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Click here to search for books and media!This link will lead to an advanced search, so you can use as many or as few key terms as you want. For help with advanced searching, see our tutorial.
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Find Background Information
General Background Sources:
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Credo Reference Academic Core (This link opens in a new window)
A comprehensive collection of subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and reference handbooks. Also included are short reference videos and high-resolution images. Useful background information source.
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Oxford Reference Online: Premium (This link opens in a new window)
A comprehensive collection of scholarly encyclopedias and dictionaries published by Oxford University Press. A useful background information source for starting your research. Simultaneous user limit: 5.
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Britannica Academic (This link opens in a new window)
Provides access to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, an interactive world atlas, a world data analyst tool, images, timelines, videos, and primary sources.
Discipline-Specific Background Sources:
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The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Graphic Design and Designers
Call Number: OnlineISBN: 9780500204139Publication Date: 2012 -
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Typography: a Very Short Introduction
Call Number: Stacks Upper Level Z246 .L85 2018ISBN: 0199211299Publication Date: 2019
Use Additional Online Resources
Tutorials
All Fairfield University students, faculty, and staff have access to LinkedIn Learning (which can be found when you log into my.fairfield.edu), an online subscription library that teaches the latest software tools and skills through high-quality instructional videos taught by recognized industry experts on a broad range of subjects, including graphic design, illustration, animation, Photoshop, and web design. New courses are added every week.
Tools
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite is available on some computer labs on campus. There are also many free or inexpensive graphic design tools online:
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Adobe SparkCreate impactful social graphics, web pages, and short videos in minutes.
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CanvaGraphic design tool with an easy to use drag-and-drop interface and provides access to over a million photographs, graphics, and fonts. The tools can be used for both web and print media design and graphics.
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Easel.lySimple web tool that empowers anyone to create and share powerful visuals.
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GIMPCan be used for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring.
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InkscapeOpen-source vector graphics editor that can be used to create or edit vector graphics such as illustrations, diagrams, line arts, charts, logos and complex paintings.
Cite Your Sources
Working on a big project and need help with citations? Try Zotero, a citation manager that connects with your browser to save full text, organize sources, and create citations. Don't have a lot of time? You can safely generate a citation using ZoteroBib!
Find Other Resources in the Academic Commons
The Library isn't the only resource available to you! The following departments are housed in the Library, but provide different services than the Librarians do:
- The Office of Accessibility
- The Fredrickson Family Innovation Lab
- Global Fairfield
- The ITS Help Desk
- The Math Center
- The Science Center
- The Writing Center
Graphic Design Course Guides
Below is a list of this semester's Course Guides for this subject:
