Sources of Information
Sources are everywhere - but only if your eyes and ears are open to receive them. They may appear in specific places when looking for information such as laws, regulations or standards; or they can be found the most unlikely of places and times when looking for inspirational information or imagery. The key to being an innovative designer is being able to find sources of inspiration, understanding the nature of the source and recognising your sources.
Typically, sources are organised into three categories: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sources. Understanding these categories allows the designer to gauge the validity or reliability of the information or inspiration.
However, it is important to understand that the categorisation of sources can depend on the purpose of the research. For example:
- A magazine article reporting on the incorrect matching of ergonomic chairs and desks would be considered a secondary source of information.
- A research article from a scientific journal reporting on the increase in back injuries from the misuse of ergonomic chairs would be a primary source. However; if there was a need to research how the use of ergonomic chairs was represented in popular media, then an article or advertisement in a design magazine would be considered a primary source.