BA(Hons)Product Design

English

IELTS: 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component)
CAE: 169 (with a minimum of 162 in each component)

At least 1 reference(s) must be provided.

A motivation letter must be added to your application.

A relevant portfolio is required.

What to include in your portfolio:

Your portfolio should be a selection of your artwork, drawings, sketchbook pages, photographs, models and design work. This should reflect the range of your abilities, creative process and interest in the course you have applied for.

Your portfolio should include both finished and in-progress work, to show your working process (eg sketchbook work or development sheets).

This should include an introduction or cover page followed by your best or most recent work, as the first project included.

It should also include hand drawing, in the form of both observational and ideation sketching.
You can include your coursework, sketchbooks, photographs, drawings, paintings, models, prototypes, sculptures, digital artwork, websites, links to videos or anything else that supports your application.

Your portfolio is likely to be predominately made up of the Art or Product Design projects you have undertaken on your current or most recent course of study. We are also very interested in seeing projects, interests and passions outside of your school work.

The portfolio should visually communicate who you are, also showing what excites and interests you, along with what you consider to be good design, and why.

Staff are interested in how your ideas and development work, as these a much better idea of how you think than the finished design alone.

If you feel you need some extra content, you could set yourself a one-hour design challenge.
In general, a portfolio is about visual rather than written communication. Try to minimise writing; where necessary add a title and a few sentences for each image, explaining the project to a viewer.

Presentation is very important: a portfolio should be well organised, clear and well-presented.
Amount: Your online portfolio should showcase approximately ten to 15 projects spread over 15 to 20 pages (equivalent to A3 or larger).

General portfolio advice:

Your portfolio should show a high level of commitment to your studies and evidence of fundamental design skills. We are looking for enthusiasm for your chosen subject, strong visual communication skills, evidence of problem-solving, clear working procedures to indicate the development of your ideas, experience in a range of different media and materials (2D and 3D) and an awareness of contemporary designers and the history of design.

For more advice and examples, we advise that you ask your current teacher or lecturer for assistance and web-search keywords such as “Product Design portfolios”, “Industrial Design portfolios” or “How to make a product design portfolio”. You should not feel intimidated by the high levels of skill and design ability shown in professional portfolios online, as we do not expect applicants to match professionals as this is what you come to university to learn.

It takes a lot of time to prepare a good design portfolio and making one is a great learning opportunity, as it showcases your ability and is very rewarding.

Once UWE Bristol has received your UCAS application, applicants who do not meet our standard entry requirements may be asked to provide a 10-20 page online portfolio of their design work.

Once we have received the links (URLs) to your portfolio, Product Design lecturers will review this, along with your application. We may also ask you for a telephone interview, to discuss your application and portfolio in more detail.