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Design: Image & Film Research

What is Visual Research?

Visual research is a process of information discovery where the desired outcome is image-based instead of text-based. This is a part of both written and design work. 

Images and video appear easy to find and access, with huge amounts available through online platforms such as YouTube or Pinterest. Using media sourced from platforms like these remains complicated and centres around questions of transparency, trust and context. 

The Library can provide you with access to a wide range of image and audiovisual resources, useful for the process of visual research, providing you with inspiration and ideas to inform your work. 

Image & Media Databases

Artstor
High-resolution image database, including artworks, photographs, illustrations, and graphic design collections.

VADS (Visual Arts Data Service) 
A gateway to digital images for use in art education, covering applied arts, architecture, design, fine art and media. Includes images from MoDiP.

Selected Design Documentaries

Blu-ray & DVD Collection

The Library has a large collection of DVDs. If you do not have a DVD or Blu-ray player, there are facilities in the Library that can be booked at the Library counter.

Search the collection by director, genre or specific film title using the search below. Narrow the search by selecting Locations > DVD Bay to the left of your results.

Blu-rays and DVDs can be found in the centre of the library on the ground floor, organised in numerical sequence. If you cannot find what you are looking for, remember to check Box of Broadcasts or Kanopy.

709 Art History / Theory
720 Architecture
770 Photography
780 Music Documentary
791.43 Feature Films
791.434 Animation
791.43601 Experimental
791.43655 Documentary
791.4375 Short Films
791.45 TV Series
792 Theatre
793 Dance
822 Shakespeare

Selected Design Podcasts

Film & Video

The Library provides access to thousands of films, documentaries and programmes through our video streaming services:

Box of Broadcasts

TV and radio programmes from over 60 channels. You can find some good design documentaries in this BoB Playlist. 

Kanopy

Streamable documentaries, world cinema and classic film. Kanopy lists its design documentaries on this page.

 

Pidgeon Digital
Online collection of illustrated talks by architects and related designers, covering topics such as theory, history and practice and provide a unique library of contemporary attitudes to architecture.