How to Choose Your Art or Design Major for University?
Fashion Design, Industrial Design, Fine Art, Architecture, Game Design and Visual Communications — Which Is Right for You?
Choosing an art or design major is one of the most important decisions in your application journey. Unlike traditional academic paths, art schools evaluate how you think, how you observe, and how you translate ideas into visual outcomes.
Start With How You Think (Not Just What You Like)
Before choosing a major, ask yourself:
Do you enjoy conceptual thinking and experimentation?
Do you prefer problem-solving with constraints?
Are you more interested in systems, structures, or storytelling?
Do you like working independently, or within complex briefs?
Your sketchbooks, past projects, and even hobbies often reveal more than you realise. Look at what you naturally gravitate toward when no one tells you what to do.
Understand What Each Art & Design Major Prioritises
🎨 Fine Art/Illustration
Best for students who enjoy:
Conceptual exploration, experimentation, self-directed projects, critical thinking.
What portfolios focus on:
Research depth
Process and experimentation
Personal themes and ideas
Reflection and written thinking
Fine art is less about polished outcomes and more about how ideas evolve.
👗 Fashion Design
Best for students who enjoy:
Materials, construction, silhouette, visual storytelling, hands-on making.
What portfolios focus on:
Fabric and material exploration
Development of concepts into garments
Research-driven design
Visual cohesion and narrative
Fashion portfolios should show thinking through making, not just finished looks.
🧠 Industrial / Product / Interaction Design
Best for students who enjoy:
Problem-solving, systems thinking, user research, functionality.
What portfolios focus on:
Identifying real-world problems
User research and testing
Iteration and prototyping
Clear logic from idea to outcome
Schools want to see how you think like a designer, not perfect products.
🏛 Architecture
Best for students who enjoy:
Spatial thinking, structure, observation, social and environmental context.
What architecture portfolios focus on:
Drawing (hand-drawing is still essential)
Spatial studies and models
Research into site, context, and users
Conceptual thinking translated into form
Architecture schools are looking for how you observe, analyse, and imagine space.
🎮 Game Design
Best for students who enjoy:
Storytelling, world-building, systems, interactivity, and user experience.
What portfolios focus on:
Concept development and narratives
Game mechanics and logic
Visual development (characters, environments, UI)
Iteration and playtesting insights
A strong game design portfolio shows process, systems, and thinking, not just polished visuals or finished games.
📐 Visual Communication / Graphic Design
Best for students who enjoy:
Visual storytelling, typography, layout, branding, and communication.
What portfolios focus on:
Conceptual clarity
Research-driven design decisions
Typography and composition
Ability to communicate ideas visually
Schools value idea + execution, not decoration. A clean, thoughtful process is key.
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Admissions tutors are not looking for perfection, they are looking for fit. Regardless of major, tutors are looking for:
Evidence of thinking and development
Curiosity and research ability
Willingness to experiment and revise
A clear match between you and the course
A strong portfolio aligned with the right major will always outperform a generic portfolio aimed at a “popular” course.
Final Tip: Let Your Portfolio Guide Your Decision
If you’re unsure which major fits you best, start by:
Developing 2–3 exploratory projects
Observing which process you enjoy most
Seeing which direction your work naturally deepens in
Need Help Deciding?
If you’re still unsure which art or design major suits you best, a portfolio review or in-depth consultation can help identify your strengths and align your work with the right course and country.
📩 Reach out to us to book a personalised portfolio consultation.
