Applicants interested in a variety of areas may submit a combination of their best work in different media. It is not necessary to add extra work if it is not consistently strong. Applicants should not submit work copied from film, television, photographs, magazine/book illustrations or other sources. Portfolio and audition materials cannot be returned. Inventory Sheet Regardless of format, all applicants must include an
inventory sheet identifying each piece by title or project, medium (or software/materials used), size and date of completion. In the case of documented professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities.
Although portfolios and auditions are not required for undergraduate admission, applicants are encouraged to present portfolios or to audition when possible to enhance the application file and to be considered for scholarships. Both the portfolio and audition should showcase an applicant’s best work, presented as professionally as possible. Both the portfolio and audition should demonstrate the applicant’s interests in and aptitudes for advanced study and, specifically, potential for success at SCAD.
Portfolio Inventory Sheet (PDF -- 110K)
Undergraduate portfolios are not intended to be major-specific. The following recommendations may be helpful for applicants interested in presenting a portfolio.
Visual Arts or Design Portfolios
Traditional visual art or design pieces may be executed in any medium, in black and white or color, and may include, but are not limited to, drawing, painting, design, printmaking, collage, photography, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, fashion, furniture or fiber art. Portfolio pieces should represent classroom assignments as well as independent projects and emphasize fundamental drawing skills in still life, nature, portraiture and figure studies. Whenever possible, the portfolio should demonstrate drawing from life rather than from photographs.
Portfolios are reviewed on the following qualitative measures: aesthetic awareness, composition, drawing, design, color perception, spatial perception, quality of presentation, technique and originality. Strong 2-D and 3-D work that shows attention to technique, drawing, scale and original design are favorably considered.
Building Arts Portfolio
Portfolios should include drawings from life, interior and exterior drawings of buildings, and work that demonstrates applicant’s personal creativity. Portfolios should exhibit ability to draw, and attention to detail. Drawings from observation are encouraged. Examples of work should include freehand sketches, renderings, CAD drawings and any other work that expresses the applicant’s individual style.
Digital or Time-based Media Portfolio
A strong portfolio includes foundation and graphics skills, where applicable, effective use of 2-D form and composition, and additive and subtractive color theory. In addition, portfolios should demonstrate an aesthetic awareness and effective use of software and tools. A strong video portfolio includes an awareness of composition, storytelling and technical skills. Attention to costumes, set and acting is favorably considered. Professional presentation of the cover, label and inventory sheet is recommended
Research Paper or Other Writing Submission
Students may submit a clearly organized 2,500- to 3,750-word research paper, including name, title of paper, and class or teacher if produced as a class assignment or with the assistance of a mentor. Papers must have a clearly stated premise, findings and conclusion; must be well organized; demonstrate consistent use of citation and documentation conventions according to a specific writing style, and must be submitted in a typed, double-spaced format. Creative writing, dramatic writing or other fiction must include student’s name, title of work, and class or teacher if produced as a class assignment or with the assistance of a mentor, and must be submitted in a typed, double-spaced format.
Slide format
Suggested for traditional art and design portfolios. Applicants should submit 10-20 slides in a plastic slide sleeve with indication of correct orientation. Slides must be professional and easy to read, with accurate color value. The applicant’s name should be clearly marked on each slide, and an inventory sheet identifying each piece by title or project, medium (or software/materials used), dimensions and date of completion should be included. In the case of documented professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities. View more tips on making slides.
Digital format
Computer-generated pieces may be submitted on CD-ROM, DVD or Zip disk (compatible with Macintosh or PC). Images should be saved as high quality JPEG files (with a file suffix of .jpg or .jpeg format), Adobe .pdf files, or digital portfolios created in PowerPoint, Director, Flash or HTML. Images should be saved at 72 dpi screen resolution with a minimum height/width of 1,000 pixels. Digital portfolios should be checked to assure that links work properly and all necessary files are included. Applicants should indicate whether special instructions are necessary for the viewing of digital portfolios. An inventory sheet must be attached, including the applicant’s name, title of each piece, media or programs used, size, date of completion, and a brief description of the piece and applicant’s role in development and execution. In the case of documented, professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities.
Multimedia format
Should be submitted in a platform-independent player format or in QuickTime with the file suffix labeled as .qt or .mov (.mpeg format is also acceptable). Applicants interested in presenting a film and television portfolio should submit work in multimedia format or as a 5-minute sample on DVD. Sound design portfolios consist of a 5-minute sample in digital or multimedia format. An inventory sheet must be attached, including the applicant’s name, title, media or programs used, size and date of completion, as well as a brief description of the piece and explanation of the applicant’s role in the development and execution of the project. In the case of documented, professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities.
To receive a course exemption, students must contact the admission office to request exemption. Students must submit documentation that demonstrates mastery of skills and sufficient knowledge of content taught in select college-level courses. A student who is exempted from a required course does not earn academic credit for that course, but may substitute a course from the same subject area as approved by the school dean and department chair to fulfill the number of hours required to complete the degree. Newly accepted students should submit documentation for exemption consideration to the admission department. Current students should submit documentation for exemption consideration to the appropriate department chair.
Portfolio Inventory Sheet (PDF -- 110K)
Broadcast Design and Motion Graphics Work should be submitted in digital or multimedia format. A strong portfolio includes foundation and graphics skills where applicable, effective use of 2-D form, and composition, and an understanding of additive and subtractive color theory. In addition, portfolios should show aesthetic awareness, and effective use of software and tools to support the aesthetic. Mature artistic or commercial direction should be shown in work that corresponds to the applicant’s academic goals. When submitting examples of collaborative work, applicants should indicate their specific responsibilities on the project.
Digital Photography Applicants must submit work in digital format; PowerPoint presentation or similar format is preferred. The
inventory sheet should indicate the nature of digital manipulation to the images. Portfolios should demonstrate significant experience in creating aesthetically interesting electronic images, a strong understanding of current software and hardware, and a consistent, in-depth investigation into a particular subject matter or aesthetic. In addition, applicants are encouraged to submit at least one sample of scholarly writing, such as a substantial college-level research paper, to demonstrate written communication skills.
Graphic Design Work should be submitted in slide or digital format. If digital, PowerPoint presentation or other similar format is preferred. Portfolio must concentrate on graphic design as a problem-solving process, show sensible use of typography, demonstrate the ability to carry a design through multiple pieces (campaign) and represent the applicant’s proficiency with the following software: Illustrator or Freehand (Vector), Photoshop (image manipulation), Quark/InDesign (page layout) and Dreamweaver/GoLive (Web authoring). The portfolio should include samples that demonstrate ability to apply typographic rules in large bodies of type such as annual reports, magazine spreads and/or brochures. The portfolio may be augmented by work that reflects the applicant’s interest and ability in the design field.
Historic Preservation The preferred format for submission of work is digital. The portfolio should include examples of drawing from life, interior and exterior drawings of buildings, and work that demonstrates the applicant’s personal creativity. Portfolios should exhibit applicant’s ability to draw and attention to detail. Drawings from observation are encouraged. Examples of work should include freehand sketches, renderings, CAD drawings and any other work that expresses the applicant’s individual style. In lieu of digital portfolio, applicants may submit a substantial college-level research paper addressing an aspect of historic architecture.
Illustration Design The portfolio should include examples of the applicant’s best visual and written work. Visual work should be submitted in slide or digital format. If digital, PowerPoint presentation or other similar format is preferred. Portfolios should demonstrate an interest in and a commitment to the use of illustration as a means of communicating ideas. The work should show responses to a range of assignments. Applicants also should demonstrate good drawing skills and, if possible, show sketchbook/process/research work, particularly when submitting digitally-produced final artwork. The
inventory sheet should indicate which images, if any, have been digitally manipulated, especially if the work is submitted in CD format. Written work should not exceed three samples; at least one sample should be scholarly writing, such as a substantial college-level research paper, to demonstrate written communication skills.
Interactive Design and Game Development Work should be submitted in digital or multimedia format. A strong portfolio includes foundation and graphics skills, where applicable, effective use of 2-D form and composition, and an understanding of additive and subtractive color theory. Students who intend to focus on game design should include 3-D work. In addition, portfolios should show aesthetic awareness, and effective use of software and tools to support the aesthetic. Mature artistic or commercial direction should be shown in work that corresponds to the applicant’s academic goals. When submitting examples of collaborative work, applicants should indicate their specific responsibilities on the project.
Interior Design Work should be submitted in slide or digital format. If digital, PowerPoint presentation or similar format is preferred. Portfolios should include work from all phases of design: conceptual and process drawings, sketches, perspectives and technical drawings including floor plans, elevations, sections, lighting and power plans. Drawings from life and other creative works also are encouraged. Attention to detail and presentation format are important. Work from an undergraduate program should be accompanied by a program brief, outlining the project parameters. In certain cases, a substantial college-level research paper may be accepted in addition to a portfolio or in lieu of a portfolio. Research topics should be contemporary, impacting the future of interior environments, and demonstrating the applicant’s critical thinking, analytical and writing skills.
Painting Work may be submitted in slide or digital format. Applicants should submit a portfolio that demonstrates intellectual and artistic maturity, as well as the capacity to develop an idea through a series of works. Applicants are encouraged to include related works that indicate their current artistic direction. A written statement should accompany the portfolio to summarize the relevant issues in the current work, and provide a sense of the direction the work might take during graduate study.
Sequential Art Work should be submitted in slide format. Portfolios should show a concentration in narrative art and should demonstrate exceptional skill in composition, color and figure drawing.
Application materials cannot be returned. Slide format Suggested for traditional art and design portfolios. Applicants should submit 20 examples of work in a plastic slide sleeve with indication of correct image orientation. Slides must be professional and easy to read, with accurate color value. The applicant’s name should be clearly marked on each slide, and an
inventory sheet identifying each piece by title or project, medium (or software/materials used), dimensions and date of completion should be included. In the case of documented professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities. See tips on
making slides and portfolio preparation here.
Digital format Computer generated work should be submitted on CD-ROM, DVD or Zip disk (compatible with Macintosh or PC). Acceptable file formats are high-resolution JPEG (with a file suffix of .jpg or .jpeg format), Adobe .pdf files or digital portfolios created in PowerPoint, Director, Flash or HTML. Digital portfolios should be checked to assure that links work properly and all necessary files are included. Applicants should indicate whether special instructions are necessary for the viewing of digital portfolios. An
inventory sheet must be attached, including the applicant’s name, title of each piece, media or programs used, size and date of completion, as well as a brief description of the piece and the applicant’s role in development and execution. In the case of documented, professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities.
Multimedia format Work should be submitted in a platform-independent player format or in QuickTime with the file suffix labeled as .qt or .mov (.mpeg format is also acceptable). An
inventory sheet must be attached, including the applicant’s name, title of each piece, media or programs used, size and date of completion, as well as a brief description of the piece and explanation of the applicant’s role in the development and execution of the project. In the case of documented, professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities.
Research paper format Should be submitted as a clearly organized document including name, title of paper, and class or teacher if produced as a class assignment or with the assistance of a mentor. Papers must have a clearly stated premise, findings and conclusion; must be well organized; must demonstrate consistent use of citation conventions according to a specific writing style, and must be submitted in a typed, double-spaced format.
