General Portfolio Guidelines
The Art Institute of Boston looks for work that demonstrates both an experienced use of materials and an ability to communicate ideas and concepts with imagination, creativity, clarity, and originality.
- A portfolio is required from all individuals applying to any of our undergraduate or Advanced Professional Certificate programs.
- You may include single works or a developed series that explores a particular subject or personal vision.
- Freshman applicants' portfolios should contain between 12 and 20
pieces. Transfer students are encouraged to submit work that reflects
the studio coursework that they have taken since high school.
- We accept electronic or digital portfolios; original, framed, or fragile work should not be sent and will not be accepted.
- Images on electronic portfolios should be in the format of JPEGs, GIFs, or PDFs burned to a CD or submitted at aib.slideroom.com.
- All CD portfolios must be labeled with your first name, and last name.
- The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University exercises
considerable care in handling portfolio materials, but we are not
responsible for portfolio loss
or damage.
Portfolio suggestions for Fine Art, Art History, Illustration, Animation, and Design applicants:
Please submit any combination of the following:
- Original work (artwork copied from photographs or from other
artists' work is not encouraged; however, a few drawings copied from
master artists
are acceptable). - Drawings from direct observation. Examples of direct observation are
self-portrait, still life, landscape, interior space, or work from the
human form (at least 5-7 pieces, approximately 1/3 of your submission,
should be from
direct observation). - Select sketchbook drawings showcasing your ability in composition,
design, collage, life drawing, and development of space, form, or
perspective.
- Sketchbook drawings demonstrating your creative process leading to a finished artwork.
- Design applicants, you may submit examples of your best work in 2D
or 3D design, graphic design, typography, and web or interactive media
(in addition to/ instead of the other work listed here).
Portfolio suggestions for Photography applicants:
Please submit no more than 20 images or works incorporating photography:
- Images may focus on any aspect of photography, such as commercial, editorial, documentary, or fine art photography.
- Photography applicants are not required to submit work from fields
other than photography, though they may submit work in other mediums,
such as video or artist's books, if they choose.
- We strongly encourage the inclusion of in-depth personal projects that have been developed over a period of time.
- We value portfolios that illustrate traditional darkroom skills.
- We strongly encourage work that is non-assignment based; we are primarily interested in your own ideas.
- Alternative process work, video, artist's books, photographic
construction, photography integrated with other mediums, and digitally
constructed photography are welcomed.
Need help with your portfolio? AIB offers affordable, four-week
online courses in your area of interest. For more information and to
register, visit our Online Portfolio Preparation Workshops page.
If, after you apply for admission to AIB, you would like feedback on
your final Photography portfolio, please create an AIB-specific
portfolio folder on your Flickr page and share that link with AIB’s
Photography Department Chair,
Christopher James.
Additional Information
Your portfolio can be submitted one of two ways:
Either submit it online at:
aib.slideroom.com
Or, can be mailed to:
AIB Office of Admission
700 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02215-2598
One on one portfolio reviews with a member of AIB's Admission staff or
faculty are strongly encouraged. To schedule a portfolio review, please
fill out this form or contact the main AIB Admission Office at 617-585-6710 or toll-free
at 1-800-773-0494 ext. 6710. Portfolio reviews are offered Monday
through Friday and on select Saturdays.
AIB attends a number of National Portfolio Days (NPD) sponsored by the
National Portfolio Day Association. For a listing the events we are
attending, please view our visit schedule.
If you have questions about your portfolio, you may call the office
at 617-585-6710 or toll free at 1-800-773-0494 ext. 6710. You may also
e-mail us at admissions@aiboston.edu.
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