MA Communication Design

Meet your Librarian – Lauren Elmore

About Lauren

Lauren Elmore is the Subject Librarian responsible for year 0 and taught postgraduate courses. She studied English at University of Leicester and has a MA in Library and Information Management from Loughborough University.

How Can I Help You?

You can book one to one tutorials with me to help you with your research or referencing, please contact me via email or you can drop into the library office (DS103) to have a chat!

I work Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.

As a team, we also provide research and referencing drop in sessions to assist you in the run up to written work hand-ins, keep an eye on Instagram (@nualibrary) for times and dates.

Print Books

Books on Communication Design

With the exception of short loan books, main collection books can be borrowed for three weeks.
Communication Design takes in a whole raft of different disciplines. Here are some of the main areas you may find useful:

  • How to Research: 001.42
  • Design (History, Movements, Techniques): 740-749
  • Graphic Design: 750
  • Typography: 752
  • Editorial Design: 754
  • Illustration: 755
  • Information and Promotional Design: 756
  • Photography: 758
  • Film and Moving Image: 759
Useful Sources of Information

Reading lists

Here are the reading lists set for each unit of your study, these will provide links to the recommended resources that your tutors wish you to look at.

Online Resources

As well as printed materials, the Library also has a wide selection of online resources to help you with your research. These can be really useful for finding information for reports and essays.

Useful Online Resources for MA Communication Design:

E-Books
Access: On and Off-campus

VLeBooks

BA ActingBA AnimationBA Animation and Visual EffectsBA ArchitectureBA Design for PublishingBA FashionBA Fashion Communication and PromotionBA Fashion Marketing and BusinessBA Film and Moving Image ProductionBA Fine ArtBA Games Art and DesignBA Graphic CommunicationBA Graphic DesignBA IllustrationBA Interior DesignBA PhotographyBA Textile DesignBA VFXBSc Games DevelopmentBSc User Experience DesignMA ArchitectureMA Communication DesignMA CurationMA FashionMA Fine ArtMA GamesMA Moving Image and SoundMA Performing Arts EnterpriseMA PhotographyMA Textile Design

You can find e-books specifically bought for NUA students on VLeBooks.

Access Resource
TV, Video and Sound
Access: On and Off-campus

Box of Broadcasts

BA ActingBA AnimationBA Animation and Visual EffectsBA ArchitectureBA Design for PublishingBA FashionBA Fashion Communication and PromotionBA Fashion Marketing and BusinessBA Film and Moving Image ProductionBA Graphic CommunicationBA Graphic DesignBA IllustrationBA Interior DesignBA PhotographyBA Textile DesignBA VFXBSc Games DevelopmentBSc User Experience DesignMA ArchitectureMA Communication DesignMA CurationMA FashionMA Fine ArtMA GamesMA Moving Image and SoundMA Performing Arts EnterpriseMA PhotographyMA Textile Design

BoB is an up to date television streaming service available to all students and staff. BoB allows you to view recently aired programmes from over 65 channels and there is a searchable archive of 2 million broadcasts. You can also record programmes aired in the last 30 days which will be stored on the service permanently, meaning you can watch them again and again. Best of all, you do not need a TV license to use this service.

This service is not available outside of the UK. You will need to register with BoB when you first try and access it.

Video resources to support accessing and using BoB are available on the VLE.

Access Resource
E-Books
Access: On and Off-campus

O'Reilly

BA Animation and Visual EffectsBA ArchitectureBA Design for PublishingBA FashionBA Fashion Communication and PromotionBA Fashion Marketing and BusinessBA Film and Moving Image ProductionBA Games Art and DesignBA Graphic CommunicationBA Graphic DesignBA IllustrationBA Interior DesignBA PhotographyBA Textile DesignBA VFXBSc Games DevelopmentBSc User Experience DesignMA Communication DesignMA FashionMA GamesMA Moving Image and SoundMA Textile Design

Access to over 21,000 technical e-books and videos to assist with IT and programming needs. Other areas include art and design with publishers like Laurence King included and books about well being too. Aimed specifically at Higher Education users with a interface that allows for personalising and comes with an app which is free to download.

Short videos on how to access and use O’Reilly are available on the VLE.

Access Resource
E-Books
Access: On and Off-campus

Ebook Central

BA ActingBA Design for PublishingBA FashionBA Fashion Communication and PromotionBA Fashion Marketing and BusinessBA Film and Moving Image ProductionBA Fine ArtBA Games Art and DesignBA Graphic CommunicationBA Graphic DesignBA IllustrationBSc Games DevelopmentBSc User Experience DesignMA Communication DesignMA CurationMA FashionMA Fine Art

Search our huge database of titles covering a wide variety of topics. All titles are available so you can start reading straight away. A great source for research and learning more about historical and cultural contexts. You can read e-books online, or you can download them to Adobe Digital Editions (PC/Mac) or Bluefire (iOS/Android).

Access Resource
E-Journals
Access: On and Off-campus

Art & Architecture Source

BA ArchitectureBA Film and Moving Image ProductionBA Fine ArtBA Interior DesignBA PhotographyBA Textile DesignMA ArchitectureMA Communication DesignMA CurationMA Fine ArtMA Moving Image and SoundMA PhotographyMA Textile Design

Search here for articles from a variety of subjects including Art and Art History; Architecture; Graphics; Interior Design; Decorative Art; Commercial Art; and Film, TV and video.

Access Resource
View more Resources
Publications

Journals and magazines cannot be taken out on loan, but you are welcome to browse the latest issues and back copies held on the first floor of the Library.

Journals and magazines are a valuable source of visual and written material to help you in your research. It’s a good idea to get to know the titles related to your course because:

  • They are up to date.
  • Often the material in them covers contemporary activity and news.
  • Young animators and designers will be covered in journals long before they are covered by books.

 

Below you will find a small selection of magazines and journals related to your course.
To see all of your course publications, use the link at the bottom of this list.

Selected MA Communication Design publications:

Magazine
Access: On-Campus
Availability: In Print
Status: Current

i-D

BA FashionBA Fashion Communication and PromotionBA Fashion Marketing and BusinessMA Communication DesignMA Fashion

i-D has come a long way since its pre-digital, cut-and-paste days, developing into a glossy magazine that documents fashion and contemporary culture, while also breaking ground defining it.

Access Resource
Journal
Access: On-Campus
Availability: In Print
Status: Current

Printmaking Today

BA IllustrationMA Communication Design

The authorized Journal of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. Comments on aesthetic, educational and theoretical matters relating to printmaking, as well as bringing the reader new developments in print technology and re-assessments of traditional methods. Many of our writers are printmakers and speak from experience.

Access Resource
Magazine
Access: On-Campus
Availability: In Print
Status: Current

novum - World of Graphic Design

BA Design for PublishingBA Graphic CommunicationBA Graphic DesignBA IllustrationMA Communication Design

Magazine featuring the best in contemporary graphic design, illustration, photo design, corporate design and typography. In the novum plus section each issue takes a close look at a different field of design such as typography, paper, book design or illustration. The individual themes are looked at from the point of view of technical experts, clients and designers.

Access Resource
Magazine
Access: On-Campus
Availability: In Print
Status: Current

Juxtapoz

BA Design for PublishingBA Graphic CommunicationBA Graphic DesignBA IllustrationMA Communication Design

Juxtapoz is a quarterly magazine that documents and makes accessible the creative life. Includes illustration, graphics, street art, sculpture, film, textiles, fashion.

Access Resource
Magazine
Access: On and Off-campus
Availability: In Print and Online
Status: Current

Eye : The International Review of Graphic Design

BA Design for PublishingBA Fashion Communication and PromotionBA Graphic CommunicationBA Graphic DesignBA IllustrationMA Communication Design

A quarterly printed magazine about graphic design and visual culture.

Access Resource
View more Publications
Websites

Interesting Websites

Here are a few ideas for blogs and websites that you might like to browse for information, inspiration and ideas. If there are any you think should be on here, please let me know.

  • AIGA

    Dating back to 1924, the Archives include more than 20,000 selections from AIGA’s national juried design competitions, and documents the shifting aesthetics and sensibilities of the designers of the day. Includes: packaging, corporate communications, brand and identity systems, typography, editorial design and illustration, and experience design.

  • AIGA Eye On Design

    News and features on the best new work from ‘the world’s most exciting emerging and established designers’.

  • The Association of Illustrators

    The AOI was established in 1973 to advance and protect illustrator’s rights and encourage professional standards.

  • Book Cover Design

    ‘For the appreciation and categorization of excellence in book cover design’. Also includes links to the designers’ online portfolios.

  • Creative Review blog

    Opinion, analysis and advice on life in the creative industries

  • Design Observer

    An online-only magazine of writings on design and culture.

  • E-flux

    A publishing platform and archive, artist project and curatorial platform

  • The Design Blog

    The Design Blog brings you carefully picked high quality inspiration, featuring works of designers and design studios from all over the world, with the main focus on young designers/ students.

  • Design is History

    An archive of personal studies of the history of graphic design

  • Dieline

    News and articles on packaging and branding, including lots on food and drink packaging.

  • Eye Blog

    Blog for Eye, the international review of graphic design, is a quarterly printed magazine about graphic design and visual culture.

  • It's Nice That

    A blog for art and design news and projects.

  • Johnson Banks Thought for the Week

    Brand design company Johnson Banks on design-related issues.

  • Lecture in Progress

    Aims to demystify the creative industries for the next generation of talent, by providing advice, insight and first-hand accounts that cover careers in design, film, animation, illustration, photography and advertising

  • RSA

    Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce

  • The Serving Library

    An eclectic cultural journal of mostly new writing available as pdf downloads. Previously known as Bulletins of the Serving Library and before that, Dot Dot Dot. You can find these earlier titles on the Library shelves in the Journals Archive.

  • Trend List

    Exploring visual trends in contemporary graphic design.

  • Typographic Circle

    The Typographic Circle was formed in 1976 to bring together anyone with an interest in type and typography.