Why has my UAL Showcase project been rejected?
When you create and submit a Showcase project via portfolio.arts.ac.uk it gets sent to a team of UAL staff who check that everything is ok before it gets published.
This step helps to ensure that all key information is included and that projects meet our acceptable use policy. If we see any problems, your project will be rejected, and you’ll be sent an email explaining what needs to be changed.
There are a number of reasons why your project might be rejected:
| Issue | Reason |
|---|---|
| Missing student bio | You need to provide a brief introduction about yourself, your artistic background, or the inspiration behind your work. |
| Missing profile picture | Every project on the site requires a profile picture. If you don’t want to use a photograph you can use a graphic or illustration instead. |
| Missing project title or description | Make sure you add a title (at least one word) that is representative of your project. Your project description should be at least two sentences long and needs to explain the concept behind your work. |
| Missing student email address | A valid email address is essential so that people who see your work online can contact you. |
| Missing/invalid assets | One or more of the media files (e.g. image, video, audio, 3D PDF) in your project are missing or not displaying correctly. Ensure that all required fields are complete and that your files are in the correct format. Remember to preview your project before re-submitting. |
| Missing alt text | Alt (alternative) text describes images for visually impaired users and displays in place of an image if it fails to load. Make sure you add a short description (125 characters max.) in the alt text field for every image in your project. |
| Multiple submissions | There is a limit of one individual showcase project per student. Please select the work you’re most happy with and submit one individual showcase only. |
| Incomplete collaborative profile | You have submitted a collaborative profile but haven’t linked to the other people involved. Please add the students you collaborated with. |
| Low-resolution assets | Your submission contains low resolution images or files that aren’t displaying clearly. Replace them with higher-resolution files. |
| Unintelligible text | Some of the text in your project is unintelligible, making it difficult for viewers to understand your work. Edit your text to make it easier to understand. |
| Lack of translation for non-English content | If your submission includes non-English content, please provide translations or explanations to make it accessible to a wider audience. |
| Hateful and derogatory content | We do not support hateful or derogatory content, and any projects containing such messages will be rejected. If you are sharing your own personal experience, make this clear in the description and be mindful of the language you use. |
| Uncredited content | Your project includes content created by other people, but they aren’t clearly credited. Make sure you attribute any external content appropriately, otherwise we will be required to take down your work. |
| Stolen content | The use of stolen or copyrighted material is strictly prohibited. Remove any content that you do not have the permission or rights to use. |
| AI uncredited content | If your project contains AI-generated content, you must credit the appropriate AI tool or model used clearly. |
If your project is rejected, you will be sent an email with an explanation of what needs to be changed.
Once your project has been rejected, you’ll be able to log back into Portfolio to make the necessary changes. Once you are happy you can re-submit it for approval.
After your project is approved it will be scheduled to be published on Showcase alongside other students from your course.