Art and Design Foundation Diploma Applicant Day advice

Art and Design Foundation applicant days provide a great opportunity to meet with the academic who will be teaching your course and ask questions. You will also experience our facilities first-hand and have the opportunity to join a campus and accommodation tour.

What we want to see:

Drawing and image making

We want to see your drawing ability in its broadest sense. This can include different types of drawing – observational (objects, people, landscapes) and conceptual (initial design sketches, ideas and development). You can show your drawing and image-making ability through different media including pencils, paint, ink, photography, moving images, collage, printmaking, Photoshop and CAD. If available, examples of sculptural work undertaken would be gladly accepted.

Photography and video-based work

We want to see your interests and abilities in still and/or moving images from a specific or broad range of techniques and/or genres. Contact sheets are not required. If you are keen to show your postproduction skills, please submit a before and after of your work. We are also looking for evidence of good and original visual communication skills and an inquisitive mind. We would like to see your own artwork - the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of other artist's work are not acceptable.

Sketchbook work

We love sketchbooks as they show how you research, explore and develop an idea. This can include references to work, exhibitions or anything else that has inspired you. You can include annotations that demonstrate your thought process and don’t be afraid to include rough sketches. (We don’t want to see lots of secondary source material e.g., magazine cut-outs, printouts from websites or photocopies from books).

Project work

We want to see how you work on a project from start to finish – the finished article and how you got there. Show your initial research, idea development, experimentation and your conclusion or final piece. Try to include one project which can be either independent work or from your current studies.

Course area advice

Visual arts

We want to see your drawing, painting, sculpture, photographic and/or video skills in making and expression, creative risk-taking, experimentation and evidence of developmental and completed work. Images of 2- and 3 -dimensional work should evidence the range of processes and mediums you have experimented with. Photographic contact sheets are not required. If you are keen to show your post-production skills then please provide before and after images. Accompany each image with a label to explain what the image is about and what media was used. We would like to see your own artwork – the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of other artist's work is not acceptable.

How to present your work 

  1. Physical portfolios

    • When attending an Art and Design Foundation Applicant Day, if you decide to present a physical portfolio make sure your physical portfolio represents you. It should showcase your interests, skills, creativity and passion for your chosen subject.
    • Include examples of research, experimentation, idea development, drawing and media, making (if relevant) and final outcomes.
    • There is no right or wrong way to present your work. We would recommend presenting your work in an A2 or A1 portfolio case. Using visuals that illustrate your work and skills - without the need for graphic adjustments - will showcase your originality and give you the opportunity to clearly communicate your style of work. We will look at digital portfolios and can advise on how to best present a digital portfolio (see below).
    • You can also bring other 3D or experimental work to support this portfolio, that perhaps doesn’t fit in or sit flat.
    • Bring supporting sketchbooks that are relevant to the work from the portfolio. This shows your working process, where the portfolio may show finished outcomes.
    • Be selective about what to include, it’s about quality rather than quantity. You should aim for 15–20 pages.
    • We would like to see your own artwork - the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of other artist's work are not acceptable.

    We aim to make all of our events completely accessible. If you are unable to attend an Art and Design Foundation Applicant Day you will be asked to share your digital portfolio. Please contact the Applicant Events Team who will be happy to help.

  2. Digital portfolios

    • Arrange your work into one single multi-page PDF or PowerPoint file, as if you were presenting it yourself. You can use our template to help you.
    • The contents of your digital portfolio should reflect your strongest work and contain a full range of personal artwork, coursework and include sketchbooks.
    • Make sure your work is clear and easy to see with a clear background.
    • Take high-quality pictures of your work and when inserting them into your presentation make sure that are JPEGS and not larger than 72dpi.
    • If you are including moving images such as animation or video please use .mp4, .MOV or .AVI format.
    • Ensure all work is included within this single file, rather than directing us to your website or Instagram account.
    • We would like to see your own artwork - the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of another artist's work are not acceptable.
    • The name of your file should include your name, student reference number and the title of the course you have applied for.
    • Compress or zip your file so that it does not exceed 1GB in size and submit via www.mailbigfile.com/dmuac

  3. International applicants (living outside of the UK)

    • Once you have applied, if you meet our minimum entry requirements you will be asked to submit a digital portfolio.
    • If you are including moving images such as animation or video please use .mp4, .MOV or .AVI format.
    • Compress or zip your file so that it does not exceed 1GB in size.
    • The name of your file should be your name, student reference number and the title of the course you have applied for.
    • We would like to see your own artwork - the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of other artist's work are not acceptable.
    • Submit your digital portfolio file via www.mailbigfile.com/dmuac.
    • This will be reviewed by our experienced programme academics, which could result in a reduced offer.
    • Following receipt of your work, we may wish to contact you through MS Team to discuss your digital portfolio.
      • Please contact the Applicant Events Team who will be happy to help.

 

 

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Art and Design Foundation Applicant Day or how to submit a digital portfolio please contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to help you.

E: applicantevents@dmu.ac.uk