Your Supplementary Portfolio Application includes three written responses.

Personal Anecdote (maximum 150 words)

• Prompt: What is one thing we should know about you? Please share a story, passion, or experience that helps us understand who you are. This gives us a chance to meet you and see you as an individual.

Preferred Major Statement (maximum 150 words)

• Prompt: Tell us why you chose Conservation & Sustainability, Design, or Urbanism, and what inspires you about that area of study within the BAS program.
  
  *Applying to more than one BAS major?
  Applicants may apply to Conservation & Sustainability, Design, Urbanism, or any combination of the three. A separate application is required for each major; however, applicants only need to submit one Supplementary Portfolio Application through SlideRoom. Your portfolio will be considered for all BAS majors to which you have applied.

Short Essay (250–300 words)

• Prompt: Tell us about the themes that emerge from the work you have submitted in your portfolio, discussing 2–3 of your submitted pieces.
  
  Consider: What ideas drove the work? What was your process? How might the work evolve further? What compelled you across your work and projects? What development or arc can be seen across your submitted work?
  
  The themes you discuss may relate to method or subject matter. For example, you might consider materiality, medium, tone, depth, colour, scale, or concepts of space; including borders, land, development, nature, or other ideas relevant to your work.
  
  Tell us why these themes emerged, how you explored them, why they are compelling to you, and why they became a focus of your work. Where applicable, you may also discuss artists, designers, or other precedents that influenced your work.
  
  Rather than simply describing each project individually, use the essay as an opportunity to reflect on the ideas, interests, methods, or questions that connect your work.

Applicants must submit a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 pieces of original creative work.

Your portfolio should showcase your creative interests, skills, and ways of thinking. We ask that the work in your portfolio relate to one another through a theme of your choice. This theme might emerge through your subject matter, methods, materials, interests, or ways of working.

You may submit any creative work that can be represented as a still image. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Drawing and sketching
• Collage and mixed media
• Conceptual work
• Models and three-dimensional work
• Painting
• Craft, including pottery, glass, jewellery, furniture, fashion, sculpture, metalwork, textiles, etc.
• Sketchbooks and process work
• Digital drawing and graphic design
• Photography
• Other forms of creative practice

A diversity of media and methods can help demonstrate your range; however, quality is more important than quantity. Submit only your strongest work.

Do I need to include architectural design projects?
No. You do not need previous architectural experience or architectural projects in your portfolio.

We are interested in your ability to observe, represent, experiment, make, problem-solve, and communicate ideas. Skills such as composition, craftsmanship, critical thinking, and creative exploration are more important than previous architectural training.

We are generally not looking for portfolios composed primarily of drafting, AutoCAD, or other technical architectural work. Instead, focus on creative work that best demonstrates your skills, interests, rigour, craft, and originality.

The following advice is intended to help you present your creative work as clearly and effectively as possible.

Show your process
We strongly encourage applicants to include evidence of their creative process. This might include:

• Sketchbook pages
• Preliminary studies
• Material experiments
• Iterations
• Drafts
• Models in progress
• Detail studies
• Visual references
• Multiple views of the same project

Process work helps us understand how your ideas developed—not only what the final work looks like. Process material may be submitted as its own portfolio piece or incorporated alongside finished work using smaller images, thumbnails, details, or side-by-side comparisons.

One portfolio piece can contain multiple images.
Each of your 4–8 submitted pieces may be a composition containing several related images.

For example, one submission might include an image of a finished model alongside process photographs, sketches, details, and multiple views. Together, these images can be arranged into one JPEG file and will count as one portfolio piece.

See image submission examples.

Curate your portfolio carefully
Your portfolio will be considered both as a collection of individual works and as a whole. Think carefully about what you include, what each piece demonstrates, and how the pieces relate to one another.

You may submit up to eight pieces, but you do not need to use all eight spaces. Quality is more important than quantity.

Submit recent work
Your portfolio should primarily contain recent work that reflects your current and most advanced abilities.

Only submit work that you feel represents the quality of your current creative practice.

Photograph and scan your work carefully
Take time to document your work well.

• Use natural or even lighting where possible.
• Avoid distortion, glare, shadows, and distracting backgrounds.
• Make sure images are clear and high resolution.
• Scan two-dimensional work where appropriate.
• When photographing three-dimensional work, consider whether multiple views or details would help us understand the project.

Keep layouts simple
Your work should always remain the focus.

Avoid decorative frames, elaborate fonts, unnecessary graphics, or overly complicated layouts. You do not need to add text descriptions or titles on the submitted image as you can input this information directly into SlideRoom. If you combine several images into a single submission, make sure the composition is clear, intentional, and easy to understand.

Please prepare your files according to the following requirements.

Visual Portfolio
Portfolio pieces must be uploaded as JPEG images. Please:

• Include a title for each submitted piece in SlideRoom.
• Include a very brief description identifying the medium and original dimensions, where applicable.
• Save longer descriptions of your process, ideas, and intentions for your Short Essay.

Written Materials
Written documents should be uploaded as PDF files.

Accepted Media
Only still JPEG images uploaded directly through SlideRoom will be reviewed as part of the visual portfolio.

The following are not accepted:

• Videos
• Music or audio files
• PowerPoint presentations
• External websites
• External links

We will not follow external links when reviewing your application.

All BAS Supplementary Portfolio Application materials are submitted through SlideRoom.

Create your SlideRoom account
Go to asoaau.slideroom.comand create an account.

The SlideRoom portal will open on October 15.

A fee of approximately $10 USD applies. A credit card is required, and your card will be charged when you submit your application.

We recommend creating your SlideRoom account early so that you can become familiar with the platform and prepare your submission well before the deadline.

Before you submit
You may make changes to your Supplementary Portfolio Application until you click Submit. Once your application has been submitted, no further changes can be made. Please submit your application only once.

Submit early
A high volume of applications are submitted immediately before the deadline, which may slow the online system.

We strongly recommend submitting your Supplementary Portfolio Application several days before the deadline to avoid unexpected technical issues.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Originality is central to the admissions process.

All written and visual work submitted as part of your application must represent your own ideas, creative practice, and effort.

Your work must be your own
Plagiarism—presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own—is a serious academic offence.

In a visual portfolio, plagiarism includes:

• Copying another creator’s work.
• Submitting images of work that you did not create.
• Tracing images or work found online.
• Presenting collaborative work as entirely your own.
• Submitting AI-generated work as your own.

If your work references or draws inspiration from another artist, designer, or creator, you must appropriately acknowledge the source and ensure that your submitted work remains an original creation.

If a classroom exercise involved copying another artist or creator’s work for the purpose of learning or practice, do not include that work in your portfolio.

Generative AI
AI-generated images or written content may not be submitted as part of your Supplementary Portfolio Application.

AI technologies may be used during early brainstorming or idea development, but the final visual and written work you submit must be your own original work.

This requirement applies to both visual and written components of the Supplementary Portfolio Application. Applicants should write in their own voice and should not use generative AI to produce essays, written responses, image descriptions, or visual portfolio work.

Work found to have been copied from another creator or generated by AI will be disqualified from consideration for the program.

Submissions may be reviewed for plagiarism and the use of generative AI.

Academic Integrity Declaration
All applicants must complete the Academic Integrity Declaration in SlideRoom confirming that the work they have submitted is their own and original.

Before submitting your BAS Supplementary Portfolio Application, take a moment to make sure your application is complete.

Getting Started

• If I am applying to more than one BAS major, I have submitted a separate Carleton application for each major through Admissions Services. I understand that I only need to submit one Supplementary Portfolio Application through SlideRoom.
• I have created my account through the ASAU SlideRoom portal.
• I have entered my full name as it appears on my Carleton University application.
• I have entered my correct nine-digit Carleton ID number.

Written Requirements

• I have completed my Personal Anecdote (maximum 150 words).
• I have completed my Preferred Major Statement (maximum 150 words).
• I have completed my Short Essay (250–300 words).
• I have proofread my written responses carefully.

Visual Portfolio

• I have submitted a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 portfolio pieces.
• I have selected only work that I feel represents my strongest creative abilities.
• My portfolio images are clear, high quality, and easy to understand.
• I have included process work where it helps communicate the development of my ideas.
• I have uploaded my visual portfolio pieces as JPEG files.
• I have included a title and brief description for each portfolio piece in SlideRoom.

Originality & Declarations

• All written and visual work I am submitting is my own original work.
• I have appropriately credited other artists, designers, creators, or collaborators where applicable.
• I have not included AI-generated written or visual work.
• I have completed the Academic Integrity Declaration.
• I have completed the optional Self-Identification for Equity-Deserving Groups Declaration, if I choose to do so.

Final Review & Submission

• I have reviewed my complete Supplementary Portfolio Application in SlideRoom.
• I have confirmed that I have uploaded the correct files.
• I understand that once I click Submit, I cannot make further changes to my application.
• I will submit my application only once.
• I am submitting my Supplementary Portfolio Application before the Friday, March 5, 2027 deadline.

Remember: You may make changes to your application until you click Submit. Once your application has been submitted, no further changes can be made.

We strongly recommend submitting several days before the deadline to avoid unexpected technical issues.

Can I apply to more than one BAS Major?
Yes. You may apply to Conservation & Sustainability, Design, Urbanism, or any combination of the three.

You must submit a separate Carleton application for each BAS major to which you wish to apply. However, you only need to submit ONE Supplementary Portfolio Application through SlideRoom. Your portfolio will be considered for all BAS majors to which you have applied.

Do I need to include architectural design work in my portfolio?
No. You do not need architectural projects in your portfolio to be considered for the BAS program.

We are interested in your creative potential and skills, not whether you already have architectural training.

We generally discourage portfolios composed primarily of drafting, AutoCAD, or other technical architectural work. Instead, focus on creative work that demonstrates your skills, critical thinking, rigour, craft, curiosity, and originality.

Can I include photography?
Yes, but we recommend using photography selectively.

Although photography is an important creative practice, it can be difficult for us to evaluate as evidence of making and craft. We generally recommend limiting photography or a photographic series to one of your submitted portfolio pieces.

Can I include school assignments?
Yes. Work completed as part of a school course or assignment may be included as long as it is your own original work and you feel it represents your strongest creative abilities.

If an assignment involved copying another artist or creator’s work as an exercise, do not include it.

Can I include sketchbooks or process work?
Yes. In fact, we strongly encourage it.

Sketchbooks, studies, experiments, iterations, and other process material can help us understand how you think and how your work develops.

Process work may be submitted as its own portfolio piece or incorporated into a composed image alongside finished work.

Can I include older work?
We recommend submitting primarily recent work so that your portfolio reflects your current and most advanced abilities.

If an older piece remains one of your strongest works and is important to the overall portfolio, you may choose to include it.

Can I include group or collaborative work?
We recommend avoiding group projects because it can be difficult for us to determine your individual contribution and evaluate your skills.

If you choose to include collaborative work, you must clearly identify your individual contribution and credit all other individuals involved.

Can I include videos, animations, or other media?
No. Only still JPEG images uploaded directly through SlideRoom can be reviewed as part of the visual portfolio.

Videos, animations, audio files, PowerPoint presentations, websites, and external links will not be considered.

Can I submit AI-generated work?
No. All submitted written and visual work must be your own original work. AI-generated imagery, essays, written responses, descriptions, or other submitted content are not permitted.

See Originality, Copyright & AI above for the complete requirements.

Do I need to submit eight portfolio pieces?
No. You must submit a minimum of 4 pieces and may submit up to 8 pieces.

Do not add weaker work simply to reach the maximum. Quality is more important than quantity.

Can one portfolio piece contain more than one image?
Yes. One portfolio piece may contain multiple related images arranged into a single JPEG. This can be useful for showing process, multiple views, details, or a related series.

The entire composed JPEG counts as one of your 4–8 portfolio pieces.