Is it important to include observational drawing in a portfolio for an architecture or interior design program?

Answer 1

Firstly, every university or art school has its own specific portfolio requirements and you’ll want to make sure that you meet all the requirements for each application. That said, most programs regard drawing from observation as an essential part of an acceptable portfolio. 

Drawing is fundamental to all areas of architecture and design and admissions reviewers like to see that you’ve had experience doing it. Drawing from observation demonstrates how you interpret the world around you, how you make compositional decisions, and the way in which you depict space, form, light and shadow. As a student within most programs, you’ll be asked to engage these skills regularly and it will be expected that you build upon your ability throughout your tenure. 

Having been an admissions reviewer for over 20 years, I’ve found that the majority of high school students create tight, traditional, photo realistic drawings from photographs. While a minimal amount of this type of drawing could be included in a portfolio, admissions committees would prefer to see creative, expressive drawings from observation. In other words, you can’t go wrong with showing schools that you’ve had that type of exposure. A unique, well-rounded portfolio is what schools look for, but observational drawing certainly plays an important part in how committees perceive your ability to do well.