1. NYFA Portfolio
Assignment #2: Graphic Design Tearsheets
Assignment Objectives:
Assemble a collection of graphic design tearsheets to use as a foundation for your artist’s page and portfolio design.
The NYFA Portfolio:
The final NFYA Portfolio requires a cover, or artist’s page. We will speak more in­depth about this aspect of the
portfolio in ​Business IX: Portfolio​, but in the meantime, I encourage students to think of this page as a personal
advertisement rather than a fine art project. This of course doesn’t mean that the page cannot utilize fine art skills to
create, but instead that the page be thought out strategically from an art directional point­of­view. In order to make
that happen, we must collect graphic design tearsheets as visual research.
How to complete the assignment:
Graphic design inspiration can come from a myriad of sources: websites, magazine, labels, books, billboards, historical
advertisements, photography, typography, etc. A good place to start is to think about where you typically get your
design inspiration. For example, I frequently look to architecture for design inspiration so I check out architectural
design magazines for graphic design inspiration.
You could also think about what your target customer reads. For example, if your target customer loves a specific kind
of music, check out album covers or show posters for inspiration. Check out your competitors too! What are they
doing (or not doing!) graphically to attract their customers? Be resourceful!
Deliverable:​ Submit tearsheets with notes via email attachment or in person ​on or before​ ​­­­.