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Creating a jewellery portfolio for a crafts degree may feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Your portfolio is your chance to show universities how you think, how you create and how you explore ideas.
Lecturers and admissions tutors want to see your individuality and creative process. It's not about sharing perfected work; the projects story is just as important as the finished pieces.
This guide focuses on what to include, how to present your work and what admissions tutors are really looking.
- What is a jewellery portfolio?
- What should you include in a jewellery portfolio?
- Top tips for building a stand-out jewellery portfolio
- How to present your jewellery portfolio
- What are admissions tutors looking for in a jewellery portfolio?
What is a jewellery portfolio?
A jewellery university portfolio allows you to introduce your creativity to the universities you've applied to.
It’s a collection of your best and most relevant work that showcases your skill level and the range of techniques that you know.
The exact requirements for your portfolio may vary between different universities and the specific course you’ve applied to. For example, the Jewellery & Silversmithing BA degree at UCA asks for between 12 to 20 pieces of work.
As a jewellery student, your portfolio shouldn't just be a showcase of completed work. It should give anyone who reads it a clear idea of your influences and creative process.
Think of it as a story of your creativity that documents your research, experimentation and final outcomes.
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What should you include in a jewellery portfolio?
Every portfolio is different, but a strong jewellery portfolio balances process and presentation. Academics and admissions tutors love to see how ideas evolve from early inspiration through to a final product.
Here are some of the key types of work you might consider including:
- Final designs and creations
- Drawings and sketches, including any notes or annotations
- Sketchbooks that showcase the development of ideas
- Moodboards, collages and planning documents that reveal how your ideas emerge
- Written work, such as essays or blog posts, that review and critique your work and process
Ultimately, your portfolio should feel personal and demonstrate your passion for the craft.
Don’t worry if some of your work is unpolished. If it shows admissions tutors skills and ability then it's always worth including. Universities aren't searching for perfect; they're looking for potential
Top tips for building a stand-out jewellery portfolio
- Start strong and finish strong: begin with a project that represents you at your best and finish something that shows your ambition or future direction.
- Document everything: photograph and write about your process as you go.
- Tell a story: order your work so that it flows naturally from research to development to outcomes.
- Share your personality: Let your interests and influences shine through. Your tutors want to learn about you, not just your work.
- Be selective: Aim for quality over quantity.
- Show your process: don’t hide your unfinished work or failed experiments. Explain what they taught you and how you adapted.
- Ask for feedback: show your portfolio to teachers, classmates, or industry professionals before you submit it.
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How to present your jewellery portfolio
Most universities will invite you to an applicant or interview day. During these days you’ll be given an opportunity to present or discuss your portfolio with a course academic or admissions tutor.
For many reasons, some people are unable to attend an applicant day. Most universities will allow you to upload your portfolio online instead when this happens.
Make sure you focus on clarity, not perfection. Admissions tutors want to see well-organised and thoughtfully sequenced work:
- Use folders to group related pieces
- Label everything
- If you include any videos, ensure links are public or unlisted on platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo so that they’re viewable to everyone
- Keep written material legible and well-formatted
What are admissions tutors looking for in a jewellery portfolio?
Your future lecturers want to understand who you are as a creative. They’re not just assessing technical skill (you can learn the skills you need during your degree), but instead are looking for potential.
Here’s what will stand out to them:
- Creative thinking and originality
- A willingness to express yourself
- A passion for jewellery, craft and design
- Honesty and self-reflection
- Potential to develop and grow as part of your degree
They aren’t looking for professionals, they want to see passion, experimentation and an eagerness to learn.
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Need more portfolio support?
Still unsure what to include? Come along to one of our upcoming Open Days where you can speak to our jewellery academics and Admissions Team in more detail about what they expect to see in your portfolio.
You can also use our Unibuddy chat platform to speak directly to current UCA students and ask them about their portfolio. For more inspiration you could also check out the work created by UCA jewellery students via our online graduate showcase.