Product Design portfolio advice
Find out how to prepare your portfolio to study BA (Hons) Product Design or BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design at NTU.
Get some top tips for your portfolio
Everything you need to know
We know there's a lot to think about when it comes to submitting your digital portfolio – including key things like what to include, how to showcase your best work, and how to exhibit your unique sense of creative identity.
We understand your work is unique to you but we've pulled together some advice to give you a better understanding of what you should consider and what we're looking for in your submission.
If you have any questions before you prepare your portfolio, contact adb.applications@ntu.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can call our Admissions Team on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
What you should include in your portfolio
In your portfolio we'd like to see examples of project work that you've recently undertaken so that we can get an idea of the breadth of your critical understanding, your range of competencies within the field of design, and how you navigate the design process.
- Evidence of the development of a good quality design project from initial ideas through to finalised concept including examples of sketch work, prototypes, and a visualisation of the final project outcome
- Any art, design, or technology-related work you've undertaken
- Images from your sketchbook
- Photographs of models or 3D work you have produced
- Use of computer-aided design (CAD) software to develop or visualise your ideas
- Research sheets / idea development sheets.
What are we looking for?
We'd like to see:
- A range of quality visual concepts that demonstrate a high level of innovative thinking
- Good presentation and the ability to visualise and present ideas
- Your ability to handle a variety of technologies, materials and processes
- Evidence of experimentation in a range of visual medias
- Good observation skills in drawing.
Due to the reality that some applicants have worked on more design-focused projects than others, your focus may vary. What matters most is your potential and passion for the subject.
Submitting your portfolio
- If you are submitting your portfolio via Google Docs or Google Drive, you must make sure the link is publicly available to view to avoid any delays with your application. Alternatively, if you would prefer to password protect your work, you must clearly send us this password so our team can access your work.
- If you are concerned about using an alternative method to send us your portfolio, you can always use our NTU Upload Portal upon application.
- Your digital portfolio can be submitted as a PDF or PowerPoint format (ideally no more than 15 pages/slides)
- Please submit any short films and any other moving image work you wish to include as either an additional single MP4 (10mb) file or by embedding the weblink in your portfolio pages (e.g. Vimeo/YouTube/Cloud Drives etc.)
- When embedding links please ensure that you have made these viewable to us
- The digital portfolio will need to be submitted as a single unzipped file not exceeding 10mb
- The piece of writing can be submitted as a separate file from the digital portfolio.
Can I submit my work as single files like JPEGS or PNGs?
No, work must be arranged in presentation software so we can see it in the same order you would show us as if you were presenting it yourself.
How do I show moving image work like animation?
Embed the video file into your presentation software. If an online file, embed the link into the presentation.
Top tip – Remember to showcase your creative identity
Your portfolio should represent your opportunity to exhibit your creative identity to us. We'd love to see examples of your creativity and individual approach to product design, as well as a demonstration of your passion for the subject.