DESKTOP RESEARCH

IMAGES

Using the internet is a great way to source images. It is important that you only select images that you legally have a right to use so that you do not infringe on copyright laws.

Try pairing the name of your search word with other keywords to generate a range of imagery. 

Eg. Retro [insert search word], Cartoon [insert search word], Realistic [insert search word], Photograph [insert search word]

Websites such as Pexels and Unsplash are good for finding free stock photos (be sure to check usage rights) 

COLOURS

Picking colours for your design is an important part of the process.

Try using a colour scheme generator to choose a colour palette directly from your reference images. 

Websites such as coolors.co are great for this!

TYPEFACES

In visual communication we refer to fonts as typefaces. The typeface you choose to represent your client’s brand can communicate very different messages to your audience.

Explore a range of free typefaces using Fontspace

MARKET RESEARCH

Use a range of design centred websites to find interesting ways that designers are working today, go beyond Google Images! Try:

GENERAL

Behance - Save your favourite designs from across the design world into mood boards! Powerful search function so you can find specific designs to inform & inspire. 

Inspiration Grid - Find design inspiration in various design fields, use the search bar to get even more niche on topics like 'toys' and 'lighting'

Eye on Design - Love that this design blog's menu has some feature categories that look at design from a range of diverse perspectives - Sexuality, Diversity, Money, Art, Politics, Gender are all subcategories that you can browse! 

Creative Boom - Find design inspiration in various design  fields  under 'Topics'
abdz - Find branding, illustration, type, and tutorials on this great site for inspiration

Aisleone - Design & photography featured from around the world

Design Made in Germany - Great to look at visually! Language is in German

Design Inspiration - Great search function for design across all design fields

MESSAGE DESIGN

Eye Magazine - Use the orange menu on the right to navigate through photography, book, graphic, type, illustration, and more. 

Identity Designed - Showcasing brand identities from around the world. 

Brand New - Great examples of how designers have updated brand identities. 

Consumer Packaging Goods - Check out the latest in packaging design!

httpster - Web design from around the world worth admiring

amblj - Awesome branding design from around the world. Find a range of diverse backgrounds in the designers working here

baubauhaus - Very cool poster design focused site with references to Bauhaus, Punk, & Russian Constructivist design throughout their feature choices. Search for photography, poster, logo, type designs, and more

Milton Glaser - Fantastic Graphic Design case studies!

TYPE

Typewolf - Find what's trending in Type

Friends of Type - Incredible designers handmade and digital type designs

FIELD RESEARCH

Field Research is a form of primary research in which you are expected to conduct site visits. Suggestions for field research: 

Designers: Contexts, Processes & Practices

Documentatries to help you think about designers and how they work.

Designers, their design processes, the way they use media, methods, materials, formal qualities, design descisions, and factors that influence design. Abstract is a fantastic show and Season 1 is free on Youtube! Season 2 is on Netflix if you have that at home, too.

Abstract: The Art of Design

Environmental Designers
Architecture - Bjarke Ingels
Stage Design - Es Devlin: sets for concerts, operas, plays and runway shows
Interior Design - Ilse Crawford
Bio-Architecture: Season 2, Netflix - 

Neri Oxman: Bio-Architecture - cultivates new materials that emulate nature, opening up the possibility of designing the way out of an ecological crisis.

Industrial Designers

Toy Design - Season 2, Netflix -  Cas Holman: Design for Play - crafts tools and objects designed to inspire kids -- and adults -- to play creatively.

Communication Designers
Typography & Posters - Paula Scher
Illustration - Christoph Niemann: Cartoon, abstraction and interactivity

Digital Product Design - Season 2 Netflix - Ian Spalter: Digital Product Design - Ian Spalter explains the process of experimenting with new product designs.
Typeface Design - Season 2, Netflix -  Jonathan Hoefler: Typeface Design Jonathan Hoefler delves into his work for Obama's "Change" campaign, Apple and more.

Other documentaries & useful videos. 

A Brief History of Graphic Design - 1 hour doc on graphic design movements and styles

Design Thinking - How to think like a designer: 45 minute lecture from design expert

How to Generate Ideas using Reference - 12 minutes - how to generate unique ideas from a single reference

125 design approaches to a single prompt - 5 minutes

Amazing Interiors - Netflix show

Design Disruptors - Documentary about designers who go against the grain. Very inspiring. Submit Email to watch free, put 'Department of Education' as company, and 'Student' as role.

Why Man Creates - 24 min - Great philosophical look at what inspires us to create & innovate.

Where are all the Black Designers? - Where are the Black Designers is an initiative and platform for Black designers. By connecting designers, educators, and creative leaders we host a dialogue about change, both in and out of the design industry. Check out 'The History of Black Industrial Designers' in particular. 

Art & Copy - Netflix - about the ad industry in the US and process that goes into designing iconic campaigns like “Just do it,” “Think different,” and “Got Milk?” It interviews the advertising creatives behind those campaigns, finding out where they got their inspiration and how they managed to move millions with their messages.

Logorama - a 15-minute animated short about a dystopian L.A. where literally everything and everyone is made of a logo, and a homicidal Ronald McDonald goes on a shooting rampage. Produced by the French company H5, it won an Academy award for best animated short in 2007. 

The First Secret of Great Design - TED Talk - As human beings, we get used to "the way things are" really fast. But for designers, the way things are is an opportunity ... Could things be better? How? In this funny, breezy talk, the man behind the iPod and the Nest thermostat shares some of his tips for noticing — and driving — change.

LESS Than 10% Of Designers Know This! ((Satori Graphics Design Principles)) - 5 Min - Graphic design principles, episode 01! We are taking a look at hierarchy in graphic design today. Hierarchy is everywhere you look when regarding design, specifically in todays video, hierarchy within graphic design. It is a fundamental principle of design that if you understand and master, your designs will be elevated to the next level, and you will surely gain moire clients and recognition as being a competent designer. Watch more of these quick design videos here. 

3D Design, 20 years of 3D advice in 6 minutes - 6 min - These areas of advice are things I've learned over time.  I've learned many the hard way, so maybe I can spare one or two of you the learning curve. Here's the free ebook from the video:  https://gum.co/LpWCWO

What's it like to be an animator? Watch this video narrative! - CGI 3D Animated Short Film: From Artists to Artists Animated Short Film by Motion Design School. Featured on CGMeetup 

Signpainters - Movie length documentary - Sign Painters stylistically explores this unacknowledged art form through anecdotal accounts from artists across America. 

Learning Graphic Design: Beginners - This playlist goes through an amazing array of graphic design conceptual and technical information. Pick & choose from short videos. 

Designers by Field of Design Practice