03. Portfolios

Your interview for Cambridge will include a tour of your own artwork and drawing. You’ll present this in the form of a portfolio.

There’s more on interviews in a later post. Here, we’ll give some tips on what to show, and how best to show it.

Pre Interview Portfolio:

This is a much simpler (and shorter) document that some colleges ask you to put together when you apply. This is less important and much easier to make as you simply include the best images you’ve made. A lot of the advice below applies to this portfolio too but do your best to strip away as much as you can for this one.

What to Include:

Maybe you take an Art A-Level or foundation course. Maybe you just make work in your spare time. Either way, here’s some advice on what to include:

An architecture degree will test your ability to communicate your designs through many different mediums. As such, it’s good to include a variety of media in your portfolio: drawing, sculpture, painting, printing, video, photography, whatever forms you work in, it’s good to include them all!
Architecture degrees are all about projects — developing ideas and references into final designs. Portfolios, therefore, are not only about finished pieces, but the journey you took to get there. Interviewers want to see how you think through problems and projects, no matter if it’s a little scrappy!
Another important part of architecture courses is visual observation, so make sure to bring your sketchbooks! Photography can also be a powerful medium of observation, but be sure there’s a rationale behind what you’re presenting. As with all your portfolio, be prepared to talk about the ideas and processes behind your work at interview.

One more thing: should you include architectural drawings?

If you’ve done any work experience before applying, you might have already made some plans, sections, and elevations. However, the first year of your degree will begin by assuming you’ve never dealt with these modes of representation before, and most interviewers are more interested in how you think through problems and ideas with visual methods than whether you can draw a plan. You’ve only got so much space in your portfolio, so it’s best to prioritise other things.

How to make it:

Firstly its super important if your college has an in person or online interview so find that out first.

This will dictate if you are making a portfolio digitally, printing one out or just bringing in your physical work. These steps are variable depending on the content of your portfolio but its important to bear in mind.
Think about structure. You’ll present the work to your interviewers live, so think about which pieces you want to start and end with.
Keep any titles and text minimal. You’ll be talking through the work, so there’s no need for long descriptions. Try halving your font size — it’s often still readable and gives you more space!
Focus on the images; when in doubt, play it simple. Interviews want to see your work as clearly as possible, and any fancy borders, shadows, colours are likely to distract!

Now’s the chance to get a second pair of eyes — practice walking through your portfolio with an art teacher from school, or whoever you can find!