Yale MFA portfolio rules -- PLEASE HELP!!!

[junicorn]

Hi,

 

I'm applying to Yale's graduate graphic design program. I can't figure out what they mean with some of the rules they say applicants must adhere to... And I can't call them up and ask because their admissions office is closed for winter recess and will not re-open until after the deadline.. Here is what they say:

 

"Do not include detail photos of work in your portfolio unless you consider them absolutely necessary. Under no circumstance should more than two detail shots be included."

 

and,

 

"Do not format images in any presentation program (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote), or include composite images (more than one work per file)."

 

 

I'm extremely confused because I have so many projects that would not make sense to show ONE image. For example, I have a book from which I want to show a few spreads as well as the cover. I also have a posters that go as a series (of three). A card that has stuff on the cover AND on the inside, a deck of card and the box for it, all of which I designed and want to show because they are one project. 

 

When Yale says "no composite images (more than one work per file)," do they mean no more than one project per slide (as in it's okay to include 2-3 images if they're from the same project) or do they actually mean only ONE image per slide?? Has anyone had any experience with Yale MFA admissions? With a few more days left til deadline, I'm kind of freaking out! PLEASE guide me. Thanks!!

[Loric]

They are talking in terms of typical visual art - painting, sculpture, etc. they. Don't want to see close ups of brush strokes or how a piece is constructed. They care about wholes.

They also don't want more than 1 work per image. So no collages of many works.

As for how to present your atypical work - email them. With a scenic design I was told by one program to show the rendering, drafting, and final as single slides. For another I was told to do a side by side within Photoshop or other simple image processing app.

Just ask for clarification. The guidelines are written to address typical pieces. People seriously send them 1 shot of a painting and then 10 close ups of various details. That's what they don't want.

[Loric]

Oo, missed the part about them being closed.

Carefully group you cards. White surface, etc - as if it were in a museum display. Well lit and showing all aspects. Take photo.

That's it. One shot for one piece. Done.

[kafralal]

Sheesh, who makes their deadline NEW YEARS DAY!

 

I haven't talked to the office, but this is the way I would read the instructions if I were in your situation.

 

"unless you consider them absolutely necessary" is key here.

 

I'd say that for some of pieces you're talking about it is "absolutely necessary." Those caveats are there for work like yours.

"No more than two detail shots" means you can have two detail shots if what you are showing is different enough. Show the cover and two spreads of the book if they show different things—otherwise the cover and one spread.  Show all three posters if they are substantially different in some important way...otherwise show one and explain the rest. The cover and the cards could be two different shots if necessary, but otherwise they should be in one shot.

From the discussions about Yale apps from other years re: images/per slide, I believe it means only ONE image per slide. They don't want composite images. Don't do side by side presentations in photoshop, that is a composite image and they clearly don't want that.

If you can't show everything, it's ok...they'll get the idea.

 

Good luck!

[junicorn]

Thanks, Loric and kafralal. I shot my box and four select cards together in one shot. Originally I had a composite of six different shots of the same project, one jus the box, another one backs of cards, etc. 

 

For my poster series, though, do you think it'd be okay to present all three in one slide (I put them all into Photoshop and made them appear as if they were hung side by side)? Or should I just show one and say in the description that this is a series? 

 

Again, thanks so much for your help! 

[junicorn]

So detail shots are basically different views or close-ups of the same project but presented in separate slides, correct?

I am limited to 20 slides and I actually do have 20 different projects I want to show, so in that case I guess I can't have any detail shots unless I'm willing to sacrifice a couple projects altogether..? Ahh, decisions, decisions!

[kafralal]

As far as the posters are concerned, I would err on the side of caution and show one poster well and say it is part of a series in the description—unless for some reason one poster is absolutely incomplete without the other one and the three are really one piece (like in a triptych, for example—even with a triptych though, one part can often convey enough for portfolio purposes).

 

Detail shots are indeed different views or close-ups of the same project in different slides.

[junicorn]

Got it. Thanks a lot, kafralal! I think I'm ready to submit my portfolio now.. Good luck with your applications, too!

[kafralal]

Great, glad to hear that! ....and thanks!