Individualized Art & Design Portfolio Coaching for Teens’ College Applications to Liberal Arts and Art & Design Colleges
Work with the Best to Prepare a Portfolio will make your Application Impressive and Unforgettable.
WHO: Dr. Nell Daniel (former Director of Admissions at Parsons and RISD Trustee) has over 30 years of experience helping students gain admission to competitive art and design programs.
WHAT: Individualized coaching based on your interests, goals, strengths and priorities for growth. Whether you're just starting or refining a senior-year portfolio, our approach is flexible, strategic, and deeply student-centered.
Coaching Options That Fit Your Schedule, Location and Goals
We work with students and families across the NYC area and beyond, offering:
In-home sessions (NYC-based students)
Remote/virtual coaching (Zoom)
In-person studio sessions at our Tribeca location
Begin with a free consultation about your needs, interests and goals.
Then choose between individual sessions or discounted 10-session packages.
How Our UNIQUE INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH achieves your college goals while boosting your creative confidence
Here’s how it works:
Free Introductory Consultation: First, we discuss your previous art and design experience and review your work. Next we discuss your needs, goals, strengths, challenges, and desires for your creative, college and life dreams. In response, Nell will help you imagine possibilities for growth by showing images from her extensive library of successful portfolios that have secured admission and scholarships from top colleges for over 30 years. Together we define what success is for YOU: a fun, energizing creative journey that will open doors to the colleges and scholarships you want
After you sign up, here’s what a 10-session package might look like, but it easily be expanded based on your needs and interests:
Session One: We get to work! Meetings will be scheduled based on the time and location that works best for you. This usually begins with drawing because that is an essential non-negotiable requirement for colleges. If you hate drawing? No problem, this is often the case, and Nell is an expert at helping you create an entirely new and different approach to drawing with short cuts for producing stunning, expressive and ‘real-looking’ drawings.
In-between each meeting, Nell provides a summary of the previous session, and sends you slideshows of techniques, concepts, and inspiring work that will energize the next session.
Sessions 2-7: We build on the breakthroughs and opportunities from the previous sessions to produce more work in a variety of media while exploring concepts that are meaningful to you. Ideally, each portfolio piece should be a ‘marriage’ of technique and concept. Your portfolio must ultimately represent breadth, depth, curious risk-taking, and sophistication. We will constantly reflect on our work together and respond to challenges and interests that emerge.
Session 8: We take a look at all your images and consider: Where might there be gaps? What areas invite more concentration? We will also review your other college application materials (essay, resume, supplements) to maximize the way that your portfolio supports and expands that story.
Session 9: Curate and polish up the work, and maybe remake certain pieces?
Session 10: Photograph, edit photos and Submit each specially-curated portfolio to their respective college.
Events & Intensives
We also offer seasonal workshops and intensives for students who want a focused creative boost. Our upcoming 2-Week College Portfolio Prep Workshop is ideal for rising juniors and seniors preparing for application season.
Why Families Choose Portfolio Coaching NYC
What makes our coaching different?
Our 1-on-1 coaching is customized for each student’s interests, needs, schedule, and aspirations.
Dr. Nell Daniel brings 30+ years of experience teaching art and design to High School and College students, and served as Director of Admissions at Parsons.
Our creative process builds more than portfolios — it builds a life-long confident creative practice.
Let’s Build Your Winning Portfolio Together
No matter what type of college you are applying to (Art/Design or Liberal Arts), a compelling portfolio can showcase the innovative thinking they want in their learning community.
Let’s Build a Portfolio makes your unique creative thinking come alive and gets you accepted. Whether you are starting out or refining a senior-year portfolio, we’re here to help them stand out — and get in.
Discover how our tailored coaching process can help your teen build a standout portfolio.
“Working with Nell transformed my daughter’s portfolio and boosted her confidence immensely.”