MA Graphic Design portfolio guide

You'll need this guide if you're applying for MA Graphic Design.

What to include in your portfolio

As applicants are from many different backgrounds, we don’t prescribe an ideal portfolio – but the examples of your work should demonstrate an ability and aptitude towards graphic design.

You should select no more than 10-20 images. Examples of work could include:

sketches
design layouts
typography
photography
illustration
web design
video
animation
motion graphics
interactive or three-dimensional work.

Please supply a brief description of each piece of work.

Include within your selected images some examples of your design process and working methods, such as images of workbook pages showing idea generation, experimentation and development of ideas and concepts.

What we’re looking for

We want your portfolio to demonstrate your:

understanding of graphic design and its application in a wider social and global context
ability to express your creative process, decision making and finalised ideas
ability to reflect on what is – and is not – successful about your work
interest in researching historical and contemporary aspects of creative practice and theory

We want you to demonstrate your creativity, aptitude for design and evidence of visual communication skills. Your portfolio should evidence:

enquiry, research and observations showing your subject knowledge
original idea generation
concept development
a good level of technical ability (in both traditional and digital skills)
an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard