Building a design portfolio...

Entering Higher Education after having practiced for a while, can be a rather daunting experience. It is even worse if you do not comply with the minimum academic requirements for entry and decide to apply via the process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Architectural practitioners are often skilled at the formulation of contract documentation, specification, construction detailing, schedules, site supervision and managing clients and the building contract, whilst lacking conceptual design competence.

Although each University/ Architectural Learning Site (ALS) will have their own specific requirements, what Universities mainly look for in their selection process, is evidence of conceptual and theoretical architectural understanding, reflective and critical mindsets, evidence of design process, graphic communication skills (both on computer and freehand), spatial understanding, academic literacy and writing skills, and good architectural vocabulary, for example.

Your design portfolio could include the following: 

- a sample of drawings, preferably computer-generated and freehand, that shows a range of technical and design process documentation

- a demonstration of knowledge of architectural history and theory       

- 3D drawing, preferably both computer-generated and freehand, and working models if possible 

- a sample of best student work in the case of prior studies 

- reading list of non-technical books read, with summaries, sketches, and/or notes if available

- list of all recent CPD courses completed sketchbooks, travel journals or any other reflective work

and can be developed through sketching, subscribing to free online courses

and extensive reading - see suggested reading list elsewhere in this blog.

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