What should I include in my Interior Design portfolio for Salford?
Hi everyone,
I'm putting together a portfolio for the Interior Design with Foundation Year course at the University of Salford, and I’d really appreciate some advice on what to include! The university says they want to see things like drawings, concepts, technical work, and evidence of 3D thinking, but I’m unsure how much is expected and how best to present it.
So far, I’ve written a short report exploring how socioeconomic status affects interior design, using examples like the 1949 Step-Saving Kitchen and 1950s futuristic compact kitchen designs. I discussed how these layouts can help maximise space, reduce clutter, and support mental health and mobility—particularly for disabled people or those living in smaller homes. I also highlighted how these kinds of designs might not suit every context (such as family households), and why adaptability in design is so important.
For the practical side of my portfolio, I’m planning to include:
A start-to-finish project designing a room layout in a small council flat, including sketches, floor plans, and a moodboard tailored to that space
Some observational and technical drawings (mainly interiors and furniture concepts)
Possibly a basic 3D model or digital mock-up if I have time to build it
Even though it's been a few years since I was at college, I'm also considering including some of my older work from my Animation and VFX course, such as:
3D modelling examples
Project planning documents showing how I took a concept from start to finish
Photobashing work and visual development
A short showreel
Do you think it’s worth including this even though it’s from a different subject? I feel like the 3D modelling, design thinking, and planning are still relevant skills, but I’m not sure how it would be received.
Would love any advice on what else to include or avoid. Thanks so much for your help!
I'm putting together a portfolio for the Interior Design with Foundation Year course at the University of Salford, and I’d really appreciate some advice on what to include! The university says they want to see things like drawings, concepts, technical work, and evidence of 3D thinking, but I’m unsure how much is expected and how best to present it.
So far, I’ve written a short report exploring how socioeconomic status affects interior design, using examples like the 1949 Step-Saving Kitchen and 1950s futuristic compact kitchen designs. I discussed how these layouts can help maximise space, reduce clutter, and support mental health and mobility—particularly for disabled people or those living in smaller homes. I also highlighted how these kinds of designs might not suit every context (such as family households), and why adaptability in design is so important.
For the practical side of my portfolio, I’m planning to include:
A start-to-finish project designing a room layout in a small council flat, including sketches, floor plans, and a moodboard tailored to that space
Some observational and technical drawings (mainly interiors and furniture concepts)
Possibly a basic 3D model or digital mock-up if I have time to build it
Even though it's been a few years since I was at college, I'm also considering including some of my older work from my Animation and VFX course, such as:
3D modelling examples
Project planning documents showing how I took a concept from start to finish
Photobashing work and visual development
A short showreel
Do you think it’s worth including this even though it’s from a different subject? I feel like the 3D modelling, design thinking, and planning are still relevant skills, but I’m not sure how it would be received.
Would love any advice on what else to include or avoid. Thanks so much for your help!
That sounds like a lot of content. You might want to think about condensing it down.
Why are you applying for a foundation year and not to start from first year?
Why are you applying for a foundation year and not to start from first year?
Also interested in why you are applying to the foundation year when it appears you already have a very good understanding of what your subject requires. I can't imagine you will struggle to place for the Foundation year.
For your portfolio:
Yes, I would say this would be a great addition to your portfolio and shows enthusiasm for your subject. Be sure you format this well when presenting it as a complete piece of work and omit anything that isn't as immediately relevant.
I would encourage you to do these observational drawings in-person and not from photographs wherever possible. Maybe there is some antique furniture in a local museum, or even if you know a nice chair in a local cafe you could draw etc. I would suggest you do some individual furniture item drawings in a good level of detail and some perspective drawings of building interiors, ideally observational in-person if at all possible.
I would try and link this to one of your other pieces if at all possible - model one of the things you've already drawn. Try and keep this simple and achievable.
Of what? Objects? People? What kind of model are they? Did you follow tutorials? You said this was older work, is it reflective of your ability? I am leaning towards "no, don't include this" but it's very difficult without any other information. I would say if you don't end up doing the newer 3D model there's more of an argument for including them but if it's older work and would look low quality in comparison to the rest of your portfolio i'd just omit it altogether.
This will be difficult to format for a typical portfolio submission and may require heavy editing and formatting. Again, I think i'd have to know a bit more (and in this case, probably just see it) to be able to advise any further. Maybe, if heavily edited down appropriately, but leaning towards "no".
Assuming you haven't done a huge amount of photobashing, lots of beginner photobash work just doesn't look great. (I speak from my own bad photobashing experience) It can be good for getting ideas down, you could include it as development work for a larger "finished" piece, but I wouldn't include photobash work on it's own. Would advise against this.
Of 3D animation, presumably? Of what, characters? Effects? I would probably say "no", but more info would be good.
Also worth considering:
You will want to read their portfolio submission guidelines carefully. Usually they will advise submitting between 8-20 "pieces". You should consider a "piece" a concise, formatted page of work that includes relevant annotation and development.
For your portfolio:
•
A start-to-finish project designing a room layout in a small council flat, including sketches, floor plans, and a moodboard tailored to that space
•
Some observational and technical drawings (mainly interiors and furniture concepts)
•
Possibly a basic 3D model or digital mock-up if I have time to build it
•
3D modelling examples
•
Project planning documents showing how I took a concept from start to finish
•
Photobashing work and visual development
•
A short showreel
Also worth considering:
•
Traditional 3D mediums like model-making, woodwork etc if you have any recent examples.
•
Recent creative work (even if subject-unrelated), that demonstrates an ability to combine ideas imaginatively.
Reply 3
Original post
by lnewman04Hi everyone,
I'm putting together a portfolio for the Interior Design with Foundation Year course at the University of Salford, and I’d really appreciate some advice on what to include! The university says they want to see things like drawings, concepts, technical work, and evidence of 3D thinking, but I’m unsure how much is expected and how best to present it.
So far, I’ve written a short report exploring how socioeconomic status affects interior design, using examples like the 1949 Step-Saving Kitchen and 1950s futuristic compact kitchen designs. I discussed how these layouts can help maximise space, reduce clutter, and support mental health and mobility—particularly for disabled people or those living in smaller homes. I also highlighted how these kinds of designs might not suit every context (such as family households), and why adaptability in design is so important.
For the practical side of my portfolio, I’m planning to include:
A start-to-finish project designing a room layout in a small council flat, including sketches, floor plans, and a moodboard tailored to that space
Some observational and technical drawings (mainly interiors and furniture concepts)
Possibly a basic 3D model or digital mock-up if I have time to build it
Even though it's been a few years since I was at college, I'm also considering including some of my older work from my Animation and VFX course, such as:
3D modelling examples
Project planning documents showing how I took a concept from start to finish
Photobashing work and visual development
A short showreel
Do you think it’s worth including this even though it’s from a different subject? I feel like the 3D modelling, design thinking, and planning are still relevant skills, but I’m not sure how it would be received.
Would love any advice on what else to include or avoid. Thanks so much for your help!
I'm putting together a portfolio for the Interior Design with Foundation Year course at the University of Salford, and I’d really appreciate some advice on what to include! The university says they want to see things like drawings, concepts, technical work, and evidence of 3D thinking, but I’m unsure how much is expected and how best to present it.
So far, I’ve written a short report exploring how socioeconomic status affects interior design, using examples like the 1949 Step-Saving Kitchen and 1950s futuristic compact kitchen designs. I discussed how these layouts can help maximise space, reduce clutter, and support mental health and mobility—particularly for disabled people or those living in smaller homes. I also highlighted how these kinds of designs might not suit every context (such as family households), and why adaptability in design is so important.
For the practical side of my portfolio, I’m planning to include:
A start-to-finish project designing a room layout in a small council flat, including sketches, floor plans, and a moodboard tailored to that space
Some observational and technical drawings (mainly interiors and furniture concepts)
Possibly a basic 3D model or digital mock-up if I have time to build it
Even though it's been a few years since I was at college, I'm also considering including some of my older work from my Animation and VFX course, such as:
3D modelling examples
Project planning documents showing how I took a concept from start to finish
Photobashing work and visual development
A short showreel
Do you think it’s worth including this even though it’s from a different subject? I feel like the 3D modelling, design thinking, and planning are still relevant skills, but I’m not sure how it would be received.
Would love any advice on what else to include or avoid. Thanks so much for your help!
Hello there,
Firstly I want to say that we are very excited of your interest to study at Salford University. With a portfolio I can only provide general advice and guidance, so I apologise if it is information you have read before.
Just to confirm, your portfolio will be submitted online.
Portfolio requirements
The purpose of a portfolio is for you to tell us more about your experience, skills and interest in the course, allowing us to determine whether this is your best choice. We recognise that you may not have as much work available for a portfolio as you might wish. Please do not worry about this. We are happy to see examples of work and any development of ideas. You do seem to have a lot of work which is great so I really would not worry about not having enough.
Your portfolio can include:
•
Drawings, concepts, technical drawings, observations, models and evidence of working in 3D
•
Photography, abstract paintings and graphic design elements can be included but are not as important. Interior Design focuses on human centred design and is technical in nature
As it is an online session, please prepare images of your work as a PDF or a folder of high quality jpegs. You may also include links to your online platforms such as: Instagram, blogs, websites, YouTube or Vimeo etc.
What am I being assessed on?
•
Level of interest and reasonable subject knowledge
•
Creative ability
•
Suitability for the subject
Email to [email protected]. Please include your name and the course you've applied for in the subject line. In the content of the email please copy the below information and complete with your details:
•
Full Name
•
UCAS Number (if applicable)
•
Application ID (as per your email)
•
URL for your portfolio
•
Any additional documents
•
In submitting this work, I (the applicant), confirm that all images/documents are my own work
If you would like to have a general conversation with someone you can call our course enquiries team for more general advice and guidance but again it will be general advice.
To email our course enquiries teams it would be [email protected] they take up to five days to respond to any email.
You can also give them a call on 0161 295 4545 between the hours of 10am and 4pm, Monday - Friday.
All the best with this,
Matt ~ Uni of Salford rep
Reply 4
7
Original post
by PQThat sounds like a lot of content. You might want to think about condensing it down.
Why are you applying for a foundation year and not to start from first year?
Why are you applying for a foundation year and not to start from first year?
Thanks for the feedback that’s a really good point. I’ll definitely look at condensing the content so it’s more focused and digestible. I want to show a range of skills without overwhelming the viewer, so I’ll be more selective and maybe include an overview page with links to additional work for context if needed.
As for why I’m applying to the foundation year: I haven’t been in formal education for over three years now. I did start a degree previously but had to leave during the first year due to a combination of mental and physical health issues. I’m in a much better place now, but I feel the foundation year will help me ease back into academic life, rebuild confidence, and adjust to the university environment at a manageable pace.
It’ll also give me time to get disability support and accommodations in place properly before progressing to the first year of the full degree. I want to give myself the best possible chance of succeeding long term, and I think the foundation route will really help me do that.
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