Unit 12 | Scale, Sketchbook & Portfolio
Introduction
Unit 12 is FDD’s second and final Extra Unit. Covering scale/measurement and sketchbook practice, two Learning Outcomes that never got a dedicated unit earlier in the year, and ending with students curating and presenting a portfolio of their best work from the whole course.
Nothing in this unit is ACP-tested. See each lesson’s standard: field. The unit still carries full compliance rigor (78-minute timing, The 7, a real Differentiation Matrix, real Organize criteria). The students are still in the room, even though the exam is behind them.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Apply scale and measurement to design work
- Practice divergent and convergent ideation in a sketchbook
- Curate a portfolio of your strongest work
- Present and critique design work
Calendar of Events for This Unit
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/17 | 5/18 | 5/19 | 5/20 | 5/21 |
| S | 11 | F | 12.1 | F | 12.1 | F | 12.2 | F | 12.2 |
| 5/19: Interim grades close 4:00pm (MP4); 5/20: Senior Report Card grades open in Infinite Campus; 5/20: Senior grade verification window opens (through 6/3); 5/21: Interim Reports Available | ||||
| 5/24 | 5/25 | 5/26 | 5/27 | 5/28 |
| F | 12.3 | F | 12.3 | Senior Exams | Senior Exams | PD / Trade-In |
| 5/25: Final Exams - Grade 12 (day 1 of 3); 5/26: Final Exams - Grade 12 (day 2 of 3); 5/27: Final Exams - Grade 12 (day 3 of 3) | ||||
| 5/31 | 6/1 | 6/2 | 6/3 | 6/4 |
| Memorial Day | F | 12.4 | F | 12.4 | S | 12 | S | 12 |
| 6/1: Final Exam Make-Ups - Grade 12; 6/3: Senior Report Card grades close 4:00pm; 6/3: Senior grade verification window closes; 6/4: Report Card grades open in Infinite Campus (MP4); 6/4: Report Card grade verification window opens (through 6/15) | ||||
Lessons
- 12.1 – Scale & Measurement in Design. Scale ratios, scale rulers, converting actual to scaled dimensions
- 12.2 – Sketchbook Practice & Ideation. Divergent/convergent thinking, morgue files, rapid ideation
- 12.3 – Portfolio Curation. Selecting and organizing a year’s worth of work
- 12.4 – Portfolio Presentation & Critique. Presenting work and giving/receiving structured critique
- S12 – Final Portfolio Presentation. Summative capstone
Unit Vocabulary
- Scale
- The size of a representation relative to the real, actual-size object or space it depicts. Expressed as a ratio (for example, 1:2 means the drawing is half the real size).
- Proportion
- The relationship in size between different parts of a design or object. Keeping proportion consistent when scaling up or down avoids a distorted result.
- Ratio
- Two numbers compared to describe a relationship in size, most often written as
a:b(for example, a scale of 1:10 means every 1 unit on the drawing equals 10 real units). - Actual Size
- The true, real-world dimensions of an object or space, as opposed to its scaled representation on paper or screen.
- Scale Ruler
- A specialized ruler with several sets of graduated markings, each corresponding to a different scale ratio, used to measure or draw at scale without doing the math by hand for every measurement.
- Scale Factor
- The single number a real measurement is multiplied (or divided) by to convert it to its scaled equivalent, or vice versa.
- Dimension
- A measurable extent of an object. Typically width, height, and (for 3D objects like packaging) depth.
- Ideation
- The structured process of generating a large volume of ideas before evaluating or refining any single one. Quantity first, judgment later.
- Morgue File (Idea Library)
- A working designer’s personal, organized collection of clippings, printouts, screenshots, and references saved for future inspiration or reuse. A professional habit, not clutter.
- Divergent Thinking
- Generating as many different possible ideas or directions as you can, deliberately avoiding settling on the first workable one.
- Convergent Thinking
- Narrowing a large set of generated ideas down to the strongest one(s) by evaluating against a goal or criteria. The step that follows divergent thinking.
- Visual Research
- Deliberately gathering existing images, objects, and designs related to a project before generating original ideas, so new work is informed rather than working from a blank memory.
- Mood Board
- A collected arrangement of images, colors, textures, and type samples used to establish and communicate the intended look and feel of a project before production begins.
- Thumbnail
- A small, fast, rough sketch used during ideation to quickly try out many compositional ideas without investing time in any one of them.
- Portfolio
- A curated collection of a designer’s best work, organized and presented to show range, growth, and skill to an audience such as a client, employer, or admissions reviewer.
- Curation
- The deliberate act of selecting which pieces belong in a portfolio (and which don’t). A strong portfolio is chosen, not simply everything a designer has ever made.
- Project Description (Artist Statement)
- A short written summary accompanying a portfolio piece that names the project’s goal, the designer’s process, and the tools/techniques used. Context a viewer can’t get from the image alone.
- Presentation
- The formal act of showing and explaining design work to an audience, including the poise, pacing, and structure of how it’s delivered, not just the work itself.
- Constructive Criticism
- Feedback that is specific, objective, and kind. Naming exactly what works and what could improve, rather than vague praise or unfocused negativity.
- Plus/Delta
- A two-column critique format, Plus (+) for what’s working, Delta (Δ) for what should change, used to structure peer feedback into something specific and actionable.
- Poise
- Confidence and composure in how a presentation is delivered. Steady pacing, eye contact, and clear language, developed through practice and repetition.