SELECTIONPROCEDURE Information Design BA(ID) & Fine Arts BA(FA) INTRODUCTION TO I.D. The successful information designer (communications designer) is a professional, highly qualified person who plays a decisive strategic role in creating the contemporary visual environment. We live in a world in which we are surrounded by words and pictures and it is the designer s responsibility to provide original solutions to mass communication problems. INTRODUCTION TO F.A. A BA in Fine Arts will equip you with skills to practice as a professional artist who can establish a market through exhibitions and commissions. Alternatively you could become a curator, art gallery director or an art consultant; work in the educational sector as a teacher/lecturer or establish an art school; or work as a creative facilitator in creative arts organisations such as the new media industry. HERE IS HOW YOU APPLY / STEP 01 Apply at UP Merit Selection STEP 03 Final Selection STEP 01 APPLICATION PROCEDURE Apply at UP Applications, questionnaires and portfolios must reach the Department of Visual Arts at UP by: 30 June 2015. All students wishing to apply for selection courses at UP for 2016 must do so by 30 June 2015. Applications can be done online (www.up.ac.za/apply) or hard copy applications are obtainable from the Client Services Centre (contact via 012 420 3111 or csc@up.ac.za). You will receive a letter from the University confirming whether your application has been successful or not. Your application will only be considered by the Department of Visual Arts for the next phase (merit selection) once the University notifies us that you comply with the admission requirements. Minimum Admission Requirements For additional information regarding the minimum admission requirements, visit UP s home page, click on Prospective Students select Study Information & download the Admission Information PDF. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS If you intend to study BA Information Design or BA Fine Arts in the Department of Visual Arts, please make sure that you comply with the following minimum requirements for admission (as explained on the departmental website): A University exemption. An APS score of 30 (follow the link on the left to work out your APS score). Art as a school subject is not a requirement. 01
MERIT SELECTION/ WHAT TO SUBMIT All applicants for Information Design, Fine Arts or both courses compile one portfolio and one questionnaire and submit with the application of their first choice. Please staple the one questionnaire in the top left corner and slip into an envelope (sleeve) in the portfolio. SELECTION QUESTIONNAIRE Where can I get the questionnaire? From the UP home page (www.up.ac.za), follow the link to the Department of Visual Arts (Faculty of Humanities). Then Go to Applications & Selections. From here, download and print the (.PDF) selection questionnaire. Where do I submit? Submit a completed Questionnaire and a Portfolio of your work to (your first choice of study): The Selection Panel (ID) Department of Visual Arts University of Pretoria Private Bag x20 Hatfield 0028 OR The Selection Panel (FA) Department of Visual Arts University of Pretoria Private Bag x20 Hatfield 0028 Questionnaires must be downloaded (from the Visual Arts link on the UP website), completed by hand and submitted with your portfolio. PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS NOTE/ If you apply for both Information Design and Fine Arts complete only one portfolio and submit it with the application of your first choice. You must submit an A4 (not A3) portfolio of at least twenty works. These works must include at least four original drawings (as specified below), four original photographs (as specified below) and at least twelve colour postcard-size photographs (as specified below). A diversity or variety of media and content must be evident in the portfolio. To this end, the following requirements must serve as a guidelines for the selection of work: Only include examples of works that have been created in the last two years. The drawings and the photographs of your work should be mounted and presented in an A4 format such as a flip-file or a ring-bound document. 04 x ORIGINAL DRAWINGS 2 x A4 pencil drawings (examples 1 & 2 below) done from observation (that is, not from photographs but from observing real life phenomena, such as people, buildings, still life objects or animals). 2 x A4 drawings of any topic (examples 3 & 4 below), drawn from memory and using no photographic reference. These could be drawings of a crisis you experienced or a humorous situation you found yourself in. These 4 drawings described above must be included in the portfolio in their original form, not as copies or photographs. 02
+ MERIT SELECTION (CONTINUED) / PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED) Examples The supporting examples serve as a guideline only. Applicants are required to submit original drawings from memory and observation. Example 1: Drawing from observation Example 2: Drawing from observation Example 3: Memory drawing Example 4: Memory drawing 04 x ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS Portfolio Tip Keep the format of your portfolio simple. Do not clutter your work with decorative add-ons such You must submit 4 original photographs that you have taken of subjects such as people, buildings, still life objects, fashion, documentation, etc. (examples 5 & 6). The subject matter you choose to capture should express your personal interests. as glitter or any other type of scrap-booking paraphernalia. image pending Example 5: Architectural shot Example 6: Landscape shot 03
++ MERIT SELECTION (CONTINUED) / PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED) Examples The supporting examples serve as a guideline only. Applicants are required to submit photographs of original work. 12 x ADDITIONAL WORK For the remainder of the portfolio, you must include a selection of at least twelve photographs of works to indicate your proficiency in auto-graphic hand-drawn mark making, expression and communication. The work you select should show your preference for Information Design or Fine Arts or both. The photographs must be of an excellent quality but need not be done by a professional photographer. You may include photographs of any of the categories listed below: illustration/drawing (in pencil, charcoal or pastel). paintings (in watercolour, gouache, acrylic or oils). print-making. 3-D designs/constructions or sculpture* (see example below on photographing 3D work). photography. technical drawings (a maximum of two). Photographing 3D projects Remember to focus on lighting & angle variation when photographing 3D work. NOTE You may choose to submit photographs of 3D work. You may also decide to photograph 3D work from a few different angles. Please note that all angles of the same work count as only one portfolio piece. Stage: Build a white stage or drape a black backdrop against which to showcase the object. Angles: Experiment with different angles to present dynamic photographs of 3D work. Lighting: Experiment with light placement for dynamic and well-lit objects. Cropping: Don t be afraid to crop your work to exclude unnecessary elements or surroundings. 04
+++ MERIT SELECTION (CONTINUED) / PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED) Photographing 2D work Remember to avoid glares (do not take photographs under direct light). Make sure you capture sharp photos. Please also avoid submitting images that are out of focus). Glares and dark edges: Make sure to capture your photographs in natural light in a well lit area. Photographs captured in darker areas with harsh lighting will result in dark edges and glares. Blurry images: Make sure that you submit sharp images. Adjusting your shutter speed and using a tripod are good ways to avoid blurring your images. Labelling Tip Keep your labelling simple and clear. Avoid cluttering the labels with decorative fonts and extra elements. LABELLING YOUR WORK Provide the following information about each piece in your portfolio: A brief description or rationale (50 words) of the idea/concept behind your work. The commissioner of the work. Was it done for school, a client or was it self-commissioned? The size and medium (e.g. pencil, oils, pastels) of the work. The year in which the work was completed. NOTE/ The date for submission, indicated above, must be strictly adhered to, otherwise you will lose your place in the selection process. VERIFICATION OF ORIGINALITY OF QUESTIONNAIRE & PORTFOLIO CONTENT The Affidavit of authenticity (on the following page) must be completed and signed by a Commissioner of Oaths. This form confirms that the work in the portfolio and additional work are examples of your own work, and that you answered the questions in the questionnaire yourself. 05
AFFIDAVIT OF AUTHENTICITY I, student number, do hereby attest that all the artworks presented in my portfolio submitted herewith have been originated and created by me, and that the content in the documentation I am providing for possible admission to the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Pretoria is true and accurate. I understand that providing false information or documentation and artworks that were not originated and created by me may make me ineligible for admission to the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Pretoria. I also understand that the Department of Visual Arts may authenticate any artworks, information and documentation provided. Signed in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths on this day the of 2015 Applicant s signature: Commissioner of Oaths signature/stamp: 06
++++ MERIT SELECTION (CONTINUED) PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED) Merit Selection Results Results will be sent to you via mail, e-mail or SMS by 20 July 2015. MERIT SELECTION RESULTS You will be notified whether you have qualified to continue with the selection process or not. This notification will be sent to you via mail, e-mail or SMS (depending on the mode of correspondence you selected in your questionnaire). If your application is successful, you will be notified of the dates and procedures for the final selection interviews and tests. If your application is not successful, you will not be allowed to continue to the final stage of selection. Please be aware that the selection panel s decision in this regard is final, and no correspondence can be entered into. FINAL SELECTION / STEP 03 INTERVIEW AND SELECTION TESTS Interview & Selection test date Finalise the date for your appointment no later than 24 July 2015. Interviews and selection tests take place on 30 July - 7 August 2015. If you have made it to the final selection phase, please phone (012) 420-3540 to make an appointment for ONE of these dates. Kindly note that if you do not finalise your interview and test date by 24 July 2015 you will lose your place in the selection process. If you have applied and been successful in your merit selection application for both courses in the Department, you must make an interview appointment for each course i.e. Fine Arts and Information Design. Please report to the Department of Visual Arts at 08:00 for 08:30 on the day you have booked for. Should you wish to present original works in addition to the portfolio you submitted as part of the merit selection process, you may do so during your interview. Please bring these works on the day of your interview and tests. Original works must be removed on the same day as the Department cannot accept responsibility for storing your work. INTERVIEW PROCEDURE You will be interviewed by a panel of people consisting of lecturers from the Department of Visual Arts, representatives from the Design Industry or practicing fine artists and a senior student from the department. The panel will ask you a number of questions related to your knowledge of the Information Design or Fine Arts course at UP, the Design or Fine Arts industry as well as current local & world events. You will also be asked interpretative questions to test your lateral thinking skills. Personal insight and motivation are highly regarded in the interview. 07
+ FINAL SELECTION (CONTINUED) / STEP 03 INTERVIEW AND SELECTION TESTS (CONTINUED) SELECTION PROCEDURE You will undertake two tests. The first test examines your ability to think laterally, visualise ideas, interpret visual images, and communicate ideas in written form. The second test is a drawing test which appraises your technical skill and your understanding of composition. Both tests work in conjunction with your portfolio presentation and your interview in order to assist the selectors in identifying the most suitable candidates for the course. NOTE/ Please bring the following equipment with you: pen, 2B and 6B pencils, sharpener, eraser, ruler (30cm), scissors and glue stick. Final Selection Results You will be notified via sms no later than 31 August 2015. FINAL SELECTION RESULTS You will receive an sms indicating whether you have been accepted or not. If you have been accepted then kindly call the Department of Visual Arts on (012) 420-2353 between 7-11 September 2015 in order to confirm whether you will be taking your place or not. This allows us to finalise all administration matters before the close of the year. You will also receive written notification of your status from Academic Administration of the University during September 2015. COLLECTION OF PORTFOLIOS You must collect your portfolio from the Department of Visual Arts during November 2015. 08