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Design: Finding books

A guide for students studying Graphic Communication, Illustration, Interior Design & TV and Film Set Design.
Mae'r dudalen hon hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg

Books

Books give an overview of a subject and provide information on core concepts and theories.  This makes them a good starting point for your assignments. Core books for your subject will be listed on your module reading list.  If you have an online reading list on Blackboard or another learning environment, this will show you the copies of the book available from the library.   You can also find books by searching FINDit, the Library search engine. 
 

Shelf marks

You can browse the collection using the shelfmarks below:

658.827 Branding & brand identity
686.22 Typography
690 Buildings
701.85 Colour
720 Architecture
720.22 Architectural models
720.284 Architectural drawing
729 Interior architecture
741.2 Drawing technique
741.6 Graphic design & Illustration
743.4 Figure drawing  
747 Interior design  
791.4301 Film aesthetics

791.43025   

Film production design


Use FINDit: Search/Libraries, to perform detailed searches for individual books or for material relevant to your topic or subject.

Looking for a book

1. To find a specific book title, enter the book title or author in the FINDit search box and select the Libraries search option. 

2. To find books on a subject, enter a keyword into the FINDit search box and select the Libraries search option. 

3. Can’t find the book you are looking for? You can request it as an interlibrary loan or Recommend the book to your Librarian 

Recommend a book

Help us grow our Library collection

  • Is there a book that would make a useful addition to our Library?  
  • Have you found a fascinating read that you’d like to share with other students?  
  • Do you think we need more copies of an important textbook?

Let's work together to make our collection blossom

Fill out the online form or email your librarian.

Useful books

Creating a successful graphic design portfolio

Being able to present yourself and your work in the best way possible is a necessary skill that all new designers must master before embarking on a career--be it freelance or working within a design firm. The author provides practical advice combined with insights and personal stories from leading design professionals. The book focuses on the practical aspects of creating a great portfolio such as what potential employers or clients look for in a portfolio, how to present yourself, dealing with criticism, replying to tough interview questions and more. 

Vitamin D3 : today's best in contemporary drawing

Phaidon's 'Vitamin' series has long proved an extraordinarily accurate predictor of tomorrow's stars. This latest instalment is a cutting-edge and indispensable survey of the very best of contemporary drawing, as chosen by a panel of the world's leading art experts Over the past 50 years, drawing has been elevated from a supporting role to a primary medium, ranking alongside painting as a central art form. 

Critical approaches to TV and film set design

The analysis of scenic design in film and television is often neglected, with visual design elements relegated to part of the mise-en-scene in cinema or simply as "wallpaper" in television. Critical Approaches to TV and Film Set Design positions itself from the audience perspective to explore how we watch TV and film, and how set design enhances and influences the viewing experience. Ideal for anyone interested in understanding how we can read and interpret design in film and television, and should be the primary point of reference for those studying TV and film set design.

Metric handbook. 6th ed.

Significantly updated in reference to the latest construction standards and new building types Sustainable design integrated into chapters throughout Over half of the entire book has now been updated since 2015 Over 100,000 copies sold to successive generations of architects and designers. This book belongs in every design office dealing with broader aspects of design, such as materials, acoustics and lighting, and general design data on human dimensions and space requirements. The Metric Handbook is the unique reference for solving everyday planning problems.

Taste

Democratic in intention and approach, the book will argue that the home interior, as independently created by the 'amateur' householder, offers a continuous informal critique of shifting architectural styles (most notably with the advent of Modernism) and the design mainstream. This book is an engaging attempt to identify the cultural drivers of aesthetic change in the home, extrapolating the wider influence of 'taste' to a broad audience - both professional and 'trade'. 

Design : the key concepts

Design is everywhere. It shapes not only our present but also our future. An essential introductory guide, Design: The Key Concepts covers fundamental design concepts: thinking, service, context, interaction, experience, and systems.

eBooks

The Library has access to a wide variety of eBooks across all subject areas, these are discoverable and accessible via FINDit.  Type your keywords or title into the search box and choose to search 'Libraries'.

FINDit search for eBooks

Next refine your search to 'Full Text Online' on the left hand side of the search results. 

Refining to eBooks

When you have found a book that you would like to read then click on the title and access via the 'View it' link.

More information can be found in our eBooks Guide.