National Portfolio Day

Description of the video:

[Music]

PORTFOLIO REVIEWER #1: National Portfolio Day is for students who are looking for education in art and design. It's an opportunity for them to meet one-on-one and have their portfolios reviewed with international colleges and universities.

PORTFOLIO REVIEWER #2: This is a perfect event for you to get your feet wet, to find out what other schools are looking for. Because if you're interested in the arts and design, schools are going to provide you with advice about who they are and what they are looking for. 

PORTFOLIO REVIEWER #3: National Portfolio Days are held for students who are looking for undergraduate programs, but there are also some specific ones for students who are looking for graduate programs as well. 

DESIGN GRADUATE: I attended a National Portfolio Day when I was in high school and I was looking for schools to attend for design or art. The event is four-hours long. It's a great idea to go in with your top three or five schools so you can really make sure that you see them. But you might have time after to view some other schools that you didn't even think of. There are going to be some lineups. It's a really popular event but I found it a little bit more calming to be able to talk to some people in the line and get prepared for my review, and it was a great change to network. 

PORTFOLIO REVIEWER #1: We encourage students to bring a collection of their work. This could be finished work or work in progress consisting of photographs, paintings, their portfolio, sculptures. We do encourage students to focus on the work itself and not spend too much money on the presentation. 

PORTFOLIO REVIEWER #2: We’re interested in voice. We want to see if a student is starting to ask questions about not only how and what they make but why they're making it. 

STUDENT: It's pretty neat. It's my first time being in a portfolio day, especially [because] it's a National Portfolio Day.

DESIGN GRADUATE: Honestly, it was really exciting. I found the critique made me want to go back and look at some of the work that I was thinking about submitting and it gave me a much clearer idea of what I wanted. 

PORTFOLIO REVIEWER #1: There are over 40 National Portfolio Days held annually in North America and parts of Europe with accredited international colleges and universities who are members of the National Portfolio Day Association. 

DESIGN GRADUATE: I'd say start looking at your opportunities now. Find out when the next National Portfolio Day is so that you can get prepared and you can start to pick those schools that you really want to visit. It will make a huge difference not only in your application process but just in your career and your education in art and design. 

STUDENT: I mean, there is no standard of how art would be good or bad. Just present the best of yourself. Be real. Be open. 

[National Portfolio Day Association text and website]