Does anyone have any good art portfolio ideas?

What are some good AP Studio Art concentration ideas for 2D design?

• I'm taking A.P studio art and need 12 concentration pieces, my portfolio is 2D design but I want an un-cliche idea, one that isn't used over and over again, one that isn't chosen a lot, i've done a piece for 3 ideas so far, bags, food, and zoo animals but am having doubts about these concentrations because they don't relate to 2D design, more into a drawing portfolio so does anyone have any suggestions or other 2D design concentration ideas? If anyone is an art expert or has good experience with it, I'd love your advice how could I draw zoo animals to make my artwork a design?

• Answer:

  Well, your instinct is correct. Zoo animals, on its first read, is a bit immature and cliche for a young artist. As you mentioned, this is a design concentration and you would be best to think about the applications of design in the end market. We don't 'redesign' zoo animals very often but the market certainly does redesign packaging and advertisement constantly. If you're serious with sticking with the design focus, I would recommend pushing a more graphic route. A graphic design program, an AP committee, or potential employer will want to know how your art will relate to the marketplace and how it will communicate an idea to a potential customer. Remember design doesn't have all the same motivations as fine art. In design your focus should be much more on communication of an idea in a clear and concise way. Fine art is allowed to be a bit more obtuse in its approach. Pick an item/object/product that has meaning for you. Then think of how it is currently presented to the market. Do sketches of 10 different ways that you could redesign or repackage the product. Do this for 3 products and then chose your best work for the concentration of the portfolio. In your breadth section, if they are still doing that, be sure to highlight your rendering/drafting skills. Good luck.