<p>Sounds speculative. Some people just have little talent in art. They may learn something useful but never become a good artist.</p>
<p>To me, the best argument in favor of admitting students with no portfolio or a weak portfolio is that the admissions process is always subject to some error in judgment. By allowing students to come on board and prove themselves over time even if they have little background in art, some of those with real talent -- and a willingness to work hard -- might well shine over time. But I've also seen what happens (in non art fields that I work in) when you dilute the talent pool in ways that make the learning situation much more difficult for teachers and other students.</p>
<p>Hmm....not really. With an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree in design related fields, I've been in enough classrooms for my thoughts to be a bit better than purely speculative. </p>
<p>We're talking about design, not art. Let's not confuse the two, and let's not keep changing my language please.</p>
<p>You do not need to be artistic to be a good functional designer. Yes, you may need artistic talent to be an exceptional or innovative designer, but there is plenty of work available for graduates who demonstrate good design competancies in many majors. Within professional design workflows, you may earn a good living if you are skilled, professional and communicate well.</p>
<p>We recently attended an info session at a major university. The head of the graphic arts program said they require a portfolio but don't consider it very strongly. He said the written explanation that accompanies the portfolio is far more important. He explained that in the graphic arts, conceptual ability and artistic interest are more important than technical proficiency. He said most kids who apply have sufficient talent that the profs can teach them technique. But he said the ability to think creatively and artistically is very hard, if not impossible, to teach. [This obviously does not apply to the studio arts, where technical abilities are more important.]</p>