How to Prepare for Your Portfolio Review at National Portfolio Day

Heading to National Portfolio Day? A portfolio review is a chance to talk about your work, get useful feedback, and learn more about art and design schools before you apply. Here’s how to prepare—and what to expect when you sit down with a reviewer.

On Sunday, November 1, MassArt will host Boston National Portfolio Day at the Hynes Convention Center, bringing together prospective undergraduate students and representatives from art and design colleges and universities for one-on-one portfolio reviews.

If you’ve never had your artwork reviewed before, the idea can feel a little intimidating. But a portfolio review isn’t an exam — and your portfolio doesn’t have to be perfect or finished.

It’s a conversation about your work: what you make, how you think, what you’re interested in, and where you might take your ideas next.

What to Expect at National Portfolio Day

National Portfolio Day is a chance to meet with representatives from art and design colleges, share your artwork, ask questions, and get helpful feedback before you apply.

Portfolio reviews are usually short and informal. Think of them as conversations about your work, not formal presentations. You can also learn more about the schools you’re interested in, including their programs, portfolio requirements, application process, and campus life.

And remember: National Portfolio Day is not a competition. Your portfolio doesn’t have to be perfect, and no one is comparing your work to anyone else’s. Reviewers are there to help you recognize what you’re doing well, offer suggestions, and give you ideas for how to keep growing as an artist or designer.

How to Make the Most of Your Portfolio Review

1. Bring 10–12 pieces of your best work.

   Bring a selection of work that gives reviewers a sense of who you are as an artist or designer. Include pieces that show a range of your interests, ideas, skills, and ways of working.

   You can bring original artwork or show your work digitally on your own laptop or tablet.

    

2. Show Your Creativity

   Colleges want to see more than just your drawing or design skills. They want to see your ideas, how you solve problems, and what makes your work unique.

   Don’t be afraid to include different styles, materials, or subjects. Your portfolio doesn’t need to follow one theme or medium.

    

3. Include Sketches and Works in Progress

   Not everything in your portfolio needs to be finished or perfect! Sketches, experiments, and unfinished projects can help reviewers see how you come up with ideas and develop your work.

    

4. Be Ready to Talk about Your Work

   You don’t need to prepare a speech, but be ready to share a little about your work. Think about questions like: What inspired you to create the work? What were you trying to express or explore? What was challenging about making it? Is there something you would do differently if you made it again?

   There are no right or wrong answers. Reviewers just want to learn more about you and your creative process.

    

5. Ask Questions and Be Open to Feedback

   Portfolio reviews are a chance to get advice from people who work in art and design education. Listen to their suggestions, ask questions, and take notes to help you remember their feedback.

   You might learn that a piece you weren’t sure about is one of your strongest. A reviewer might suggest developing an idea further, experimenting with a new material, or reconsidering which pieces best represent you.

   You can also ask about the colleges you’re interested in. For example: Ask what stands out in your portfolio, what you might strengthen before applying, or what makes their programs or first-year experience unique.

   Remember, a portfolio review is a conversation, not a test. It’s your chance to share your work, learn something new, and get excited about what’s next.

Preparing a Portfolio for MassArt Admission

If you’re planning to apply to MassArt as a first-time undergraduate, your final application portfolio should include 12–15 examples of your strongest and most recent work completed within the past two years.

Your portfolio can include classroom assignments as well as independent projects and work across drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, digital art, video, animation, and other forms of visual art and design.

Above all, choose work that feels like yours.

We’re interested in your skills, but we’re equally interested in your curiosity, experimentation, creative thinking, and point of view.

Learn more about what we look for in a portfolio.