This Online Portfolio Guidance course is designed to support those looking to come and study and study an undergraduate course at Gray’s School of Art in the academic year 2025/2026. This course is fully funded by Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University in collaboration with Access to Creative Education Scotland.
This online portfolio guidance course unpacks the portfolio grading process used by Gray’s School of Art.
Throughout the course you are encouraged to learn how to evidence the key mindsets and behaviours considered crucial in a creative practitioner.
The key mindsets are:
- The Curious Dreamer
- The Visual Problem Solver
- The Self - Reflective Communicator
These mindsets will be explored throughout the duration of the 10-week programme which consists of a series of 8 pre-recorded sessions via Moodle, Robert Gordon University's Virtual Learning Environment and 2 live sessions to be hosted on Microsoft Teams.
Each session is designed to guide you throughout as you build your own portfolio and prepare to apply for an undergraduate course at Gray’s School of Art.
Topics & Timetable
Part 1 - Defining and Evidencing the Curious Dreamer
- Week 1 - Inspiration
- How does inspiration work?
- Showing the connectivity and flow of ideas in a project
- Week 2 - Curiosity
- Where is curiosity found?
- Showing The Curious Dreamer existing where your curiosity and your inspiration meet
- Week 3 - Briefing Session
- How to evidence Mindsets
- Presentation + Briefing for ‘Mind Mapping’ task
Part 2 - Defining and Evidencing the Visual Problem Solver
- Week 4 - Visual thinking “What if…?”
- Showing the Visual Problem-Solver thinking out loud and making ideas real
- Deadline for ‘Mind Mapping’ task
- Week 5 - Making
- “Having a go” mentality and rehearsing
- Showing how context and material can drive concepts
- Week 6 – Mark-making & Visualising
- Creating and producing variety
- Showing a range and sensitivity to the use of marks
Part 3 - Presenting and Communicating Ideas
- Week 7 – LIVE
- How to evidence visual thinking and reflective communication
- Includes how to write a personal statement etc
- Briefing for ‘Visualising Difference’ task
- October break
- Week 8 - Project Management
- Creating a timeline and planning for submission deadline.
- Deadline for ‘Visualising Difference’ task
Part 4 - Production and Documentation
- Week 9 - Organisation of a folio
- Elaborating on ideas and showing reflective communication within a folio
- Telling the story and getting your point across, using and exploiting thematic exploration
- Creating and structuring a FLIKR account
- Briefing for ‘Timeline/Schedule’ task
- Week 10 – Dos and don’ts
- Photography pitfalls and peaks
- Documenting objects & images
- Deadline for ‘Timeline/Schedule’ task
Learning Methods
This course will be delivered online using the University’s virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle through a series of 10 sessions made up of both pre-recorded and live delivery via Microsoft Teams.
Activity Summary
- 8 pre-recorded sessions, each is 20 minutes in duration. 2 live sessions, each is maximum of 1 hour in duration.
- Sessions are released every Saturday at 12:00
Assessment
This course is not formally assessed.
Independent Study
Students are expected to apply the content from the sessions to the development of their own portfolio, to nurture and direct their own creative direction.
Staff Delivering on this Course
The course is delivered by staff with experience of the Gray’s admissions process and a keen understanding of the transitions between learning at Secondary schools and University/College.
On successful completion of this course students should have a portfolio of work that represents them and their interests.
This will equip them to apply to a wide range of Art or Design or similar course related to the Creative Industries that ask for a portfolio as part of the entry requirements.
Key to the course is appropriate advice as to the correct level of progress a student can expect, whether that is applying to a course at University or College level.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course.
Applicants should be looking to build a portfolio with the aim to apply to study at Gray's School of Art.
There are limited spaces available, so those looking to study at Gray’s School of Art in the academic year 2025/26 will be prioritised.
Required Age
All students are required to be at least 16 years of age on the commencement of the course.
Academic Year 2024/2025
Course fee: FREE
The course is fully funded by Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University in collaboration with Access to Creative Education Scotland.
Additional Costs
Students must provide their own materials in response to projects and concepts delivered by course.
The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees:
Course Cancellation
If minimum participant numbers for this course are not met, the course will be cancelled and participants will receive a full refund where applicable.
Disclaimer
For new intakes course fees are reviewed and published annually for each mode of delivery. Tuition fees are fixed for the duration of a course at the rate confirmed in advance. For further information see:
Any questions?
Get in touch with the team and we'll do our best to help.