Portfolio Sections

Section 1: Sustained Investigation (15 pieces total, 60% of exam score)

Students will submit images and writing to document their inquiry-guided investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision. A minimum of 15 images that include works of art and design, as well as process documentation, must be completed within the AP 25 Design Portfolio. This section is designed to evaluate a student’s sustained exploration of media/material or an idea with emphasis on the Elements & Principles of Design within bodies of work. This is focused on the student’s process of investigation, growth, and discovery. There should be growth in complexity, technical skill, and concept evident in the works they create. They may explore many categories of art production and process, including but not limited to illustration, graphic design (non-digital), printmaking, collage, photography, digital graphic design, etc. Furthermore, students' artworks should encompass a focused body of work based on an interest in a particular idea expressed visually.

Digitally generated works and photography may be included in the 2-D Design Portfolio.

Section 3: Selected Works (5 strongest pieces, 40% of exam score)

These 5 pieces should demonstrate the student’s developed mastery in concept, composition, and execution. For all three portfolios, students submit works of art and design with writing that fully demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas. These 5 physical works or high quality reproductions with written responses on paper should describe the materials, processes, and ideas used. Physical artworks sent in to the AP Board may be no larger than 18”x24” with mat board. They can be any media, but cannot be a relief of more than 2” (no three dimensional works mailed in).