Design Tests- FIT

PART ONE: Design Test
Project One: Mix-and-Match Designs

1. Create a mood/inspiration page for the following mix-and-match designs. The mood page should include an image(s) that has inspired you to create these designs. Include a short written explanation of how the designs have been inspired by the mood page image(s). Also list the destination and season of the year that these designs will be worn in.
2. Draw original garment designs in color using the medium of your choice. Show mix-and-match separates that work together.
   1. 1)  Design a jacket
   2. 2)  Design a top (use the top twice, once on each figure)
   3. 3)  Design a pant
   4. 4)  Design a skirt

   Sketch the designs in color on two figures. Include back views of the garments on a figure or as a flat sketch. Attach actual fabric swatches and identify the fabrics on the front of the sketches. Note: Original artwork can be computer generated. Reminder: Only color copies are to be submitted for this project.

Note: For ePortfolio review, submit digital pictures of your mood page as well as your mix-and-match design sketches. Images submitted must be properly oriented (i.e. not upside down or sideways). See How To Submit Your ePortfolio: General Instructions. Name your mix-and-match design pages in order as follows: yourlastname_1-1.jpg, yourlastname_1-2.jpg, yourlastname_1-3.jpg. Your file names should use all lowercase extensions. Also, when uploading your image(s) in step 2, use the ‘‘File Description’’ text box on the image upload page to include a short written explanation of how the designs have been inspired by the mood page image(s).

For Mail-In review, please send 8 1⁄2 inch x 11 inch color copies of your mood page and mix-and-match designs and include a photo of the image that inspired your designs. Do not mail your original artwork –– it will not be returned.

For In-Person review, bring 8 1⁄2 inch x 11 inch color copies of the original mood page and mix-and-match designs with you, as well as the image of your inspiration and be prepared to discuss what inspired you to compose this work.

Note: Nothing submitted will be returned. Also do not submit work on art boards or mats. CDs, DVDs, flash drives, slides, binders, sketchbooks, plastic sleeves and portfolio cases are not acceptable.

Ashcan FIT HOME TEST examples

Project Two: Fashion Design Artwork

Submit four sketches of your original fashion design artwork.

1. Draw original designs in color using the medium of your choice. Note original artwork can be computer generated. Design sketches are to be on full-length fashion figures with back views.
2. Include 2 inch x 2 inch fabric swatches on the front of each sketch, identify the type of fabric (e.g. 100% wool gabardine).
3. Include a short written explanation of the inspiration.
4. Note Only color copies of your sketches are to be submitted.

Ashcan FIT HOME TEST examples

Note for ePortfolio review, submit digital pictures of your sketches. Images must be properly oriented (i.e. not upside down or sideways). See How To Submit Your ePortfolio: General Instructions. Name your Fashion Design Artwork sketches in order as follows: yourlastname_2-1.jpg, yourlastname_2-2.jpg, yourlastname_2-3.jpg, yourlastname_2-4.jpg. Your file names should use all lowercase extensions. Also, when uploading your image(s) in step 2, use the ‘‘File Description’’ text box on the image upload page to include a short written explanation of the inspiration.

For Mail-In review, please send 8 1⁄2 inch x 11 inch color copies of your four original sketches.

For In-Person review, bring 8 1⁄2 inch x 11 inch color copies of your sketches with you and be prepared to discuss what inspired you to compose this work. Do not mail your original artwork –– it will not be returned.

Note: Nothing submitted will be returned. Also do not submit work on art boards or mats. CDs, DVDs, flash drives, slides, binders, sketchbooks, plastic sleeves and portfolio cases are not acceptable.

Ashcan FIT HOME TEST examples

• PART TWO: Sewing Test Project Three: Garment Samples

Submit photographs of a maximum of three garments you have sewn (include front and back views). Samples are to demonstrate knowledge of construction. Originality, creativity, and design aesthetic are valued. Clothing is to be photographed on a person or dress mannequin. Garments can be created from commercial patterns or you can develop your own patterns or drape the design. Garment examples should be sewn. Do not show existing garments that have just been decorated.

Note for ePortfolio review, submit digital pictures of your garments. Images must be properly oriented (i.e. not upside down or sideways). See How To Submit Your ePortfolio: General Instructions. Name your Garment Samples in order as follows: yourlastname_3-1.jpg, yourlastname_3-2.jpg, yourlastname_3-3.jpg. Your file names should use all lowercase extensions.

For Mail-In review, Do not mail actual garments——they will not be returned. Mail photos of your garments on 8 1/2 inch x 11 inch paper.

For In-Person review, please bring your garments with you. If you cannot bring some garments, then you should photograph them on a person or dress mannequin. You will take all of your garments home after the portfolio review.

Ashcan FIT HOME TEST examples

Accessories Design 

Portfolio submissions for Accessories Design consist of: a design test, a portfolio of original work, written essays, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Design Test

The design test for Accessories Design includes a timed still life sketch of accessories from your personal collection. It also includes additional sketches of original designs to demonstrate color rendering and inspiration.

PART TWO: Your Original Artwork

As part of the requirements for admission to Art and Design majors, applicants must submit original work for evaluation by the FIT faculty. Applicants to the Accessories Design AAS program are expected to submit one option demonstrating either technical capacity (digital manipulation of an original drawing) OR creative arts (photographs and creative art samples).

PART THREE: Written Essay

You will be required to provide a short essay. Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

Advertising Design

Show us your best work
Your portfolio should include projects from your major design classes that reflect your knowledge, skill, and creativity in graphic design and/or advertising.

After the FIT Admissions Office has reviewed your application for eligibility, you will receive instructions regarding your portfolio.

 

Communication Design 

Portfolio submissions for Communication Design Foundation consist of: a design test, a portfolio of original work, written essays, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components. We ask that you put thought into your process and work to create original creative art that reflects your unique self-expression and special quirks. We want to see who you are in your design process.

PART ONE: Design Tests

The Design Test is a very important part of the total portfolio evaluation. We request that you put thought and effort into the concept, design, and execution of these projects. Students applying to the Communication Design Foundation AAS program are asked to create a self-portrait; to illustrate steps necessary to complete a physical action; and to create a 3-dimensional model of a room or space.

PART TWO: Your Original Artwork

Your selection of original artwork should be new or very recent. It should demonstrate the following: drawing ability; conceptual ability; sense of color, design, and composition; computer design skills; ability to work in a variety of media; and your personal interest in art or design.

PART THREE: Written Essays

You will be required to complete a series of short essays. Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

Computer Animation and Interactive Media

You should have completed the following prerequisite courses (or their equivalent) before you apply. Work from these courses should be included in your portfolio at the time of your interview which takes place in early spring semester.

• CG211 – Computer Assisted Design / Photoshop
• CG212 – Introduction to 3D Modeling / 3DS Max or other
• CG213 – 2D Animation / Photoshop and AfterEffects)
• CG221 – Design and Authoring for Interactive Media I

Your Computer Animation and Interactive Media portfolio should contain drawings, computer files, and examples of your major design work:

• Drawings – Drawings should be of people, animals, and nature studies, done from direct observation. Copying from two-dimensional images is not recommended. Include gesture drawings and quick sketches in original format and size, if possible. Sketchbooks are also recommended. Drawings may be in pencil/ink, marker, charcoal, etc.
• Computer Files – Please bring a list specifying all files and file formats.
  Please bring work from the prerequisite courses (or their equivalents) including After Effects, interactive work in Flash/ActionScript (work using other scripting languages can also be presented) and 3D models as 3D Studio Max, Maya, or Softimage files. Work from other 3D programs should be rendered in Photoshop readable files with multiple views. Bring all the 3D models you have including exercises and work in progress.
• Portfolio examples of work from your major.
• No slides, please. Computer work may be presented on CD, DVD, portable drive, or laptop.

Please also refer to our general Portfolio Requirements page.

Fabric Styling 

Applicants must submit two presentation boards as described below:

Submit one apparel and one home furnishings board.
-OR-
Submit two boards from the same area of interest mentioned above.

FABRIC STYLING BOARDS

• Boards should be executed on black illustration board or black foam core board.
• Boards should be approximately 12″ x 17″.
• Select a season and a theme for each board.
• Each board should have at least six (6) patterned fabric swatches and at least six (6) more solid color swatches. (12 swatches minimum)
• The fabric swatches can be scanned or you can use actual fabric.
• The solid color swatches can be paint chip samples from any paint store.
• Boards should have photos, pictures from magazines, or your own art work illustrating the theme.
• CDs of boards may be submitted for mail in portfolios.

The following is an example of a possible board:

• floral spring apparel theme
• 6 floral fabric swatches
• 6 solid color chips that pick up the colors in the fabric swatches
• a selection of pictures relating to the theme of the fabrics
• you would NOT use dark, winter colors if this is a Spring board
• you would NOT use woolen fabrics if this is a Spring board
• mount these components imaginatively and neatly

PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Print your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, and STUDENT ID on the back of each board.

In-Person Reviews:

Applicants must make an appointment by email or phone (boards will not be received without a scheduled appointment).
Sara_Petitt@fitnyc.edu
212-217-5189

Mail:

Fashion Institute of Technology
Attention: Professor Petitt, Fabric Styling
Room B-521
227 West 27th Street
New York, NY 10001

Fine Art

Portfolio submissions for Fine Arts consist of: artwork, written essays, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Artwork

Applicants to the Fine Arts AAS program are expected to submit a competitive selection of work. Present what you believe to be the very best examples of your work. Submissions are limited to 12 to 20 individual pieces in a variety of media (except Photography).

PART TWO: Written Essays

You will be required to provide a series of short essays (500 words or less). Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

Graphic Design 

Show us your best work

Your portfolio should include projects from your major design classes that reflect your knowledge, skill, and creativity in graphic design and/or advertising.

After the FIT Admissions Office has reviewed your application for eligibility, you will receive instructions regarding your portfolio. Please also refer to the general portfolio guidelines.

Illustration 

Portfolio submissions for the Illustration program consist of: a original artwork/drawing test, written essays, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Portfolio Presentation

As part of the requirements for admission to Art and Design majors, applicants must submit original work for evaluation by the FIT faculty. Illustration applicants are required to submit original drawings and paintings created from direct observation. Applicants are also required to submit original work created from other sources. The portfolio presentation also includes an illustration drawing test produced from direct observation.

 

PART TWO: Written Essays

You will be required to provide a series of short essays (250 words or less). Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

Interior Design 

Portfolio submissions for Interior Design consist of: a design test, a portfolio of original work, written essays, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Design Test

The Design Test is a very important part of the total portfolio evaluation. We request that you put thought and effort into the concept, design, and execution of these projects. As an interior design applicant, you will be required to submit a floor plan, a three-dimensional model of a space, a furniture sketch, and a functional object design.

PART TWO: Your Original Artwork

Your portfolio will be evaluated by Interior Design faculty who will be looking for: a sense of design; imagination and creativity; freehand drawing, sketching, visualization ability; sensitivity to color, line, proportion, texture and materials; analysis of form; diversity of interest in related arts, crafts or technology (examples: sculpture, graphics, ceramics, textile design, photography, computer graphics, etc.), and organization and neatness of portfolio presentation.

PART THREE: Written Essays

You will be required to provide a series of short essays (250 words or less). Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

Jewelry Design

Portfolio submissions for Jewelry Design consist of: a design test, a portfolio of original work, written essays, additional essays for one-year full-time degree applicants, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Design Test

The Design Test is a very important part of the total portfolio evaluation. We request that you put thought and effort into the concept, design, and execution of these projects. As a jewelry design applicant, you will be required to complete a sketching test using a new original design. You will also complete an inspiration test, designing a piece of wearable jewelry for a living or historic icon.

PART TWO: Your Original Artwork

As part of the requirements for admission to Art and Design majors, applicants must submit original work for evaluation by the FIT faculty. Applicants to the Jewelry Design program are expected to submit a competitive selection of their best original artwork–both two-dimensional and three-dimensional.

One-Year Full-Time Associate Degree Studio Option applicants: you must include finished jewelry or metal objects you have created by your own hand; this is in addition to any beadwork, wire wrapping, or “found materials” items you may have.

PART THREE: Written Essays

You will be required to provide a series of short essays (500 words or less). Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

PART FOUR: Additional Essays for One-Year Full-Time AAS Applicants

Menswear

Portfolio submissions for Menswear consist of: a design test, a sewing test, a written essay, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Design Test

You will be required to create a mood/inspiration page for a selection of original mix-and-match garment designs. You will also be required to submit sketches of your original fashion design artwork.

PART TWO: Your Original Artwork

Prospective menswear students are asked to submit photographs of garments they have sewn to demonstrate knowledge of construction. Originality, creativity, and design aesthetic are valued.

PART THREE: Written Essays

You will be required to provide a short essays (250 words or less). Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

Packaging Design 

What should your portfolio consist of?

Your portfolio should consist of artwork from your major and related-area classes and/or the equivalent coursework that demonstrates your knowledge, skill, and creativity in design communication.  You portfolio should be a neatly organized assembly of your work. Only the strongest work should be presented. Old work or work that you consider weak or have to make excuses for should not be included. The actual pieces should be in the portfolio NOT photographs of them (unless they are significantly over-sized pieces). Approximately 10-15 pieces should be enough work to accurately reflect your abilities. In addition, sketchbook(s) and work that shows your creative development process are highly encouraged.

Items found in most portfolios of applicants to the Packaging Design Department include:

Resume

Evidence of specific skills

Creativity

Originality

Typographic Skills

Technical Skills

Design process/concept development and/or project development

Any work that provides an accurate representation of other abilities

If you have taken PK211 Introduction to Packaging Design or are currently in this course, any work accomplished to date can and should be included in the portfolio.

What is the portfolio interview?

The interview consists of a personal interview and portfolio review with two to four faculty. The interview is fairly brief so be prepared to express yourself effectively. During the interview present yourself and showcase your abilities. Be prepared and be on time.

After the Admissions Office reviews your application for eligibility, you will be contacted via email regarding your portfolio interview date and time.

What happens after the portfolio interview?

The portfolio and interview evaluations are submitted to the Admissions Office. The Admissions Office compiles the completed application, determines admission qualification and communicates with the Applicant.

Photography

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree

Portfolio submissions for Photography consist of: a design test, written essays, and a Portfolio Cover Page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Design Test

Your design test should be organized; image quality should be consistent and represent areas of personal interest to you. Assemble your work to tell us what you would like us to know about you and your particular vision of the world. As part of a photography exam, you will be required to visually describe a person or object by photographing he/she/it in six different ways. You will also be required to submit a selection of images from your personal portfolio.

PART TWO: Written Essays

You will be required to provide a series of short essays (500 words or less). Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

PART THREE: Cover Page

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Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree

Candidates for the Photography BFA program, you must submit a portfolio of your work. Your portfolio should include at least 20-25 images. If you have made photo essays or longer series of work, we would like to see the entire projects.

Construct your portfolio so we can see where you are as a creative artist. Present the imagery that’s most important to you.

We are looking for creativity, willingness to experiment, technical competency, attention to detail, and a sustained commitment to the medium of photography.

For more information on portfolio requirements for the BFA program, please contact Admissions at FITinfo@fitnyc.edu.

Textile Surface Design 

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree

Portfolio submissions for Textile/Surface Design consist of: a design test, a portfolio of original work, a written essay, and a portfolio cover page. We want to understand your creative process in both written and visual components.

PART ONE: Design Test

The Design Test is a very important part of the total portfolio evaluation. We request that you put thought and effort into the concept, design, and execution of these projects. As an applicant to Textile/Surface Design, you will be required to submit a floral drawing test and a still life composition painting test.

PART TWO: Your Original Artwork

As part of the requirements for admission to Art and Design majors, applicants must submit original work for evaluation by the FIT faculty. Applicants to the Textile/Surface Design AAS program are expected to submit a competitive selection of original artwork, 8-10 images that may include the following categories: paintings, knits and wovens, collages, drawings, computer assisted designs, screen prints, printmaking.

PART THREE: Written Essay

You will be required to provide a short essays (500 words or less). Please respond thoughtfully and note that your answers do not replace the essay/academic history that you are required to submit as part of your FIT/SUNY application.

Toy Design 

Show us your best work

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of past work, which includes a Take-Home Exam that is an integral part of the portfolio.

Your portfolio is a well-rounded art or design portfolio that reveals your drawing ability.

The Take-Home Exam and additional instructions regarding your portfolio will be provided by the Toy Design Department after the FIT Admissions Office has reviewed your application for eligibility.

If you have specific questions about the portfolio requirements, contact the Toy Design Department at 212-217-5120 or judith_ellis@fitnyc.edu.

Please also refer to our general Portfolio Requirements page.