Edinburgh College of Art lllustration Portfolio

hi, i’m applying to edinburgh college of art to study illustration 2025 entry and am currently putting my portfolio together but i’m not 100% sure on what they want me to include. i’ve looked at the website and requirements and understand that there are 4 key elements, but i’m not sure on what content they want per element. does anyone have any tips / suggestions or any examples?
thanks!

Reply 1

unfulfilled-init

3

Original post by mina955

hi, i’m applying to edinburgh college of art to study illustration 2025 entry and am currently putting my portfolio together but i’m not 100% sure on what they want me to include. i’ve looked at the website and requirements and understand that there are 4 key elements, but i’m not sure on what content they want per element. does anyone have any tips / suggestions or any examples?
thanks!

hiya, i sent in a portfolio to study costume recently and i agree its a bit confusing. it might be quite different for illustration but i did it like this ---> visual research: moodboards, first and second hand research from my sketchbooks and observational drawings. idea development: textile exploration (u could do different drawing styles?idk), initial/developed/final designs and planning, and then if theres anything super subject specific (i included pattern cutting) def include that. selection: mindmaps, developed designs, any project progress/record of making/design, final project outcomes, project overview etc. contextual awareness: research pages (u could do research on illustrators or movements maybe, i did designers), more observational drawings and designs, maybe include a personal project cus they mention that somewhere.. hope this helps and good luck w ur application! <3

Reply 2

mina955

OP

7

Original post by unfulfilled-init

hiya, i sent in a portfolio to study costume recently and i agree its a bit confusing. it might be quite different for illustration but i did it like this ---> visual research: moodboards, first and second hand research from my sketchbooks and observational drawings. idea development: textile exploration (u could do different drawing styles?idk), initial/developed/final designs and planning, and then if theres anything super subject specific (i included pattern cutting) def include that. selection: mindmaps, developed designs, any project progress/record of making/design, final project outcomes, project overview etc. contextual awareness: research pages (u could do research on illustrators or movements maybe, i did designers), more observational drawings and designs, maybe include a personal project cus they mention that somewhere.. hope this helps and good luck w ur application! <3

thank you so much - this is super helpful!! i wasn’t expecting it to be so cryptic, but that’s down to me not reading things thoroughly :biggrin:

Reply 3

Alexandra283

5

Hi! I’ve been doing the same for graphic design and found the following website very helpful as it is subject specific. Good luck!

https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate-portfolio-guidance

Reply 4

LeoLiversage

8

Original post by Alexandra283

Hi! I’ve been doing the same for graphic design and found the following website very helpful as it is subject specific. Good luck!
https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate-portfolio-guidance

Hello, I’m doing graphic design too. Could we show each other our work and give advice to each other?

Reply 5

LeoLiversage

8

Original post by Alexandra283

Hi! I’ve been doing the same for graphic design and found the following website very helpful as it is subject specific. Good luck!
https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate-portfolio-guidance

I also applied to do graphic design at Edinburgh

Reply 6

LeoLiversage

8

Original post by mina955

hi, i’m applying to edinburgh college of art to study illustration 2025 entry and am currently putting my portfolio together but i’m not 100% sure on what they want me to include. i’ve looked at the website and requirements and understand that there are 4 key elements, but i’m not sure on what content they want per element. does anyone have any tips / suggestions or any examples?
thanks!

I think illustration and graphic design want similar stuff. Do you have any social media to help each other with portfolios?

Reply 7

eleanorrrcm

4

i applied for fine art and i’m not sure whether it’s totally similar but i attended an information about portfolio seminar and they explain that this year they wanted the categories more grouped, so the categories are just guidance of what they do want to see within. for example you could have a slide with one final piece on it but on that slide you should also include inspiration reference photography initial sketches and development and any additional info you think would help explain

Reply 8

eleanorrrcm

4

i do have a question myself though, in terms of reference to other artists or exhibitions, how are we meant to present this in our portfolio?

Reply 9

LeoLiversage

8

Original post by Alexandra283

Yes ofc! my insta is AlexKennyy.

I followed you, my accounts Leo_liv45

Reply 10

LeoLiversage

8

Original post by eleanorrrcm

i applied for fine art and i’m not sure whether it’s totally similar but i attended an information about portfolio seminar and they explain that this year they wanted the categories more grouped, so the categories are just guidance of what they do want to see within. for example you could have a slide with one final piece on it but on that slide you should also include inspiration reference photography initial sketches and development and any additional info you think would help explain

I saw that seminar too, what’s your instagram?

Reply 11

LeoLiversage

8

Original post by eleanorrrcm

eleanorrrcharlotte

I followed you

Edinburgh College of Art lllustration Portfolio

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