Summary  
This chapter presents methodologies for collecting and organizing information by distinguishing between primary and secondary research techniques to build a comprehensive reference library.

General domain of usage  
Graphic design research

Research should be project-specific, but observation and documentation should be a daily habit. Capturing images, notes, and objects for inspiration helps build a valuable reference library. By dedicating time to research, designers can enhance their creative process and produce more impactful work. 

Designers who seek information from the greatest range of references are those who successfully communicate with people of all ages, professions, and lifestyles, and who properly contextualize their design work. There are two types of research.

### Primary Research 
Gathering material that does not preexist, such as photographing, drawing, making prototypes, interviewing people.

### Secondary Research 
Gathering material that already exists, such as design work, color samples, written texts, newspaper/magazine articles, archive images (e.g. historical samples of advertising).

So here are some research techniques that should help you.


Previous knowledge/opinion/memory;
Observation;
Conversation;
Analysis;
Interviews: in person or by email, online chat, or phone;
Questionnaires;
Focus groups;
Commissioned video/written diaries (first hand);
Ethnographic research ("deep
hanging out").

Museums, archives, collections;
Newspapers, magazines, journal articles;
Published interviews;
Films, TV broadcasts, theater;
Transcripts/recordings of film, TV, radio;
Books;
Music;
Internet: blogs, websites, forums, magazines;
Surveys;
Statistics;
Organizations, agencies, gatekeepers;
Lectures, public debates, conferences.

Photography;
Drawing/sketching;
Media experimentation: 2D and 3D;
Rubbings/casts;
Typographic experimentation;
Compositional experimentation;
Image manipulation;
Photocopying;
Video recording;
Audio recording;
Writing.

Exhibitions;
Images/photographs from magazines, books, leaflets, Internet, billboards;
Work by other designers/artists;
Printed maps/diagrams;
Ephemera (e.g. tickets, receipts, packaging);
Found or bought photographs, postcards, posters, drawings;
Imagery taken from films, video, performances;
Architecture.

Design prägt, wie Menschen die Welt wahrnehmen, verstehen und mit ihr interagieren. Dieser Lernpfad vermittelt die Grundlagen zur Erstellung klarer, ansprechender und bedeutungsvoller visueller Darstellungen. Von den Grundlagen des Layouts und der Struktur bis hin zu den Feinheiten von Typografie und Farbe – jedes Element trägt zur effektiven Kommunikation bei. Dabei wird aufgezeigt, wie Psychologie, Wahrnehmung und kreative Prinzipien Designentscheidungen beeinflussen. Am Ende verfügen Sie über das nötige Wissen, um Arbeiten zu gestalten, die sowohl visuell ansprechend als auch zielgerichtet sind.

Erkunden, was Design bedeutet, warum es wichtig ist und welchen Einfluss es auf Kommunikation und Problemlösung hat. Verstehen, wie verschiedene Designarten Erfahrungen in unterschiedlichen Bereichen prägen, von digitalen Produkten bis hin zu Printmedien. Die Rolle der Forschung bei der Steuerung kreativer Entscheidungen und der Sicherstellung, dass Lösungen die Bedürfnisse der Nutzer effektiv erfüllen, entdecken.

Basics of Research

Primary Research

Secondary Research