School of Textiles and Design Scottish Borders Campus Guidance to Applicants for Portfolio Programmes 2016 The Application Process: If you make an application to UCAS for one of the following programmes at Heriot-Watt s School of Textiles and Design: W230: BA Fashion W232: Design for Textiles W233: BA Fashion Womenswear W640: BA Fashion Communication W234: BA Fashion Menswear W250: BA Interior Design you will be required to submit samples of your portfolio, which demonstrate your skills and abilities. [N.B. You can submit your portfolio at the same time as you apply to UCAS; you do not have to wait to be contacted and asked to submit your portfolio.] Undoubtedly the portfolio submission is of great importance in the selection procedure and the following information is provided as guidance for the production of your portfolio for submission. The Sample Pieces of your Portfolio [which are non-returnable, so please do not send originals] should consist of the following carefully selected colour print outs of your images on paper: 15 x A4 [no more than 15] for W232; W230; W233 and W234; 12 x A4 [no more than 12] for W640 and 10 x A3 [no more than 10 folded once neatly] for W250. There should be no mounting of your images, but you may wish to consider paper quality that shows the true colour of your portfolio work. Writing Skills You will also be asked to submit a piece of written work of maximum 200 words for W232; W230; W233; W234 and W250. You are asked for a maximum 500 words for W640. Each page of your work should be clearly labelled on the back with your name and the UCAS code of the programme for which you are applying and the section of submission your work relates to and its order, e.g. Joe Bloggs, W232, BA Design for Textiles, Colour Awareness Sheet 2. Your work should be packaged carefully and sent in an A4 hardback envelope to: Mrs Ruth Paterson, Admissions Manager, School of Textiles and Design Heriot-Watt University, Netherdale, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, TD1 3HF, Scotland, United Kingdom The hardback envelope should be clearly labelled on the back with your name and the programme code and programme name. As the work submitted is non-returnable, please do not send originals. Deadline date for receipt of portfolio is Friday, 29 th January 2016. Applicants Days: A number of days are organised, [to be confirmed], for invited applicants to bring further selected work to the School. The days are structured in such a way that applicants have the opportunity to view the School and meet staff and students and ask any questions, while their further work is being considered by a team of staff from the chosen programme.
W230: Fashion 2016 or W233: Fashion Womenswear 2016 or W234: Fashion Menswear 2016 Images for each of the following should be selected to show evidence of: 1. Observation - through drawing and/or photography. (4 x A4 images) 2. Inspiration - collected and annotated images which inspire you creatively. (2 x A4 images) 3. Colour awareness - through painting and/or photography and/or collage. (4 x A4 images) 4. Design development - from concept to final outcome. (5 x A4 images) 5. Written work - 200 words which should answer the question: What is your favourite contemporary designer and why? How does his/her work inspire your creation? Format: Images may be single images, mood board type layout and may contain more than one piece [i.e. painting & fabric sample] per image, however, they should be clear to view. Garment Awareness - A fashion garment interest normally demonstrated through either a design project or garment making or an investigation of the style and construction of contemporary or historical clothing through observational drawing and photography. Silhouette - This element of the portfolio of work will explore the shape and detail of garments and an interest in the use of colour and pattern within a garment or outfit to complete a look. General design skills and understanding. Drawing and Painting - A balance of observational and expressive drawing and painting which demonstrates an interest in form and its construction and a confidence in communicating this clearly. Colour and Pattern - An understanding of colour and pattern, repeat and scale which can be conveyed through drawing, painting and collage, as well as design projects. Fashion Designer Awareness - The portfolio should demonstrate an awareness of the work of individual designers, retail, design trends and the social factors which influence fashion. This knowledge can be achieved by observation, reading and visiting exhibitions, museums and fashion shows. If students are applying for Fashion Womenswear or Fashion Menswear, the portfolio should also touch on the applicant s excitement for the specific option for which they have applied. The selection team will not expect to see all of this in every portfolio, but will expect some elements to be present and supported by an enthusiasm for fashion and a motivation and ambition to join the programme.
W232: BA Design for Textiles [Fashion, Interior, Art] 2016 Images for each of the following should be selected to show evidence of: 1. Observation - through drawing or painting. (4 x A4 images) 2. Colour awareness - through painting or drawing or collage. (4 x A4 images) 3. Design development - from concept to final outcome. (5 x A4 images) 4. Inspiration - collected images which inspire you creatively. (2 x A4 images) 5. Written work - 200 words which should answer the question: What do you hope to gain by studying BA Design for Textiles at the School of Textiles and Design and what are your aspirations for the future? Format: Images may be single images, mood board type layout and may contain more than one piece [i.e. painting & fabric sample] per image, however, they should be clear to view. an individual personality expressed through independent enquiry that explores particular themes through conventional drawing and painting, design and photography. an adventurous approach in the use of different media to capture visual qualities and expression. a body of work that is individually distinctive and shows self motivation, enthusiasm and commitment to Art & Design. drawing and painting activities remain very important and cannot be entirely replaced by craft and design activities. Drawing and painting is the key to strengthening observational skills and the vehicle for expression and is therefore an essential tool in communicating ideas with accuracy, sensitivity and clarity. ability to record colour accurately; its tonal value, proportion and balance is critical. an understanding of pattern, repeat and scale should also be evident in the portfolio of work. This can be expressed through drawing and painting, as well as design projects. demonstrate an awareness of the work of individual designers, design trends and the social factors which influence. This knowledge can be achieved by observation, reading and visiting exhibitions.
W640: BA Fashion Communication 2016 The portfolio will address the following areas: 1. Observation - through photography. (5 x A4 images) The portfolio should show evidence of a keen interest in Fashion Communication through your own photographic images that show a strong contemporary awareness and observation of contemporary culture. These could be original photographs taken at Exhibitions or Concerts or Street Fashion. SUBMIT 5 PHOTOGRAPHS - ALL FROM THE SAME CATEGORY [I.E. EXHIBITIONS] OR A VARIETY. 2. Personal Image Sheets - (2 x A4 sheets) This should be a statement of who you are and your personal, cultural interests. Produce 2 x A4 sheets, in a grid format with 20 digital images (4 across and 5 down) on each. These images should demonstrate who you are, and what currently inspires you from the world of fashion, art, photography, music, film, sport and any other personal interest about which you are passionate. SUBMIT 2 x A4 SHEETS. 3. Design development - a project. (5 x A4 images) This can be a project that you have worked on at school/college or independently, but should demonstrate a thoughtful and logical process and good graphic presentation skills that are transferable and relevant to a Fashion Communication programme. SUBMIT 5 IMAGES FROM A PROJECT YOU HAVE WORKED ON FROM CONCEPT TO FINAL OUTCOME. 4. Fashion Writing Skills - 500 words on the role of Fashion Communication in the current, contemporary marketplace and what it means to you. Your writing should be personal and comment on current fashion communication practice and practitioners who inspire you. What is your favourite magazine and why? Visual Awareness - demonstrated through selection and professional and contemporary presentation of imagery submitted. Fashion Awareness - demonstrated through work showing an understanding of contemporary fashion and the promotion of the fashion image. A sound knowledge of the work of designers, musicians, photographers, stylists and fashion journalists. Contemporary and Cultural Awareness - demonstrated through personal 500 word statement to support application to a Fashion Communication programme. The statement should provide evidence of a keen interest in contemporary fashion communication and an awareness of popular culture and written in a contemporary journalistic style.
W250: BA Interior Design 2016 Each submitted portfolio should consist of no more than 10 A3 pages [either landscape or portrait]. This can be 10 pages of a single, complete design project, or include a number of smaller projects. Each page should include images and written narrative or commentary that shows evidence of the following: 1. Visual Research and Enquiry showing the level of your engagement in structured visual enquiry and how well you communicate this. 2. Idea Development and Material/Technical Exploration showing your ability to explore and develop ideas in an appropriate way and your level of skill in the use of materials and techniques. 3. Critical Judgement, Selection and Resolution showing us how well you judge which ideas have the most potential and your ability to bring them to a level of completion appropriate to your intended outcome. 4. Contextual Awareness shows us what inspires you, the extent of your knowledge of Interior Design and how your work relates to it. 5. Written work - 200 words which should give a critical analysis of one of your recent design projects, articulating a keen motivation and evidence of self-awareness in relation to the design process that expresses your interest and motivation in studying interior design. Format: Please provide 10 x A3 colour print outs [folded once neatly], plus 1 x A4 black and white page of written work. Minimum print resolution should be 300 dpi. As a rule of thumb, if pixels are visible in the final result, your image resolution is too low. All text should be easy to read at a size no less than 10pt. Visual Awareness - demonstrated through selection and professional and contemporary presentation of imagery in portfolio. Interior Design Awareness - demonstrated through work showing an understanding of contemporary and historical interior design and the promotion of this image, with a sound knowledge of the work of designers. Contextual Awareness - demonstrated through personal 200 word statement to support application to an Interior Design programme. This is the preferred format, but it would be acceptable, as an alternative, to provide a PDF file to email address: ugenquiries@tex.hw.ac.uk