Automotive & Transport Design application portfolio advice

Expert tips and tricks for applicant portfolio reviews for BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design at Staffordshire University.

Want to study BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design with us? We’ve got some expert tips and tricks of the trade to help with your portfolio.

Our degree programmes are practical and studio-based, providing valuable hands-on experience. Applicants are evaluated through the portfolio review process.

Here, Course Director Dan Lewis, along with Lecturers Richard Gilmartin and Nigel Turner give you valuable insights into how to make your work stand out.

Interested in studying with us? Explore Automotive & Transport Design at Staffordshire University.

Developing your application portfolio

Our highly regarded BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design degree is in the top 5 in the UK for Design (Guardian University Guide 2024).

 

What should I include in my Automotive & Transport Design university application portfolio?

You should include anything creative that you have done in your portfolio. We especially like to see sketches and drawings as these give us a real idea of how you generate ideas. It’s also great to see any digital design and development work you may have done, using CAD, or software like Photoshop. If you’ve made any models or physical objects, it’s also great to see photos of those too.

 

Does everything included in my portfolio need to be final outcomes?

No, it’s fine to include work in progress, particularly if you are part way through your project. The design process is really important, so we like to see how you’ve arrived at your final design solution.

 

How many pieces or pages should be included in my Automotive & Transport Design degree application portfolio?

This is up to you, but it’s best to focus on quality, and only include work that you are really proud of 20 pages would probably be an advised maximum.

 

Can I include digital work or even animated work in my university application portfolio?

Absolutely, we love to see digital work too, animations and videos are great as they show the breadth of your skills. The Automotive & Transport Design industry uses lots of digital tools, particularly CAD and visualization software so it’s always good to have a go with these. We use software like Blender, Alias, Keyshot, Solidworks, VRED and even Unreal Engine for visualisations. We also use the whole Adobe Suite, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

 

How should I layout my portfolio?

Again, this is up to you, but try to make it consistent and professional, perhaps start and end with the projects you are most proud of. Try to show a variety of skills and projects.

 

How can I prepare for my interview and review of Automotive & Transport Design university application portfolio?

Think about the story behind each piece of work, so you can tell us how you created it, if you were inspired by anything, and how you think it is effective. Your portfolio can be used to tell the story of your skills and experience of design so far.

Questions about applying?

Contact enquiries@staffs.ac.uk for any enquiries about your application or BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design. We're here to help you on your creative journey.

Automotive & Transport Design portfolio advice

Video

Course Director Dan Lewis, with Lecturers Richard Gilmartin and Nigel Turner discuss tips for producing a great university application portfolio for Automotive & Transport Design.

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