Portfolio advice: What is a UAL portfolio?

Summary

This video discusses the importance of a portfolio as a personal collection of work that showcases your skills, potential, and creative thinking. It highlights the shift from physical to digital portfolios, emphasizing the need to show a diverse range of work, including both finished pieces and works in progress. The portfolio should reflect your unique voice, narrative skills, and creative process, with a balance of technical ability and risk-taking. The video also stresses the importance of storytelling, growth potential, and presenting work in a way that reflects personal methods and aspirations.

Takeaways

• 😀 A portfolio is a collection of personal work that showcases your skills, potential, and interests as a practitioner or creator.
• 😀 It provides an opportunity for others to understand your creative thinking, ideas, and aspirations.
• 😀 Portfolios are not limited to fine art and fashion; they can represent any multimedia or digital work that communicates visually.
• 😀 UAL has transitioned from physical portfolios to using the online platform PebblePad, but the focus remains on your work and creative expression.
• 😀 Before preparing your digital portfolio, check the course page for guidance on what to include based on the discipline you're applying for.
• 😀 It is essential to show a range of work in your portfolio, demonstrating your versatility and ability to handle diverse projects.
• 😀 The portfolio should not only showcase finished works but also highlight the process, experimentation, and ideas behind them.
• 😀 Including work that didn’t succeed is valuable, as it demonstrates your learning process, risk-taking, and growth as a creator.
• 😀 Storytelling in a portfolio is crucial. Each project should have a beginning, middle, and end, creating a narrative flow.
• 😀 When organizing your portfolio, aim for a balanced structure with strong pieces at the start and end, and a varied rhythm in between.
• 😀 Your portfolio should reflect your personal style and methods, showcasing the potential for growth and development during your studies.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of personal work that represents who you are as a practitioner, showcasing your thinking, creativity, and potential. It allows others to understand your skills, interests, and lived experiences.

How has the process of submitting a portfolio changed?

Previously, portfolios were submitted physically, but now the process has shifted to using PebblePad, an online portfolio tool, which replaces the need for physical submissions.

Why is it important to show a range of work in a portfolio?

Showing a range of work demonstrates your ability to handle diverse projects, which is important as university assignments often cover varied disciplines and creative challenges.

What types of work can be included in a portfolio?

Portfolios can include a variety of work such as digital designs, photography, physical making, video documentation of physical portfolios, and creative projects. It's important to show diversity in the work presented.

Why should students include work that didn’t go well in their portfolios?

Including work that didn’t succeed highlights your willingness to experiment, take risks, and learn from failures, which is often more valuable than just showcasing perfect results.

What qualities do assessors look for when reviewing a portfolio?

Assessors look for technical ability, critical thinking, experimentation, risk-taking, and the potential for growth. They are interested in how a student approaches challenges and develops their ideas.

How important is storytelling in a portfolio?

Storytelling is crucial in a portfolio. Each project should have a clear beginning, middle, and end to provide a narrative structure. This helps make the portfolio engaging and shows how ideas evolve.

What advice is given regarding the flow of a portfolio?

The portfolio should have a dynamic flow, starting and ending with strong work while balancing the middle with a mix of pieces that show diversity. This keeps the viewer engaged and highlights different aspects of your creativity.

How can a portfolio reflect the individuality of the creator?

A portfolio should showcase the creator's personal methods, projects, and interests. It should emphasize unique approaches to challenges, demonstrating the creator’s distinct perspective and creative identity.

What is the ultimate goal for a student presenting a portfolio?

The ultimate goal is to demonstrate not only your current skills but also your potential for growth. A strong portfolio shows that you can evolve as a creator and thrive in a university environment.