Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Overview

Your portfolio says a lot about you: your level of enthusiasm and how you interpret ideas through art. The College of Art and Design is interested in reviewing your best work. This helps us in evaluating your ideas, creativity, and potential. Your portfolio could include, but is not limited to, examples of drawings, paintings, sculptures, sketchbook pages, design examples, mixed media, animation, and/or time-based media. All work submitted must be original (not AI generated) and demonstrate creativity through innovative ideas and content, interesting composition, and proficient use of materials.  

Since drawing is the foundation of many disciplines within the College of Art and Design, some of our undergraduate programs strongly recommend including drawings from direct observation and the use of traditional materials (pencil, graphite, charcoal, ink) in those drawings. Do not include drawings copied from photographs, comics, anime, fantasy, movies, or pop culture.

Acceptance of your portfolio does not guarantee acceptance to the university. 

For any questions regarding portfolio guidelines or the submission process that are not answered on this page, please contact RIT's College of Art and Design at portfolios@rit.edu.

Requirements

What is the College of Art and Design Looking For?

Creativity and Original Ideas

The ideas you present are just as important as the work itself. You can demonstrate creativity through innovative ideas and content, interesting composition and proficient use of materials.

*Acceptance of your portfolio does not guarantee acceptance to the university. 

Acceptable Media Formats

For all drawings, paintings, digital art, photos, etc., each example of work must be submitted as a single PDF in RGB color mode. Each PDF must be 10 MB or less. If you have multiple views of a single example of work, submit a multi-page PDF with a maximum of three pages.

For video files, accepted formats must be submitted in either M4V, MOV, MP4 or WMV format up to 60 MB or less. Videos should be at least 1280x720 pixels for optimal viewing. Do not submit more than three minutes of media in your portfolio. Audio file formats such as MP3, AIFF, or WAV are not accepted. 

Portfolio requirements can be found below or in our PDF version.

Schools of Art and Design BFA Applicants

*The new media design BFA program does not require a portfolio

Submit 7-10 pieces of your best work. All work submitted must be original (not AI-generated). Portfolios will be reviewed on the basis of pictorial composition, storytelling, creativity/originality of ideas, drawing and design ability, a sense for the use of materials, and attention to detail.

Since drawing is the foundation of many disciplines within the College of Art and Design, our BFA programs in Illustration, Medical Illustration, Painting and Printmaking (Studio Arts BFA options) require that applicants include drawings from direct observation. The drawings should be created with traditional materials such as pencil, graphite, charcoal, ink, etc. Examples should include drawings from direct observation such as:

• figures, hands, feet (drawn from life, not copied from photographs, comics, anime or fantasy)
• still life drawings including objects from nature
• perspective drawings (2-point and 3-point perspective drawings)

Other work could include 2D work, painting, photographs, digital art, sculptures made from any materials, fiber and mixed media work. All submitted work MUST be clearly labeled. Add details such as title, medium, and description for all uploaded examples. For descriptions, include details such as assignments or theme (if any), thought process, role(s) such as director, writer, editor, and any exhibition/award notations. 

School of Film and Animation BFA Applicants

Animation Option

Submit 7-10 pieces of work. Please do NOT include any form of fan art.  

Animation examples could include:

• figure drawings from direct observation. Do not copy from a photograph or anime. 
• original character designs or sketches
• 3D modeling and renderings (both digital and physical)
• puppets
• original graphic novel pages
• video files of sketchbooks (page-turning)
• storyboards
• photographs
• Animations are NOT required, although if included please indicate your role, objectives (story, movement, performance, etc.) or creative contribution to the piece. Please note: do NOT submit more than a total of three minutes of media in your portfolio submission.

Production Option

Submit 7-10 pieces of work. Production examples should be expressive, original work that showcase individual style as a filmmaker, storyteller or artist. This may include, but is not limited to:

• photographs, drawings, paintings
• original graphic novel pages
• storyboards
• completed video, or scene(s), up to three minutes total with a coherent beginning, middle, and end. Please include your role(s) in the video: director, writer, camera operator, editor, etc.

Please note: do NOT submit more than three minutes of media in your portfolio submission.