Graphic Design Research

1. Graphic Design Research James Buczynski, Jane Foo Seneca@York Learning Commons (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

2. 1. What kind of information am I looking for? 2. Where and how do I search for this information? 3. Once I have found some information, how can I tell if it is useful? How do I find more similar information? Starting Your Research... (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

3. Creating an Effective Search 1. Define your topic 2. Write your research question 3. Choose keywords 4. Consider alternate keywords 5. Build your research statement • Boolean operators: • OR - broadens a search • AND - narrows a search • “phrase here” - narrows a search even more (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

4. Search Example Topic: Modernism and its influence on typography Subject: Modernism, Typography Research Question: How did art and design movements of modernism influence typography? AND Modernism Constructivism Modern Movement Typography Type Design Typographie OR (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

5. Sources of Information Sources of information are: books, encyclopedia, directories, almanacs, articles from periodicals, internet sites Current news, events, research: periodicals such as newspapers, magazines, journals Facts, definitions, summaries:almanac, atlas, dictionary, directory, encyclopedia, handbook, thesauri, yearbook In-depth analysis of a subject: bibliography, biography, guide, report… “books” (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

6. Research Tools Library Catalog Article Databases Web SearchEngines WebDirectories ONLINE Via the Web LC Library Reference Books Magazines Digital Stock (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

7. Well, what about the Internet? • “Free Web” • “$$$$ Web” or “Deep Web” • Learning Commons Online (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

8. Search Engines ‘crawl’ through ALL the Web … think again "surface" Web • 2.5 billion documents • rate of growth of 7.3 million pages per day Bergman, Michael. "The Deep Web: Surfacing Hidden Value" The Journal of Electronic Publishing August 2001. <http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/07-01/bergman.html> "hidden" Web • 550 billion web-connected documents • contained in specialized Web-accessible databases and dynamic web sites (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

9. 1. The Free Web Search Engines Keyword searching is most effective when you know what you want Example: Name of a person or an organization Subject Directories Browse the subject listing of high quality “guru” sites Example: unfamiliar topics Directories, Dictionaries, Handbooks, Encyclopedias, etc. Quick fact lookup tools Example: Phone numbers, definitions, weather, etc. (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

10. Discussion Forums • Blogs (e.g., designwritings) A frequent, chronological publication of personal / collaborative thoughts and Web links • Independent Web message boards (e.g., ezboard) • Usenet and other discussion groups (Yahoo, AOL, MSN, ICQ) A group of people who exchange messages about topics of common interest. (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

11. 2. $$$ based Web Services Usually available through your corporate information center or library via a secure website Periodical Databases Simple & advanced keyword searching Browse the subject listings or index Example: articles in newspapers, magazines, journals, Directories, Dictionaries, Handbooks, Encyclopedias, etc. Quick fact lookup tools Example: Phone numbers, definitions, weather, etc. (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

12. Searching Tips Search by keyword OR browse through options Help / Examples Limit to title, author, subject, publication, etc. Boolean = AND (narrows), OR (expands), NOT, etc. (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

13. Database Prickliness • Exact matching • Boolean Operators • Free-text vs Controlled word lists • Field limitation. • Missing content: - Graphics, photographs. - NY Times vs Tasini judgment - Short runs - Which edition? - Newspapers..no classified, ads, etc. (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

14. 3. Learning Commons Online http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca ACCESS: 1. A Seneca or your home computer using Seneca as an Internet provider 2. Home through any Internet Provider but using your e-mail username and student number to authenticate into specific resources (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

15. How to Use Library Catalogues • Search (Quick, Title, Author, ISBN …) or Browse Subject • Set Limits • View Results (sort if necessary) • Save, Print or Email Records • Intercampus Loan (Requests), Inter-library Loan, Reserves, Renew etc. (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

16. Research by Subject -> Arts -> Digital Media & Graphic Design contains: • Research Databases • Full-Text Journal and Magazines • Browse the Library Catalogue • Internet Sites • Other Resources (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

17. What if you still cannot find enough information? (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

18. The Un-Internet: Libraries(and Other Information Resource Centres) Seneca College Learning Commons Other Libraries • Ontario College of Art & Design • Metro Reference & other public libraries • York University • University of Toronto Online Libraries and Museums (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

19. Magazine Articles in Print Many Graphic Design articles available only in print, so how can you systematically find a relevant article? -> Use Indices: Masterfile, Research Library -> to locate where magazines are indexed, try JAKE at http://jake.med.yale.edu/ If all fails, go to the ToCs of a publication on the publisher’s Web site (e.g., Communication Arts) – “Find on Page” (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

20. Your Turn … Find information on De Stijl • book on the shelf and at another library • article from a magazine on the shelf • an authoritative Internet site (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

21. Your Turn … Find information on Hermann Karl Frenzel (Gebrauchsgraphik) • Referenced by Virginia Smith in “the funny little man” Jeremy Aynsley in Journal of Design History, Vol 5 #1, 1992 (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

22. Plagiarism and You According to the Seneca College Student Handbook, plagiarism is “the inclusion of another’s words, phrases, sentences or entire passages in work which you claim as your own.” Consult: LCO -> Getting Started -> Plagiarism (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

23. Is this Information Useful? Authority Date Subject/Topic Coverage Bias Consult: LCO -> Getting Started -> How to Evaluate… (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo

24. And of Course... If you have any questions or need help finding information, visit us at the Reference Desk! (c) 2002 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo