Hi I am going to apply to 3 year M.Arch programs and take the next 8 months to build a portfolio with a non-design background. I am taking some basic drawing and interior design classes already. I know schools will look at the 3 year m.march portfolios differently (some don’t even require) than those with architecture or design background but I am still striving to build a solid portfolio. Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of how a successful portfolio looks like for someone with no previous professional design experience? Or if you are an admitted student and willing to connect with me I would appreciate that also very much:) thank you in advance for the tips
dougy99
Mar 26, 22 4:39 pm
I was just admitted to a few great programs for M.Arch, both in Canada and US. I graduated last year with a Major in Computer Science and Economics but took a lot of visual art in high school. After graduating I spent about 3 months working on my portfolio. What I did that I believe really set me apart was one very large project (took up about half my portfolio) where I outlined something I knew very well in a visual and “architectural” way; I took a coding assignment I had done in university and broke it down. I visually displayed the rhythm of the code and then created a string sculpture that abstractly depicted how each component of my code worked with each other. Rather than trying to create a building, I think it is far more interesting and impressive when you show the admissions committee (visually) how you think. Take something you know, and try and explain it / tell a story in a visually compelling and interesting way.
Hi I am going to apply to 3 year M.Arch programs and take the next 8 months to build a portfolio with a non-design background. I am taking some basic drawing and interior design classes already. I know schools will look at the 3 year m.march portfolios differently (some don’t even require) than those with architecture or design background but I am still striving to build a solid portfolio. Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of how a successful portfolio looks like for someone with no previous professional design experience? Or if you are an admitted student and willing to connect with me I would appreciate that also very much:) thank you in advance for the tips
I was just admitted to a few great programs for M.Arch, both in Canada and US. I graduated last year with a Major in Computer Science and Economics but took a lot of visual art in high school. After graduating I spent about 3 months working on my portfolio. What I did that I believe really set me apart was one very large project (took up about half my portfolio) where I outlined something I knew very well in a visual and “architectural” way; I took a coding assignment I had done in university and broke it down. I visually displayed the rhythm of the code and then created a string sculpture that abstractly depicted how each component of my code worked with each other. Rather than trying to create a building, I think it is far more interesting and impressive when you show the admissions committee (visually) how you think. Take something you know, and try and explain it / tell a story in a visually compelling and interesting way.