The portfolio review is required of all students who would like to pursue either the Graphic Design BFA or the Art & Design BFA options. Successful acceptance into the BFA program is required to proceed in the BFA degree.
Information Session
6PM Monday, September 29
Media Arts Center 155 (conference room)
Upload your Presentation by
6PM Wednesday, October 8, 2025
PDF Portfolio Due shared via DropBox
Schedule an Interview
Friday, October 10, 2025
Interviews are schedule 9AM-12PM.
Schedule a Time to Present
The Meetings are in person at the Media Arts Center room 155.
Eligibility
In the beginning of the fall semester of their sophomore (or Junior or Senior) year all Graphic Design BFA applicants must apply to the BFA program. Students may apply to the Graphic Design Bachelor of Fine Arts degree after completion the following courses:
ART 101 Foundation Experience or IAART 100
IAART110 Introduction to Art History
ART 125 Drawing I
IAART105 Graphic Design Process or ART106
ART 160 Typographic Form & Function
Students are expected to have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the courses above to be eligible for the BFA.
Exceptions
Exceptions to these pre-requisites can be made. Please email Randall Hoyt if you would like to apply, but have not taken all of the above classes.
Application Form
Fill out this mandatory form communicating your intention to apply.
Do this as soon as possible.
The Portfolio PDF
Use this InDesign Template:
lastname_firstname_2024BFA
Students will design and produce a well-designed portfolio to present to faculty.
- Dimensions: 14 x 8.5″ (legal) Horizontal size PDF.
- Typeface: Stick to one family of type. You may use different styles, weights and sizes.
What’s in the Portfolio?
The work presented should primarily be from KSC design courses, but may also represent work from other studio classes. The contents of the book are as follows:
00
Fill out the Application Form (above)
01
Design the Cover
What the cover looks like is up to you but it must contain the required Text :
Your first and last names
Keene State College Graphic Design
Spring 2024 Portfolio Review
02
200 Word Response
What formative experience in your life has inspired your interest in graphic design?
03
12-15 Examples of your best work
Usually one work per page although exceptions are possible.
Represent the following categories:
- Graphic Design Foundation (or Process)
- Typographic Form and Function
- Digital Imaging
- Include your best graphic design classwork from other classes.
- Focus on work done heree but you can include a piece from studio art, your past, or personal work if you want.
Include captions for all work:
• description of the project
• course or context it was completed in
• the date
Portfolio Work
Keep it simple and beautiful. Express your personality. Focus on the work.
Cover Examples
Simple but with personality. Interior pages should reflect cover design in color, layout, and typography.
Interior Pages Examples
Pages should be related to the over design and visually consistent in in color, layout, and typography.
The Interview
You will have 10 minutes to present your work to the review committee and ask and answer any questions.
Friday, October 10 , 2025
Interviews are schedule 9AM-1PM.
Use the Link to schedule your interview:
Schedule a Time to Present
Criteria for Evaluation
Students will be evaluated by their
- concept
- image
- composition
- typography
- presentation
Acceptance
Students will be emailed the results of their review. Following acceptance the student must immediately submit a Declaration of Major form for the Graphic Design BFA. Non-accepted students will be eligible to reapply in the next portfolio review.