Advice for AP graphic design students from a former AP graphic design student.

1. Time management or diligence:  http://www.studygs.net/timman.htm.
2. Software awareness (attempt to utilize and become familiar with every tool in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator): http://psd.tutsplus.com/, http://vector.tutsplus.com/, http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/.
3. Acknowledge the basic principles of design (color theory, rule of thirds, line and depth...etc): http://www.wiu.edu/art/courses/design/elements.htm, http://photoinf.com/Golden_Mean/John_Longenecker/Rule_of_Thirds.htm.
4. Carry a pencil and notebook; keep your ideas flowing.
5. Inspiration: http://creattica.com/.
6. Listen to critiques
7. Learn to draw on a decent level; most compositions and designs will begin on a sketch pad. In my own experience at least one third of my work was on paper.
8. Learn to have fun while working (be prepared to spend many hours or at least an hour daily on your art): http://www.wikihow.com/Have-Fun-at-Work.

*if you need free resources (free photos) for photo manipulation use http://www.sxc.hu/. Also, please refrain from using Google images because most images will be under copyright law.

If most of these prerequisites are met, your art may look like this:

Mathematics - (11'x17') - Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Chaos Pro (fractal software)

 Psychology - (11'x17') - Adobe Photoshop

 Ufology - (17'x11') - Adobe Photoshop

Mechanicos En Quinto - (19.433' x 13.627') - Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator (with credit to Mrs. Ottum and critiques from other students, this piece won a Gold Key from Portland Metro Scholastic Art and Writing Awards)