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DESIGN BFA PROGRAMS —
ADMISSIONS PORTFOLIO REVIEW PROCESS
Entry Term Fall 2016: Game Design & Development – Art; Graphic Design & Interactive Media
Entry Term Spring 2017: All Design BFA Degrees
IMPORTANT: You must be admitted to the university and set up your UW ‐ Stout email before you can submit
your portfolio.
In your acceptance letter to UW ‐ Stout, you will receive a unique URL to upload your portfolio.
The portfolio application to the design BFAs consists of three elements to be submitted online for review: a personal essay, a visual and creative portfolio, and an image list.
Personal Essay
In 500 words or less, discuss the major reasons and influences leading you to pursue study in the BFA of our choice, including your training and interest in the arts up to this point (classes taken, awards received, etc.).
Please include this as a digital file saved as a .doc, .pdf, or .rtf
Visual & Creative Portfolio
Submit 5 ‐ 10 images of creative work samples*.
Files should be saved as JPEG’s (at least 1024 pixels in any direction) and titled with a sequence number and your last name (i.e.: 1_smith.jpg, 2_smith.jpg, etc.).
Categories listed below are in order of importance (we value drawing skills more than anything else). Submitting work from
every category is not required; you are encouraged to include a range of projects, however you may submit multiple works from the same category:
Traditional Drawing – Original artwork using media such as pencil, charcoal, pastel, paint, ink, etc.
Consider subjects such as objects (still ‐ life), environments, people, or even abstract compositions.
Digital Media – Original artwork that has been created in a digital software application.
Consider projects in graphic design, illustration, 3D modeling/animation, web design, or another field.
Traditional 3D Media – This work could be made of clay, plaster, metal, fabric, or another traditional media.
Consider including images of various angles or views, to fully document the piece.
Time ‐ Based Work – This could be a movie, animation, or video game.
If some of your portfolio falls into this category, please submit a list of links to view or download the work(s).
*All work must be created by you. Failure to follow this rule will result in immediate rejection or removal from the program. If work is the result of a group project, highlight the role you played in its creation.
Include an image list that has the title, dimensions, media and/or software used, and date for each piece corresponding to the file names
you gave your images.
Please include this as a digital file saved as either a .doc, .pdf, or .rtf
Example of a description in Image List
Artist Name: Jane Doe
Title: “Still Life” Dimensions: 8.5” x 11”
Medium: Pastel Date: November 2014
Consideration will be given to completed portfolios that are uploaded by the due date.
Priority deadline is no later than noon on the second Monday in January for Fall 2016 admission.
Priority deadline is no later than noon on the first Monday in August for Spring 2017 admission.
Incomplete portfolios may be considered, if space permits.
Remember, you will receive a unique URL in your acceptance letter to UW ‐
Stout for uploading your portfolio.
Students not selected for admission to the program may choose to enter the University as “Undeclared” and apply for a change of major
in subsequent semesters.
Acceptance of change of majors may be dependent upon available openings in the program.
Please contact Lottie Hiben, SOAD Program Associate, with questions: hibenl@uwstout.edu
Revised September 2015