Architecture Portfolios

05-01-2005, 09:12 PM

I'm a junior in high school and planning to major in architecture. Right now, I am thinking Cornell is my top choice and I will probably apply ED, meaning that I have about 6 months to complete my portfolio. That said, I don't have enough now to fill a portfolio-I have 5 or 6 pieces that I really like and several others that I can include if I have to, but I need some more. I have about equal parts painting and drawing, plus a little bit of sculpture and photography. So-I need some advice as to how to utilize my remaining time. I know drawing is very important, but what "kind" of drawings are best? (That is, should I just draw a bunch of buildings, or do a mixture of portraits, landscapes, etc.) Also, are photographs things that they like to see? I just have one or two that I really like, I think they're artistic and contemplative, but I don't know if they really care about photography. So, basically, I just need some help with this subject. If anyone has experience or just an alternative point of view, please share! Thanks, Kristin

Jrock · 05-03-2005, 05:51 PM

It's good you've started planning right early. I had less than two months to finish mine! By the time I realised that I needed to send in portfolios, I found that I kept no record of most of my major works - I had designed several homes (hand-drawn on paper) and countless pictures/posters which I didn't photograph. Sad!! So I had to sort of start from scratch.

The first thing to do now is to identify your STRONGEST medium. And present your best of that. Let that medium keep recurring just like in a rondo, bearing in mind that you have to show the breadth of your scope. But depth is also very important so you must capitalise on your strongest medium.

You should also express yourself. Don't bother so much on what you think is expected (though that holds some importance), present yourself just as you are. Art is a form of self-expression and only the artist knows the motivation behind any of his/her works, and that's the job of the artist statement - to shed more light on why you do what you, or did what you did.

Photographs This is one of the most interesting aspects of the portfolio. The photos could either exhibit your skill with the camera or your love for recording events just as they are. the photo could be a study from nature, or social life. YOu can make anything out of it. You could capture real-life expressions or take pictures that stir profound thoughts.

Pencil Drawings If you have an extremely well-developed sense of light and shade, you could include a few. They could be portraits, self-portraits, or still-life compositions. A popular theme is to depict the interior of a room especially a corner where a lamp is to give a variety of tone to your drawing.

Paintings There are some wonderful painters out there, and if you think you're one of them, here's the chance to show your stuff. Landscapes are a very popular theme.

Models Here is another aspect you could look into. Not necessarily building models, but any creative thing you can think of. You can also try origami.

YOur sculptures, ink drawings, and other works are also very important. Just remember you don't have to include everything. Just show your very best. YOur portfolio should contain 12 to 15 works, which is the average number required by schools. Cornell wants between 15 and 20. If you have some experience with paper modelling or wood modelling, including one or two works based on this would be spectacular.

However, if you take a look at first-year student works at various schools, there is nothing really special. It's just about expressing yourself. The schools don't expect you to have any previous experience and the most important thing of all is to express your avid desire to learn more about architecture.

YOur interview at Cornell is also going to be important as you will have to talk confidently about your portfolio works and be ready to answer some 'deep' questions.

As an international applicant, it wasn't quite easy to do a portfolio, but I did. Though I couldn't get slides done, I was able to produce a file portfolio, as Cornell requires and CD-ROM for some others. I had four models (3 good, one stupid), 4/5 really good pencil drawings (an oryx in the savanna, a portrait, some objects), 1 large coloured pencil drawing, 1 home plan (though most schools specify not to include those), and some other stuff.

You could use your computer to enhance your photos and if you do have any pencils, make sure you get a really high res scanner so they can come out really well.

good luck.

Jrock · 05-03-2005, 05:58 PM

i didn't have any photos because I hadn't got a digital camera when I did it then. Include those photos, they are very important. THey should be thoughtful, introspective, thought-provoking. 2 or 3 would be okay. But I saw one guy's portfolio, 80% of the works were photos. It's all about where your talent is concentrated. Another had all stunning paintings and one pencil. Another had digitally-created art only. Just do your stuff and be unique. Create your own profile. It's a wonderful adventure of self-discovery.

Don't be discouraged for you will be glad to learn that many successful applicants create the work ad hoc for the porfolio. However, there are some highly developed talents who've been on for years. There are also many others who are not arch majors, but send in stunning portfolios all the same. Your goal is to create a lasting impression on your audience.

It's a rewarding adventure. And don't forget to show others your works and get valuable criticisms.

jimminy · 05-03-2005, 09:10 PM

you should try not to include any plans etc.
put in some interesting 3D stuff, whichcan showcase your spatial abilities, and of course, your creativity.
im in the process of posting my portfolio up, so tell me if you would like to see it and ill pm you the link.

Fallinwater0328 · 05-03-2005, 09:21 PM

Don't put some stupid CAD and photoshop stuff in your portfolio.
Jrock, what kind of deep questions did you Cornell interviewer ask? Give me a hint, I need to prepare for that, thanks.

jimminy · 05-03-2005, 10:11 PM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24022396@N00/sets/
This is the portfolio i sent to Cornell, Rice, WUSTL, Michigan and Syracuse and was accepted at all.

Jrock · 05-03-2005, 10:20 PM

you're too much!

Jrock · 05-03-2005, 10:21 PM

that was a great portfolio, jimminy. you've gone far.

jimminy · 05-03-2005, 10:36 PM

thanks JRock...i worked pretty hard on it.

Fallinwater0328 · 05-03-2005, 10:51 PM

jimminy, how long had you worked on your portfolio?
BTW, this is great.

jimminy · 05-04-2005, 12:00 AM

i dunno...maybe a year. it didnt start out as a portfolio, but jusr as fun i guess.
the lizards i did as a project for my finals. that took me abt 8-9 months. its 5ftx5ft and about six inches deep and then filled in with concrete and tiles. the lizards are about two inches off the groung at their highest point. i got an A+ and full marks for it in my ISC board examinations in India (kind of like the AP's i suppose, but wayyy tougher.)

05-04-2005, 04:50 PM

Wow jimminy, your portfolio was really good. I went for an info session with the arch. department at Cornell and got to look at portfolios of some admitted students. They were all very good, but yours would definitely have been in the top tier, I'm sure they really liked the comprehensive project too, (very cool, BTW). Where are you headed in the fall?
I'm probably going to be attending a summer program at Cornell in which I'll be doing some design work and building models (basically playing architect), and I would recieve credit and a final grade for the classes. I figured if I did that, I would include some of that work in my portfolio, but would that be bad?
Anyway, thanks to everyone who has given me input, that helps a lot!

jimminy · 05-04-2005, 09:26 PM

im heading to Rice this fall.
Go Owls!

Fallinwater0328 · 05-05-2005, 10:47 PM

Why do you chose Rice over Cornell? Just for fin. reasons?

jimminy · 05-06-2005, 01:45 AM

no...i talked to faculty at Harvard GSD, UPenn, Syracuse, Yale, WashU, and visiting professor at Cornell before i made my decision( heavily researched as you can see). These were all people my dad went to college with, so i got pretty honest(if slightly biased) opinions. Most said good things about both Rice and Cornell, but said that the faculty at Cornell was very fractitious and was still stuck in its glory days of Rowe/5 and the new Dean from the AA had shaken things up a bit, but there were still some bumps in need of ironing. Rice, they all agreed was fabulous for its architecure school. These were all Grad school profs ...and Deans of their various colleges (UPenn) and said that grads from both schools, when they come to their schools for grad schools were equally talented, but that Rice students knew what the real world was about thanks to their preceptorship and that the Cornell students were "CAD monkeys" and were a bit too technical and theoretical rather than practical.
In the end, the money was a swaying factor, one which swayed things in favour of Rice, which is where i truly wanted to go anyway. So it all worked out for me. Woohoo...the only thing i probably regret is not applying to Yale, although i probably wouldnt have gotten in anyway.