BSc(Hons)Product Design Technology (with Foundation Year)

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, design work, etc, that reflect the range of your abilities, your creative process, and your interest in the course that you have applied for.

Your portfolio should include finished work, and also work in progress to show your working process, such as sketchbook work or development sheets.
It should include an introduction or cover page. Then the first project should be your best or most recent work.

It should definitely include hand drawing; both observational and ideation sketching.

You can include you course work, sketchbooks, photographs, drawings, paintings, models, prototypes, sculptures, digital artwork, websites, links to videos anything that supports your application.

Your portfolio is likely to be made up predominately 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.

It should visually communicate who you are, show what excites and interests you, what you consider to be good design, and why.

Staff are interested to see how your ideas and development work, these show how you think, much more than just the finished design.

If you feel you need some extra content, you could set yourself a one-hour design challeng’.
In general a portfolio is about visual communication 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 10-15 projects spread over 15 – 20 pages (equivalent to A3 or larger pages).

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 showing 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, 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’. Please don’t feel intimidated by the high levels of skill and design ability shown in professional portfolios online, We don’t expect applicants to match professionals as that’s 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; it showcases your ability and is very rewarding.

We recognise the individual nature of each application and our typical offer should be viewed as a guide. UWE Bristol welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. We will consider evidence of your relevant personal, professional or educational experience where it demonstrates an ability and potential to succeed on the course. Please include details of any relevant experience in your application.

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 your application and portfolio. We may also ask applicants for a telephone interview, to discuss their applications and portfolios in more detail.