Top tips for preparing your Kingston School of Art application portfolio
- Art and design
- Fashion
- Film, media and music
Your portfolio is a reflection of you. The strongest portfolios help us understand who you are, what you're interested in and what you're all about.
I always remind applicants of one thing: your portfolio isn't about proving that you're already a professional. It's about showing us who you are, how you think, and what excites you creatively.
If you're preparing a portfolio submission, here are some of the key things I'd encourage you to keep in mind.
1. Show your process, not just your finished work
One of the most common mistakes applicants make is focusing entirely on final outcomes.
Of course, we want to see completed pieces, but we're often just as interested in the journey that led to them.
The strongest portfolios help us understand how an applicant thinks. They show the development of ideas, creative decision-making, experimentation and problem-solving. Your portfolio should tell the story of your creative process, not just present the finished result.
Include sketches, research, mood boards, development work, testing, alternative ideas and works in progress alongside final outcomes wherever possible.
2. Your portfolio should feel personal
Many applicants will be working from similar briefs or projects completed during school or college. What makes a portfolio stand out is how an individual has interpreted that project and taken it in their own direction.
We're looking for evidence of your interests, influences and creative curiosity. What inspires you? What makes your perspective unique?
The portfolios that are most memorable are often the ones that give us a real sense of the person behind the application.
3. Creativity matters more than perfection
Students often worry that their technical skills aren't strong enough. Remember, you're applying to study a degree, not graduating from one.
We're not expecting degree-level work. You will develop your technical skills during your time at university.
What we're really looking for is creativity, curiosity and potential.
Can you generate ideas? Are you willing to experiment? Do you explore different approaches and take creative risks? Can you reflect on your work and develop it further?
A portfolio that demonstrates creative thinking and genuine engagement will always be more compelling than one that only focuses on polished outcomes.
4. Don't try to include everything
A portfolio packed with hundreds of images, drawings or projects can actually make it harder for reviewers to understand your strengths and interests.
Instead, choose work that best represents who you are and what you care about.
I often encourage students to think of their portfolio like a journey. The opening pages should attract attention and encourage the reviewer to keep exploring. Each section should build a clearer picture of your interests, ideas and creative process.
A smaller, thoughtfully curated portfolio is usually far more effective than a large collection of work with no clear story.
5. Sketchbooks can be extremely valuable
Personally, I always enjoy seeing sketchbooks because they provide a genuine insight into how someone develops ideas.
That doesn't mean sketchbooks need to be perfect. In fact, they shouldn't be. They are working documents. They're places to test ideas, record observations, make mistakes and explore possibilities.
Not everyone works in a traditional sketchbook, and that's absolutely fine. You might use loose sheets, notebooks, mood boards or digital formats instead.
What's important is finding a method that helps you communicate your thinking and creative development.
6. Include work beyond the classroom – if you have personal projects, include them!
Whether it's photography, filmmaking, costume design, drawing, theatre work, writing, creative coding or something else entirely, work completed outside of your studies can tell us a lot about your interests and motivations.
We want to understand who you are as a creative individual, not just what you've produced for assessment. Personal projects often reveal passion, initiative and curiosity, all of which are valuable qualities when reviewing applications.
7. Keep digital portfolios simple
If you're submitting a digital portfolio, clarity and accessibility are essential.
Before submitting your portfolio, make sure:
- All files open correctly
- Links work properly
- Videos are accessible
- Images display as intended
- The layout works across different devices and browsers
One of the biggest frustrations during portfolio review is receiving work that cannot be opened or viewed correctly.
Simple formats are often the most effective. A well-organised PDF can be just as successful as a more complex digital presentation.
The most important thing is that reviewers can access your work easily and focus on the content rather than technical issues.
8. Avoid generic templates
When creating a digital portfolio, do not to rely too heavily on generic presentation templates.
Many applications end up looking very similar because they use the same layouts, fonts and structures. If you're using a template, take the time to personalise it so that it reflects your work and creative identity.
9. How do you demonstrate readiness for degree study?
This is a question many applicants ask. The truth is that we're not expecting you to arrive as a finished designer, artist, filmmaker or performer. You're applying because you want to learn.
What demonstrates readiness is not perfection. It's showing:
- Genuine curiosity
- A willingness to explore ideas
- Commitment to developing your work
- Evidence of experimentation
- An eagerness to learn and engage
Sometimes a single project or sketchbook can tell us all we need to know about someone's potential.
10. Do your research
Before submitting your portfolio, spend time researching the course you're applying to.
Your portfolio should demonstrate a connection between your interests and the course you've chosen. The best submissions show a strong fit between what you want to explore and what the course is designed to offer.
My advice
If I could leave applicants with one message, it would be this: don't think of the portfolio review as a test.
We're not looking for reasons to reject people, and we're not expecting professional-level work. A portfolio review is really a conversation. It's a way of understanding whether the course is the right fit for you, and whether your interests align with what we can help you develop.
Be authentic. Show your process. Share your interests. Let your personality come through.
Most importantly, remember that your portfolio should tell us who you are and where your creative journey might take you next.
