file if it exceeds the limit.
- You can add any external website links to your video and animation work in your PDF portfolio. Please check that these links work before you submit your portfolio and they can be viewed without a password. We will not be able to view links that require a password.