Portfolio

As mentioned above, a portfolio is your first professional calling card. It is what you present to the Course Leaders of the NABA Master of Arts and Academic Master’s programmes you wish to apply for, or to the recruitment teams of the companies you are approaching.

In many cases, your portfolio is your first point of contact with the outside world. It therefore plays a crucial role in shaping the first impression people form of you, your creative potential and the full range of your skills and abilities. At the same time, creating a portfolio also allows you to reflect on your work, recognise the progress you have made and identify the areas in which you can continue to improve.

Overall, a creative portfolio is not only a way to present what you have already achieved. It also acts as a bridge towards future opportunities, helping you discuss projects, applications and professional roles through clear evidence of your competence, creativity and personal direction.

The portfolio is an essential part of the documentation required when applying for a NABA Master of Arts or Academic Master programme. It is not mandatory for the Master of Arts in Social Design or for the Academic Masters in Contemporary Art Markets, Fashion Digital Marketing and Communication for Sustainable Innovation. It is also a key requirement for all NABA scholarships. The projects you select allow you to show the Course Leaders that you have the creative drive needed to study successfully at NABA.

For this purpose, your portfolio should include between 4 and 12 projects, depending on the specific requirements of each programme. These should be projects that helped you realise that art, fashion, design, communication and graphic design, set design or media design is the path you wish to pursue. Have you ever invented something, sewn a garment, drawn a comic, shot a photo reportage or even decorated your parents’ living room?

In your portfolio, share these creative experiences to show us what excites you most, what you aspire to become in the future and which area of the Academy interests you most for your studies. Do not worry too much about the finer details: you will have the opportunity to explore your ideas further during the interview with NABA Course Leaders.

Now that you know what a portfolio is and what it is used for, it is time to look at how to create a successful portfolio from a content perspective, whether you are presenting it to NABA Course Leaders or using it for a job interview.

Cover page

Include your name and surname, together with a brief description of your professional profile, such as Fashion Designer, Graphic Designer, Comic Book Artist or another role relevant to your field.

Table of contents

Define the main criterion behind the structure of your portfolio, whether chronological, thematic, content-based or otherwise, and use it to create a clear, coherent and well-organised table of contents.

Statement of intent

Include a short statement of intent that presents your artistic and professional goals within a broader, long-term perspective.

Curriculum vitae

Your portfolio should always include a concise CV, focused on the skills, tools, languages and experiences most relevant to the area you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a Master of Arts in the Visual Arts Area, you may include exhibitions, galleries, published works, competitions or awards connected to your practice.

Project selection

When choosing the projects to include in your portfolio, consider the following aspects:

• Quality over quantity: your portfolio is the result of a series of choices about which works to include and which to leave out. It is always better to present fewer, stronger pieces than to submit a long portfolio containing too many weaker elements.
• Variety: it is useful to show a range of skills and approaches, demonstrating your ability to adapt to different projects and apply different methods and forms of knowledge. If your selection includes work from several areas of study, open your portfolio with the area you are applying for, then add a limited number of high-quality projects from other fields.
• Concept: introduce each project with a short description that presents its content and explains how you conceived and developed it.
• Group work: you may include group projects in your portfolio, but make sure your individual contribution is clearly identified.

Honesty

Be honest about your skills and current level. The NABA Course Leader for your chosen programme will use your portfolio to assess your profile and understand both your strengths and the areas in which you can still develop.

Spelling and typing errors

Do not underestimate the impact of spelling mistakes, typing errors or poorly checked text. They can create a negative impression and suggest a lack of care. Always proofread every written section carefully before submitting your portfolio.

Links

Make sure that all links included in your portfolio work correctly.

File format

When submitting a portfolio for admission to NABA, use a non-editable PDF format.

Language

Use the same language as the programme you are applying for. If the course is taught in English, your portfolio must be in English. If the course is taught in Italian, your portfolio should be in Italian. In both cases, you must show that you have an appropriate command of the language of instruction.

Conclusion

Thank the people reviewing your portfolio for their time, so that you leave a positive final impression. Use this final section to include your contact details, such as your email address and personal website, if available.

Plagiarism

Do not submit copied work. If copied material or plagiarism is identified, your application will be cancelled.