Portfolio advice for BA Fashion Design applicants

Portfolio Requirements

For BA Fashion Design, we’re looking for up to 12 to 20 examples of your current work, that showcases your level and range of achievements. 

Your portfolio should include: 

• examples of sketchbook work containing research, drawing and experimentation - completed design based projects with emphasis on development of ideas and the presentation of final design ideas
• evidence of traditional drawing skills through a selection of life drawing, observational drawing, illustration using mixed media
• where appropriate, evidence of your 3D thinking and making skills: this could be:
• a garment
• some stand work experimentation
• examples of pattern cutting and construction methods
• printed, embellished and/or constructed textile work
• a sculpted piece or some form of 3D modeling 

If it's not possible to bring your work in physical form, then the best thing to do is to save it (or photos of it) to a USB stick, as well as on the laptop/tablet you'll be bringing to your applicant day. Please make sure the work on your USB stick is not password protected, as we may ask you to leave it with us so we can review your portfolio without you present. 

You'll be invited to share your work with the course team at an Applicant Day. Our Admissions Team will invite you to book your place at one of our Applicant Days after you have applied. 

Use of AI 

Your portfolio must contain your own work. We understand that some of your portfolio may include work created in part or whole by AI. You must acknowledge this by adding ‘AI generated’ to the relevant section(s), stating how you used AI to create images, and adding a link to the original image with the date it was created (where possible). 

Integrated Foundation Year  Applicants

If your course includes an integrated foundation year then you'll be developing your portfolio during your first year of study. Therefore, we're not expecting to see a fully finalised portfolio from you at this stage.  

We would, however, like to see your sketchbooks or projects you've worked on in school or college, to get a sense of your creative interests.