Portfolio Requirements

NOTE: These instructions are for portfolio preparation only. Do not submit or mail any portfolio items to FIT until you have applied and received your USERNAME, PASSWORD, and LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS in an email from the FIT Admissions Office.

The Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design portfolio submission consists of a design test, original work, and written essays. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components. We ask that you put thought into your process and work to create original creative art that reflects your unique self-expression and special quirks. We want to see who you are in your design process. Because this is a test, we are unable to provide you with any additional information on how to execute the projects beyond what you receive here. In addition, we ask for neatness, a high quality of technical execution, and evidence of organizational skills.

PART ONE:  Design Test

Execute the assignments in any media, such as mixed media, colored pencil, cut paper, collage, or painted media. Please submit 12 images (total) in this category. 

PROJECT ONE:  STORE DESIGN

Design a store that sells your choice of the following products: Pet Supplies, Food or Candy, or Clothing.
CREATE ONE (1) CONCEPT BOARD that shows inspiration and research. Include fabrication materials, images, color-palette, store fixtures for presentation of products, display solutions, and any promotional items you wish to include. CREATE ONE (1) FLOOR PLAN and consider traffic flow and spatial relationships. DRAW ONE (1) PERSPECTIVE VIEW of the interior of the store. Include preliminary sketches. Submit three (3) images. 

PROJECT TWO:  WINDOW DESIGN

Create a series of department store windows based on the theme of world travel. Your proposal
should include three (3) window designs from your proposed series. Indicate depth of windows and placement of objects in the window environment. Include merchandise such as consumer electronics, fashion, home appliances, etc. Bear in mind design issues such as theme, materials used, color, pattern, texture, etc.

NOTE: Present each of the three window concepts on separate pages.

NOTE: Submit five (5) pages to present your three (3) window designs, plus two (2) preliminary sketches. 

PROJECT THREE:  GALLERY INSTALLATION DESIGN

Select a fine artist and plan an exhibition of that person’s artwork. CREATE ONE (1) FLOOR PLAN to organize the placement of artwork within this environment on walls, pedestals, and/or freestanding in the room. Additionally, CREATE THREE (3) HAND-DRAWN PERSPECTIVE VIEWS of the interior of the space showing the presentation of the artwork. Views can be in color or black and white. 
NOTE: Each page should include images of the artwork on exhibition. Submit four (4) images.

PART TWO:  Your Original Artwork

PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION  

Please submit 10 images of original work. The work submitted need not relate specifically to Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design, but should demonstrate your overall artistic ability, creativity, design sense and sensitivity to color, line, and proportion. Submission examples may include but are not limited to: 

• Drawings and sketches including perspective drawing 
• Sculpture and three-dimensional design 
• Drafting and CAD drawing, interior design, etc. 
• Graphic design, photography, and digital art 
• Watercolor, painting, still life, landscapes or cityscapes

PART THREE: Written Essays

Please provide short essays (250 words or less) to answer the following questions about yourself:

1. Have you taken any art and design classes? Tell us about them. 
2. Are there any fine artists that you admire? Who are they? 
3. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? 
4. What is your favorite museum? Why? 
5. Describe what you believe the profession of Visual Presentation & Exhibition Design to be, and why you wish to become a designer.

Apply now.