Brunel Design School portfolio advice

As part of the application process for our design and digital media courses, you’ll need to provide a portfolio to demonstrate your creative potential. We’ll let you know how and when to do this during the admissions process.

We welcome a wide range of creative work - what matters most is your curiosity and creativity. Choose pieces that reflect your individual perspective, interests and potential as a designer.

The content and format differ slightly depending on whether you’re applying for our design courses or our digital media courses, so check the guidance below.

Design courses: What to include in your portfolio

See this section for guidance if you are applying for:

  • Industrial Design BA (Hons) / MDes
  • Product Design Engineering BSc (Hons) / MDes
  • Design BSc (Hons) / MDes

We’re interested in your creative design potential and your approach to problem‑solving - across fine art, illustration, sculpture, graphic design, product design, hands‑on making and digital projects.

What your portfolio might include:

  • Sketch work and idea development
  • Show how you generate, explore, and evolve ideas
  • Design projects
  • Your creative process, from research and concept development to a final outcome
  • 3D work and hands on making
  • Photographs of models, prototypes, craft pieces, or physical artefacts
  • Digital work
  • CAD, rendering, or other computer-based work
  • Other creative work, graphic design, fine art, or related disciplines

All our design courses share a foundation in design thinking, but each has a slightly different emphasis. If you already have a course in mind, you may want to tailor your portfolio accordingly.

Industrial Design BA/MDes

  • Sketches that explore multiple ideas and variations
  • Drawings that show how an object looks and is used
  • Physical models and prototypes (card, foam, 3D print, or mock-ups) to test ideas
  • Exploration of form, proportion, and style
  • Early thinking about materials, colour, and finish

Product Design Engineering BSc/MDes

  • Designs that focus on how products function and are manufactured
  • Simple mechanisms, joints, or structural ideas
  • Problem-solving through prototypes or testing
  • Evidence of how your design works in practice
  • Electronics only if relevant (not required)

Design BSc/MDes

  • Projects that connect physical products and digital experiences
  • UX/UI design, including app screens, UI layouts, and digital interfaces
  • Exploration of smart or connected products interacting with apps or data
  • Clear visual storytelling through sketches, diagrams, or visuals

 

How to present your design portfolio

  • A single PDF or PowerPoint file
  • Maximum 10 pages / slides
  • Keep file size around 4MB
  • Please do not submit individual image files

Digital media courses: What to include in your portfolio

See this section for guidance if you are applying for:

  • Digital Design BSc (Hons)
  • Visual Effects and Motion Graphics BSc (Hons)

Your digital portfolio should showcase 3-5 different pieces of creative work. We welcome a wide range of creative work - anything that shows creative imagination, skill or curiosity.

What your portfolio might include

  • Photography
  • Artwork
  • Product or industrial design projects
  • Marketing or branding work
  • Website design
  • Poetry or creative writing
  • Musical compositions or performances
  • Video productions
  • Any other creative activity that you feel represents you well

Personal hobbies, schoolwork, or professional work may be incorporated. 

How to present your digital media portfolio

  • A single PDF (preferable), Word or PowerPoint file
  • Keep file size under 10MB
  • Very high-resolution images aren’t needed and should be avoided
  • Please do not submit individual image files
  • Include a short written commentary to explain each piece of work and relevant technical details such as cameras, lenses, software and equipment used
  • lease don’t embed videos, but instead add links to videos hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or cloud storage platforms such as Dropbox or Google Drive
  • Make sure all links are freely accessible without permission requests.

Using an online portfolio or showreel

If you already have an online portfolio or showreel that meets the requirements above, you’re welcome to use it. Simply submit a document that includes the link.

Final advice

Don’t worry about having a “perfect” portfolio. We’re much more interested in seeing how you think, explore, and learn. Show us your curiosity and your potential. We look forward to seeing your work!