Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
Pratt Institute
University of Southern California (USC)
Tulane University
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Temple University
University of Oregon
Cranbrook Academy of Art
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
Kansas State University
grad school portfolio (from non-arch background)
I'm currently working on my portfolio for M.Arch I (also applying concurrently to urban planning programs), and I have some questions about the portfolio.
***I'm coming from a non-arch background (anthropology with minors in French and art studio).
I definitely have no arch-related material I can add to the portfolio, but it seems to be ok given that it wasn't my major in undergrad. Fortunately, I think I have enough material from my undergrad art courses - basic/drawing, painting, bookarts, printmaking, dig arts (though I probably won't include anything from that class), along with other random things, to choose from.
How much writing should I be including with my pieces? From others' portfolios I've seen through this site, a written explanation seems to be a pretty hefty component with each piece. Most of the portfolios I've seen, though, are from those WITH arch backgrounds, so I understand the greater need for a longer written component...I'm thinking this doesn't really apply to applicants like me? Is simply including the title and media used not enough, should I really include an extra little blurb about each piece (figuring out what to write isn't an issue at all, but I'd much rather just make each picture as large as possible)?
A few of the schools I'm applying to require a hard-copy portfolio. I prefer to keep things clean and simple - maybe this is a ridiculous question, but can I just use a paper/blinder clip to bind my portfolio together (having marked each page with my name and page number, of course)? I'm not too crazy about those clear cellophane bindings, and with spiral bindings, I hate the way the spirals get caught on everything/holes come loose/binding sticks out. Basically, is using clips disfavored, or are there better alternatives?
Thank you!!
Brevity, while still conveying the gist of what you're trying to say is most important. The portfolio reviewers are going to get a massive stack of portfolios to go through, so the chances that they'd be reading every single word is slim in the first place, at least when they do their initial review. Kind of up to your judgment as to which pieces you just list title, media, date and size, and which you give an actual description. Go through past years' commiserate threads and I know you'll find portfolios from non-arch people.
Consider how the portfolio is going to be opened and read. Were you considering putting the paper clip at the top left corner? Because then your portfolio won't read as a spread. And what happens when they lose the clip? Chances are they won't spend more than 2 seconds looking for it. Presentation is just as important as content -- I think Penn sums it up nicely that you should consider the portfolio itself as a graphic design exercise, which packaging is part of. Go talk to your local print shop.
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