CONTENT CHECKLIST
o Application
Please mail the application form on page 2 along with your statement of interest and required assignment to:
Graphic Design Portfolio Review Committee Binghamton University
Department of Art P.O. Box 6000
Binghamton, New York 13902-6000
o Statement of Interest
Your application must include a brief, typed essay of 200–350 words describing your interests and ambitions as an artist and graphic designer.
o Required Assignment
Each applicant is required to complete an assignment and submit it with their application and statement of interest. Directions are given on page 4. The assignment should be submitted in the original format.
o Portfolio Review
All students must make an appointment to show their portfolio in person. See page 3 for more information about preparing your portfolio for the interview.
PORTFOLIO REVIEW APPLICATION FORM
To ensure the program’s success,
the Department of Art requires all
applicants to submit a portfolio review
application form for the Graphic Design
Concentration within the Art Major.
Acceptance into the program is
based on a face-to-face interview
and evaluation of the portfolio along
with other materials outlined in the
application to Binghamton University.
Students not currently enrolled at
Binghamton University must complete
a Binghamton University undergraduate
application (all supporting documents
outlined in that application) to the
Binghamton University’s Admissions
Office at least two weeks prior to the
selected portfolio review date.
For more information see:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/admissions/
Last Name First Name Middle
Date of Birth
Address
City State Zip
Email Phone
APPLICATION
Use this form to request a date for
a portfolio review and to notify the
Department of Art of your intention
to apply for the Graphic Design
Concentration within the Art Major.
The Department of Art must receive
all components of your portfolio review
application form at least two weeks
prior to the selected date.
Check online for current portfolio dates:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/art/graphicdesign.html
or email [email protected]
APPLICANT STATUS
o
Freshman
o
Transfer Student
o
Current Harpur College Student
oCurrent School of Management,
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
To be accepted into the Graphic Design
Concentration within the Art Major
prospective students must complete
a face-to-face portfolio review.
Face-to-face portfolio reviews are
required so that prospective students
may receive direct feedback about
their portfolio from faculty members.
Decisions are only made once the
applicant has submitted a completed
application to the university. Final
admission decisions are not made
at face-to-face portfolio reviews.
Current Binghamton University students
should receive a decision regarding
their admission to the Graphic Design
Concentration within two weeks of the
portfolio review.
REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
o Applicants should have a portfolio of 12-20 pieces that represent your best and most recent work, presented as professionally as possible. o
It is not necessary to add extra work if it is not consistently strong (quality over quantity). o
Your portfolio can include examples of drawing, painting, photographs, digital media, design and three-dimensional work.
o
All of your work should be your own original artwork, we will not keep any of your work. o
If any of your work requires a computer to be seen and evaluated, please bring a laptop with you to the interview.
o
Be prepared to discuss your work with the graphic design faculty. For example, describe assigned class projects and your solution to each problem. If the work was self-directed, tell us about your ideas and concepts.
o
Confirmed applicants for the portfolio review are asked to check in to the Fine Arts Building, Green Room, 15 minutes before your assigned time. o
If you have any questions, please contact:
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENT
Select from any source:
One identification device (a logo, logotype,
visual mark, or signature—see definitions
below) that you think is a successful
design, and one identification device
that you think is an unsuccessful design.
Definitions:
A logotype is made of uniquely-treated
letters which create a customized
word-form. IBM’s trademark is a
well-known example of a logotype.
A device that has no letter-forms.
The CBS “eye” trademark is a
well-known example of a visual mark.
A signature is the combination of a visual
PART 1 SUCCESSFUL DESIGN
o
Make a copy of a logo that you consider to be a successful design. The copy, or paper on which it is placed, should be 8.5" x 11". The logo should be in color (if it exists in color) or only black and white (if it does not).
o
Analyze the logo, stating why you think it is a successful design. Your analysis must be on a separate 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper and should be typed (no more than one page double spaced).
PART 2 UNSUCCESSFUL DESIGN
o
Make a copy of the logo that you consider to be an unsuccessful design. The copy, or paper on which it is placed, should be 8.5" x 11". The identifier should be in color (if it exists in color) or only black and white (if it does not).
o
Analyze the logo, stating why you think it is an unsuccessful design. Your analysis must be on a separate 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper and should be typed (no more than one page double spaced). o
Design an improved version of this logo, and visually render it on a separate 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. You may use any medium or process, but you may not change the name of the company or organization, though you may shorten its name for use in the new identifier. You are limited to the use of two colors (black is considered a color).
Should I wait for the letter of acceptance
into Binghamton University before
applying to the Graphic Design
Concentration within the Art Major or
do I apply to the program before I am
accepted into the University?
You must submit your University application at least two weeks prior to the portfolio review date you select on your Graphic Design Concentration application. You do not need to wait for the University notification before your portfolio review.
What happens if I am accepted into the
University, but not the Graphic Design
Concentration?
You may elect to pursue another major at the University, or pursue another concentration within the Art Major. You are also eligible to seek enrollment in entry-level art courses.
If I am not accepted into the Graphic
Design Concentration, may I reapply?
Students may apply to the Graphic Design Concentration no more than twice. A student who is not accepted into the program must wait until the next semester to reapply.
I am a transfer student. Can I still apply
to the Graphic Design Concentration?
Yes, but the program requires a minimum of two years in residence to complete it. For this reason, it is unusual for a student to be accepted into the Graphic Design Concentration later than the first semester of their junior year. If you are accepted into the program later than this, you should expect to spend additional time at the University completing the Art Major and Graphic Design Concentration.
I live very far from Binghamton University,
and am not able to come to campus for an
interview. Can I still apply to the program?
Email [email protected] for other options.
I am currently a student in Harpur College,
and I’d like to apply for the Graphic
Design Concentration within the Studio
Art Major. What is the process?
Current Harpur students must be admitted to the Graphic Design Concentration no later than the second semester of their sophomore year. The application process is the same. You do not need to have completed the introductory courses in the Art Major to apply; however, please be aware that if you have not completed any courses in the major and you are admitted as a sophomore, it may be impossible for you to complete all the courses for the concentration and the major within your next four semesters.
I am currently a student in CCPA/Decker/
SOM/Watson, and I’d like to apply for the
Graphic Design Concentration within
the Studio Art Major. Is my process
any different?
If you are not a current Harpur student, you will need to be admitted to Harpur College before you can declare any Harpur major, including art. In addition to completing the Graphic Design Concentration application, you will need to complete an application for an Intra-University Transfer to Harpur College, or a Dual Degree application, and submit it to the Office of Admissions.
Is it important to include a variety of
media, or work in the medium I plan
to pursue?
While it is good to demonstrate your ability in a variety of media, the guiding principle in selecting your work is that it best represent your abilities as an artist. In general, it is better to submit several strong pieces in the same medium than to submit weak work in a variety of media. The committee is looking for the specific qualities listed above, not for technical proficiency in the field you plan to pursue.
If, after reading the instructions carefully,
I still have questions—who can I contact?
Questions about the Portfolio Review Application should be sent to [email protected]
