WSU Art Department

Graphic Design Portfolio Submission

When submitting a portfolio there are a series of professional guidelines that students are required to follow or else they run an increased risk of being denied entry into the Graphic Design program.

Portfolio

          The student's portfolio should include 8 - 10 examples of college level course works and/or
     personal creative works. The gathered works must be selected from works created in the
     previous two years of the students creative learning.

Content

Portfolios must exhibit examples that show their skills in these areas of Design.

Technical Skill Basic Design Software Skill

Drawing Gestalt Theory Photoshop

Painting Composition Illustraor

Sculpture Color Theory In Design

Labeling

          All materials submitted should be labeled correctly. This includes the student's name, title of
     work, medium, and year(s) of creation. Labels should be attached to the works either by pasting or
     taping them to the back of the work. Some works, like paintings, can have the label attached by a
     clip.

Documentation

          Even though all pieces are to be labeled the students are also asked to provide all the proper
     documentation in a labeled folder with the student's name on it. Students should acquire a Graphic
     Design Program form online or at the Art Department front desk. Inside the portfolio with the
     completed application should be a list of all the submitted works. Students are also required to
                                                       include their current collegiate transcripts with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a personal statement
                                                       (described below).

Personal Statement

Students need to include a 1-2 page typed statement describing how their past experiences, interests, and cocerns relate to: your choice of college, reason for choosing Graphic Design as a major and your career goals. Applicants are encouraged to write an extensive personal statement.

Assesments

Students should obtain two confidential skill and performance assessments. Preferably from instructors familiar with the student’s art work and/ or academic ability. Instructors should submit the forms in sealed envelopes directly to WSU Art Department (please write on the envelope: Attention to GD Application) The letter will remain confidential and the property of WSU. The Skill & Performance Assessment form i can be downloaded from the following link http://www.winona.edu/Art/GD/SkillPerformanceAssessment.pdf

Printing

All digital works should be printed out to appropriate size. Attention should be made to the quality of prints submitted and the materials they are printed on.

Mounting

          All printed materials should be mounted either on Matte Board or Foam Core. Please use either
     solid white or solid black boards. It is suggessted that for most drawings with a white background
     to use black colored mounting boards. Pictures with dark backgrounds, such as charcoal or similarly
     dark or colored work to use white colored mounting board. Pay close attention to the margin space
                                                       created by the matte board. All edges should be neatly trimmed and any adhesive should be
                                                       removed be fore submitting the work.

Cover Sheets

          With some works such as pastels, conte crayon, graphite, and charcoal the dust left by the work's
     medium may damage other works. Before mounting a work please spray the image with the
     appropriate fixative spray. After, mounting make sure to use a sheet of large, blank paper to cover
     the piece. Remember to attach the paper to the back of the mounting board with tape. The paper
                                                       should be nicely trimmed along the edges of the mounting board and should cover the work.

3D Work and Paintings

Sculpture and other three-dimensional works should be submitted as a well lit photographic image that is mounted on white or black mounting board. Paintings can be submitted as is or mounted in a frame. Paintings must be clearly labeled and can be placed next to the rest of the student's submitted portfolio.

Portfolio Books

          All materials mounted in a portfolio book should be mounted like the other work and should fit
     correctly inside of the plastic sleeeves. There should be no mounting board outside the sleeves.
     Also, the mounting board should not be smaller since this would make the print loose inside the
     sleeve. Please, make sure the student's portfolio book is labeled with their name.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect Book Size - All work placed in portfolio books should fit correctly inside the plastic sleeves. The mounting board should be trimmed to be sized to the edges inside the sleeve without sticking out of it.

Unmounted in Book - Work should not be loose inside the sleeves of your portfolio book. This could end up causing damage to the work or allow it to fall out of the sleeve.

Improper Allignment - Unintended misallignment will be viewed as a design choice even if it was not intended during placement. If the work does not need to be displayed together they should be mounted seperately.

Unmounted Work - Mounted work is easier to hang and handle.

Reprint Graded Work - Fresh copies should be prepared for submission. Correction marks, grades, and other markings that are not a part of the art will detract from the professionalism of your portfolio.

Improper Trim - Please trim all work evenly so that there is no fraying or jagged edges. Both the mounting board and work should be trimmed to the correct size leaving a small margin of mounting board around the final work.