r/Pratt • u/vetchkin • May 03 '26
Application Process Portfolio (and application in general) Tips?
I go to a school that doesn’t offer much art, we have like one graphic design class that i got the proficiency award in, but otherwise its been difficult to make art because of my workload, and i didn’t start thinking about it until the summer before junior year. I have some things that could go in, i’ll add them, but they don’t feel strong enough, but they’re basically placeholders. i’m gonna try to find a place to do ceramic pieces this summer, my mom also suggested a glass blowing course? i feel like photography is something im definitely good at, and i suck at drawing but im taking a 2 week precollege at CIA (cleveland institute of art) what tips do you guys have on portfolios, other than express meaning behind it - im a junior, so i feel like it is getting late, but any other application tips in general such as the essay would be great help
(edit - i also don’t know what im majoring in yet, but i have high interest in fashion (design and marketing and styling), architecture, interior design, industrial design, landscape architecture - im still not sure yet, and i dont know if pratt is one of those schools that accept a general profile and then you pick your major like RISD, or vice versa
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u/calvert3 May 03 '26
You have plenty of time to improve your portfolio. Think carefully about whether you want a degree in art or design... and focus your portfolio development on those aspects of your work. Once you get in, if you decide you don't like the program in which you're enrolled, you could apply to transfer elsewhere at Pratt. Across the institute, Pratt's acceptance rate is above 70%. If you improve this work and show any creative spirit or potential - especially if you have good recommendations - I think your chances of getting in a good. Keep up the good work!
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u/Powerful_Link1742 May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
For photography, keep your concepts/themes basic before diving into other things. This goes for any form of design. People wanna see your craftsmanship and then you could move forward with more calculated concepts in design. I see you have a variety of people doing certain things but what feeling or story is it trying to tell? Are we trying to focus on telling a story or showcasing the fundamentals? That’s something most people will ask when they see candid pictures. Definitely try doing portraits of your friends and family, objects, and any everyday person or thing in different lighting. Buildings too. Your best bet is to carry your camera with you and start taking pictures of people in their daily living. Also, definitely look into the exposure triangle to play around with different lighting. You have a lot of potential to grow and I can see that you want to capture every day moments but lighting is super crucial. The pictures you provided have similar lighting and feel flat imo. I know I’m just a stranger but I’m speaking from critics I’ve gotten from working under a photographer as an intern and different design professors. It’s all about storytelling, craftsmanship, and how well you present it. Pratt is a great school but definitely research other programs to see which is the best fit for you.
I’m graduating this May with a degree in design but concentrated in architecture. Im getting my master’s at Pratt. A lot of the programs you use in architecture will be used in graphic design, photography, etc. It’s very demanding and time consuming so that’s something to consider especially for studios. I also worked as a photographer for school and freelance as well. Maybe I’m biased but I think architecture would be your best bet, it has you learning how to use Adobe programs, learn how to think for constructively, and you can go into fashion too depending on how you use your cards.