CT4354 Advanced Placement 2-D Design Studio, 5 Credits - The Advanced Placement 2-D Design Studio course is designed specifically for highly motivated students who are seriously interested in the experience of creating college level 2-D Design and plans to pursue a career in the visual arts.  Students will create a portfolio meeting the National expectations of the College Board Advanced Placement 2-D Studio Art Program.  The required portfolio will serve as the AP Exam for the course and must be submitted to the College Board for scoring.  A superior work ethic both in and out of school will be required to prepare the portfolio, which may include but is not limited to graphic design, illustration, digital imaging, photography, collage, painting, and printmaking. Prerequisites: Graphic Design I and either Graphic Design II or a 5 credit-drawing course and Department approval.

Unit

Time 

Frame

Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)

Major Learning Experiences from Unit 

Introduction

2 class periods

An introduction to the class syllabus, rules and expectations, and icebreaker activities to get to know one another.

Introductions to all

  1. Classroom Rules & Expectations

  2. Class Syllabus

  3. Icebreaker Activities

Unit I

What is AP?





3 class periods

The goal is to familiarize the students with the AP program expectations, portfolio requirements and grading, and the layout of the class.

Individual and Group Discussions. Group Critiques

based on the following lessons;

  1. The AP Program

  2. The AP Portfolio – Quality, Breadth and Concentration

  3. The Rubric and grading examples

  4. Class Layout

  5. The Sketch Book

Unit II

The Elements & Principles of Design

6-8 class periods

The primary goal of this unit is to expose the students to the elements and principles of design and how it relates to the AP portfolio.

The unit includes project exercises and explorations into the elements and principles.

Individual and Group Discussions. Group Critiques

based on the following lessons; 

  1. Line Character

  2. Creating Balance

  3. Positive/Negative Shapes

  4. The Elements

  5. The Principles

Unit III

Art Exemplars, History and Concept

Various times throughout the year

To use artists and art history as exemplars for the students to understand how artists throughout History has used the Elements and Principles of Design, and the idea of conceptual art: Art about something rather than just looking like something.

Individual and Group Discussions. 

Unit IV

Breadth

12-18 class periods

A series of design projects using traditional and digital mediums intended to push the Breadth Portfolio requirements.

Individual and Group Discussions. Group Critiques

based on the following lessons;

  1. Type Design

  2. What does Sound look like?

  3. Organic rhythm

  4. Observation drawing

  5. Abstraction 

Unit V

Concentration

12-18 class periods

A self-directed series or 12 works around a central theme, using traditional and digital mediums for the Concentration Portfolio requirements.

Individual and Group Discussions and Critiques. 

Unit VI

Quality

12-18 class periods

Individual/Group critiques aimed at identifying 5 works for the Quality portion of the Portfolio.

Individual and Group Discussions and Critiques.

Unit VII

Critiques 

2 class periods
per semester

throughout the year

Critique techniques designed to aid students in the understanding of what makes a design look “good”.

Individual and Group Discussions and Critiques.

Unit VIII

Planning the Portfolio

2 class periods
per semester

throughout the year

Addressing the discipline and time management skills necessary to complete the portfolio.

Individual and Group Discussions and Critiques.