Graphic Design Portfolio Requirements

Special Selection Process

Applicants must submit an entrance portfolio as part of the admission process. Each portfolio is reviewed and scored by a committee. Applicants who meet or exceed the minimum required score will be offered a seat based on the date their application was submitted. Because program spaces are limited, we encourage applicants to apply early.

Before You Begin Working on the Portfolio

To be eligible to submit a portfolio, you must first apply to the Graphic Design program. Apply online or at the Student Service Centre on the main floor of 160 Princess St. in Winnipeg.

Note: Portfolio submission instructions will be provided only to applicants who have applied to the program and meet the required academic admission criteria.

Portfolio Instructions

Your portfolio should feature five original pieces that showcase your aptitude for art and design. We welcome a diverse range of work, including everything from traditional mediums like drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture, to digital mediums such as personal design projects, logos, digital art, and web design. Aim to show a range of mediums, styles, and types of art in your submission. While not strictly required, including a few behind-the-scenes sketches, drafts, or early concepts of your five pieces can boost your score by showing us how you develop an idea from start to finish.

Other components to submit:

Resume – Please include a current resume. Save your document as a PDF.
Rationale – Submit a rationale for your personal work. List each portfolio piece in your rationale with the file name. Your rationale should include a brief paragraph for each of your five personal pieces. Consider including what mediums were used, and explain your concept, process or goal. Save your document as a PDF.

Submitting Your Portfolio

Portfolios are submitted online through SlideRoom. Please note that there is a $10 non-refundable fee to upload your work. Acceptable file formats for images of your portfolio pieces are jpegs, or pngs. Your resume and rationale should be formatted as pdf files. Try to keep all files below 5MB and follow the naming conventions below.

For your portfolio pieces and process work:

Portfolio1-LastName.jpeg For example; Portfolio1Jones.jpeg (image of portfolio piece 1)
Portfolio1-Process1-LastName.jpeg For example; Portfolio1-Process-1-Jones.jpeg (First image of process work)
Portfolio1-Process2-LastName.jpeg For example; Portfolio1-Process2-Jones.jpeg (Second image of process work)

For your resume and rationale:

Resume-LastName.pdf For example; Resume-Jones.pdf
Rationale-LastName.pdf For example; Rationale-Jones.pdf

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for people who love to create and are passionate about design. We value an eye for detail, craftsmanship, artistic talent, and a strong work ethic, as these are the key components to being a successful designer. But don’t be intimidated: do your best and try to have fun with this. Good Luck!

How the Portfolio is Assessed

Your portfolio will be evaluated by faculty using a rubric that looks beyond the finished product. We score each submission based on your technical skills, creative concepts, and your ability to visually communicate ideas. While the finished pieces carry the most weight, showing your creative development through drafts or sketches can earn you valuable insight points. Our goal is to assess your readiness for the program and your potential to grow into a successful design professional.

Criteria	Developing (0-2 Points)	Proficient (3-4 Points)	Exemplary (5 Points)
Creativity and Originality	Work relies heavily on existing images, templates, or direct copies. Ideas are predictable or lack a personal perspective.	Pieces show a unique personal voice, interesting concepts, or creative problem-solving. Avoid standard clichés.	Exceptional originality and innovative thinking. The work is highly engaging, memorable, and pushes creative boundaries.
Technical Skill and Execution	Demonstrates basic familiarity with the chosen medium, but execution lacks control, neatness, or fundamental technique.	Good technical control of the medium (composition, colour, lighting, typography, or timing). The work is clean and well-executed.	Outstanding technical mastery. Execution is polished, precise, and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the chosen medium.
Visual Communication	It is difficult to understand the intent, message, or story behind the pieces. Composition or layout is confusing.	Clearly communicates an idea, mood, or narrative. The visual elements work together effectively to support the concept.	Powerful visual storytelling or communication. The intent of the piece is immediately clear and emotionally or intellectually impactful.
Rationale	No rationale is provided, or the rationale does not address all five portfolio pieces. Descriptions are minimal, unclear, or fail to explain the concept, medium, process, or purpose of the work.	Includes a rationale for all five portfolio pieces, with file names identified. Each piece is accompanied by a brief explanation that describes the medium used and provides some insight into the concept, process, or goal of the work.	Includes a rationale for all five portfolio pieces, with file names clearly identified. Each paragraph explains the mediums used, creative concept, artistic decisions, process, and intended goals or outcomes. Reflections demonstrate critical thinking, clear communication, and meaningful insight into the development and purpose of the work.
Resume	No resume is provided, the resume is incomplete, or it is not saved as a PDF.	Includes a current resume saved as a PDF. The resume includes basic information such as education, work or volunteer experience (if applicable), skills, and extracurricular activities. Information is organized and easy to follow.	Includes a current resume saved as a PDF. The resume is clear, well organized, and professionally presented. It effectively highlights the student’s education, skills, experiences, interests, and achievements, giving a strong overall picture of the student.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I draw?

Draw what interests you. These pieces are an opportunity to say something about yourself. Aim to show original creative works that are entirely created by yourself. Try to include a variety of styles, mediums, and subject matter. Your work should be finished to a high degree; sketches or unfinished drawings will not score as high.

What should I avoid in my submissions?

Avoid too much repetition in your submissions. Avoid work that is copied from another artist or is derivative (In art, derivative refers to work that relies significantly on the style, composition, or ideas of another artist, resulting in a lack of originality.) Avoid submitting work you completed using a tutorial.

Is there a size limit?

Avoid overly small examples – aim for at least 5 x 5 inches. It’s important to see the details in a piece, so make sure your photograph is clear, and high enough resolution. There’s no size limit. If your piece is very large, like a mural, do your best to get a focused picture of the full image. Consider also submitting detailed shots (close-ups) if a single picture can’t capture all the details.

Can I submit more than five examples?

No, stick with five examples. You can submit more than five images if you decide to show your process or details of the work.

What are some suggestions for photographing my work?

Your work should be photographed flat, well lit, and focused. Either zoom in or crop your images so that most of the picture is the art (not the background). Follow the image size and file naming conventions on SlideRoom. You can submit more than one photo per piece of art (either process work or detail shots in larger pieces).

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