Portfolio Presentation

Your Portfolio: Tell Your Design Story

Your portfolio is your creative story — a window into your curiosity, skill, and potential as an interior designer. The interior design faculty reviews it to help determine your readiness and suitability for the program.

Applicants who meet the academic prerequisites will be invited to submit their portfolio as the non-academic portion of the admission process.

Submission Overview

Once you receive an email confirming that you meet the academic requirements, you may submit your portfolio as a single PDF (maximum 25 MB) to design@algonquincollege.com.

Label your file: Lastname_Firstname_Portfolio.pdf

Include in your PDF:

  • Full name
  • Student number
  • Contact email and phone number

Add your full name, student number, and program title in the body of the email.

There is no charge for portfolio evaluation.

Portfolio Components

Creative Work (10–15 examples)

Choose your best pieces that highlight a broad range of design skills. The work you include should demonstrate creativity, observation, imagination, and technical ability.

Include a variety of work, such as:

  • Drawings – pencil, ink, or mixed media
  • Multimedia artwork
  • Artistic photography
  • Sketchbook pages – especially those showing design thinking and process development
  • Hand-drafted or CAD-generated drawings
  • Design renderings (digital or hand-rendered)
  • Graphic design compositions
  • 3D models or prototypes

Each piece must be clearly labelled with a title, medium, and size.

If your work is three-dimensional, include photographs that clearly show the piece.

Home Test

The Home Test demonstrates creative and technical skills.

Part 1: The Journey

Create a visual story told in seven stages — a sequence of images that represents a journey or transformation. Your interpretation can be abstract or literal, but it should demonstrate conceptual thinking and originality.

Part 2: Interior Sketch

Produce a hand-drawn pencil sketch of an interior public or commercial space (for example: café, library, or gallery). This sketch should show your understanding of space, perspective, and design elements.

Part 3: Essay (300–500 words)

Write a short essay describing:

  • Your interest in studying interior design
  • Your understanding of how interior design differs from interior decorating
  • Your motivation and influences as a future designer

The essay should be typed and included at the end of your PDF.

Important Restrictions

To maintain academic integrity and ensure original creative work, please note:

  • The use of AI-generated imagery, AI-assisted tools, or apps to create any portfolio content is not permitted.
  • Video, animation, or game-based content (including work made with game engines or virtual environments such as The Sims, Minecraft, or similar software) is not accepted.

All submitted work must represent your own original creations, completed by hand or through standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, CAD software, or SketchUp.

Helpful Tips

  • Show process and development, not just final pieces.
  • Focus on creativity, problem-solving, and composition.
  • Keep the layout simple and cohesive — let your work speak.
  • Label everything clearly and include brief captions if needed.
  • Submit early; the program fills quickly.

After You Submit

  • Portfolios are reviewed by the Interior Design faculty.
  • You will receive notification once your portfolio has been evaluated.
  • If your submission does not meet requirements, feedback will be provided, and you may resubmit one additional time.

Resources

Download the Full Portfolio Guide (PDF)
Includes detailed Home Test instructions and sample layouts.

Questions? Email interiordesign@algonquincollege.com

 

Portfolio Information Sessions 2025/26

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  • Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6:00-7:00pm ET – REGISTER NOW

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