Portfolio Tips for Future Students

What is a portfolio?

Your portfolio is a showcase of your best and most current work. It is an important part of your application to all of our undergraduate programs and should shine a spotlight on your skill and creativity.

There is no magic formula to the “perfect” portfolio. However, there are proven strategies you can use to ensure your intent is clear when submitting your portfolio as part of your application to university.

Find tips, a workbook with prompts to help you create, and ways you can get feedback from us while you develop your portfolio.

Portfolio Tips

Tips from Emily Carr University faculty members, including Photography professor Birthe Pointek and Communication Design professor Cameron Neat.

Getting started

Visualize

Think carefully about the world around you.

What are the things that are at the top of your mind? Try to interpret those thoughts into your artwork.

Experiment

Experiment during the process.

Allow yourself to create work that you might not like – you may find this opens you up to new ways of seeing.

Create

Incorporate at least three different mediums in your portfolio.

We are looking for portfolios with a diverse range of materials and media.


Next Steps

Review our portfolio requirements

Whether you are applying for first-year Foundation or as a transfer student, all applicants must submit a portfolio online.

Register for a portfolio-building workshop

Take a weekend workshop or join us for an intensive with our Teens Programs.

Questions?

Our Admissions team can help.

Contact Admissions