Portfolio Preparation (3 weeks)
This unique, tailored programme is designed for students who want to develop a digital portfolio of work. Learn how to construct your own digital portfolio, how to structure it, what to include and what to leave out. Workshops will give you practical experience of a wide range of new techniques, skills and disciplines. The skills you develop during this course will be essential for when you prepare your own portfolio for university applications.
DATES & FEES
Course Location
CSVPA Cambridge
Course Length
3 weeks
Course Dates
Sunday 29th June 2025 (three weeks)
Sunday 20th July 2025 (three weeks)
Price
£5,175 (three weeks)
ABOUT THIS COURSE
COURSE BENEFITS
LEARN FROM ART AND DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
Our lecturers are all working artists and bring valuable industry experience to the programme.
DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS
Our specialist lecturers and tutors will teach you new methods and practices to improve your work and develop your skills base
BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO
Learn how to construct your own digital portfolio, what to include and what to leave out and how to show your work at its best.
BROADEN YOUR ART & DESIGN UNDERSTANDING
Workshops will give you practical experience of a wide range of new techniques, skills and disciplines.
SUBJECTS COVERED INCLUDE
Fashion | Graphic Design | Illustration | 3D Design | Moving Image | Drawing | Theatre Arts
PROGRESSION AT CSVPA
Completion of the course can enable progression on to our University of the Arts London (UAL) Awarding Body Extended Diploma or Foundation Diploma courses (if you meet the UAL entry criteria for the course).
PRACTICE YOUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS
This course is taught in English, and students are asked to communicate with each other in English, giving you the perfect opportunity to practice your English speaking, listening, writing and reading skills.
COURSE OUTCOMES
You will have gained all the skills you need to create a winning portfolio.
You will have developed your own digital portfolio.
You will have experienced a wide range of Art & Design subjects and disciplines
You will have gained the portfolio experience required to guarantee entry to our UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design & Communication or UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at CSVPA should you choose to do so.
ENTRY
Age
15-18 years old
Who is it for
Student aged 15 to 18 years old who have limited experience in Art and Design and want to develop their skills base and understand how to build a digital portfolio. Completion of this programme also guarantees progression onto our UAL Awarding Body Extended Diploma or Foundation Diploma should you choose to do so.
English Level
Minimum English standard: Intermediate – Advanced
SAMPLE TIMETABLE
| Week 1 | 1st Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | 2nd Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast (time) | Arrival, induction and campus tour | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast |
| Morning 08:00 - 12:00 | Arrival, induction and campus tour | Studio drawing using non-traditional materials. Lighting and composition. Share and discuss. | Colour workshop. Use acrylic paints to create a colour wheel. Create abstract piece using only colour to evoke emotions. | Create self-portrait using technique learned this week. Choose contrasting technique to create second self-portrait. | Introduction to various exercises in 2D and 3D. Introduction to casting techniques. Exploration of casting using the workshops. | Excursion to Kettle’s Yard, focusing on observing sculptures. Introduction to relief sculpture. Demonstration of relief casting. Student project using clay. | Included Full Day Excursion: London (including gallery or museum visit and shopping time) | Free Day |
| Lunch 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| Afternoon 13:00 - 16:00 | Arrival, induction and campus tour | Use collage to experiment with tonal observation. Create a tonal collage from life. | Walking excursion to Zoology Museum. Explore museum, studying an area using complimentary colouring pencils. | Complete self-portrait projects. Share with group, explaining choices and outcomes. | Continue and finish casting project. | Sculpting through touch. Share pieces with other students. | Included Full Day Excursion: London (including gallery or museum visit and shopping time) | Free Day |
| Dinner 16:30 - 18:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner |
| Evening 19:30 - 22:00 | Evening Activities | City View Ferris Wheel | Bowling | Talent Show | Cinema | CSVPA Disco | Selfie Orienteering Challenge | Free Evening |
| Week 2 | 2nd Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | 3rd Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast (time) | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast |
| Morning 08:00 - 12:00 | Free Day | Icebreakers and overview of the week ahead. Intro to Photoshop. | Observational drawing. | Colour separation artwork. | Intro to GIF/frame by frame animation. | Photography project to demonstrate understanding of exposure triangle. Present photographs in digital sketchbook. Learn how to enhance photographs. | Included Full Day Excursion: London (including gallery or museum visit and shopping time) | Free Day |
| Lunch 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| Afternoon 13:00 - 16:00 | Free Day | Colour separation workshop. | Visit Fitzwilliam museum to sketch. | Markmaking workshop. | The exposure triangle. Understanding the aperture shutter speed. | Continuation of Photography project. Share work with other students. | Included Full Day Excursion: London (including gallery or museum visit and shopping time) | |
| Dinner 16:30 - 18:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner |
| Evening 19:30 - 22:00 | Free Evening | Park Social Time | Ice Skating | Trashion Show | Punting | Dance Party | Tie Dye Arts and Crafts | Free Evening |
| Week 3 | 3rd Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | 4th Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast (time) | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast |
| Morning 08:00 - 12:00 | Free Day | Introduction to typography. Presentation of different examples. Workshop on typography and design. | Walking excursion to Cambridge Botanic Gardens. | Fashion introduction. Research various concepts and moods | Constructing a fashion collection. Present board and illustration to help present designer’s ideas. | Continuation of Fashion project. | Included Full Day Excursion: London (including gallery or museum visit and shopping time) | Departure |
| Lunch 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Departure |
| Afternoon 13:00 - 16:00 | Free Day | Exploration of different mediums and techniques to create typography. Introduction to InDesign and Illustrator. | Botanic posters using drawings and hand lettering/ typography. | Construction of Fashion Design using various design techniques. | Materials and tools to bring ideas to life. | Finalise work. Create digital records. Certificate presentation. | Included Full Day Excursion: London (including gallery or museum visit and shopping time) | Departure |
| Dinner 16:30 - 18:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Departure |
| Evening 19:30 - 22:00 | Free Evening | Evening Activities | Rock Climbing | Tie Dye Arts & Crafts | Talent Show | Cinema | Farewell Party | Departure |
