National Portfolio Day

Photo by Jesse Wolfe '22​

National Portfolio Day (NPD) events are held annually to help further the artistic development of young artists by bringing together experienced college representatives to review artwork and offer feedback. National Portfolio Days, offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, are about the exchange of information about prospective students’ work, college plans and concerns.

RIT College of Art and Design's faculty roster of renowned artists, photographers, designers and filmmakers — either virtually or in-person — meet one-on-one with prospective students during NPD events. They provide useful portfolio feedback and share information about our range of programs in the arts and sciences.

Those interested in having their work evaluated by an RIT representative can best prepare for a review by observing our portfolio requirements. Any questions about RIT’s participation at National Portfolio Days can be directed to portfolios@rit.edu. 

Portfolios should include your best and most recent work, but it can also include works in progress, sketchbooks, tear sheets and creative writing. No admissions decisions or scholarship awards will be offered at National Portfolio Days, but RIT’s College of Art and Design can accept your portfolio as the visual portion of your application.

A drawing RIT medical illustration student Tirzah Pilet presented at a National Portfolio Day event several years ago.

The National Portfolio Day Association was created in 1978, solely for the organization and planning of National Portfolio Days. The association consists of representatives from regionally accredited United States colleges and universities that are accredited institutional members of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and Canadian colleges and universities that are members of Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) or that hold NASAD Substantial Equivalency status. NPDA is the only organization of its kind and membership represents the highest standard of visual arts education in the U.S. and Canada.

Any questions about RIT’s participation at National Portfolio Days can be directed to portfolios@rit.edu. For more information about the National Portfolio Day Association and its events, visit nationalportfolioday.org.