Art and Design Research Guide

On this page, you can learn when articles are most useful for research and how to borrow articles from other libraries with Interlibrary Loan.

We’ve also curated the most relevant Art and Design databases for image collections, subject overviews, periodicals, and journal articles. They are split into categories to help you find the best match for your research. 

Finally, we suggest browsing the journal Communication Arts for further reading about graphic design, advertising, and other art content.

Please note that you'll need to log in with your UML credentials before you can view article or database content.

What are Articles?

• Articles are essays or reports published within a larger container like a journal, newspaper, or magazine. That larger container is called a "periodical" because it is published periodically, or on a regular basis. Different types of periodicals are made for different audiences (popular, scholarly, or trade) and you can learn more about those distinctions with our Types of Sources guide.

Articles are good for...

• Current, up-to-date information
  • Periodicals are generally quicker to publish than books or long-form films.
• Literature reviews and other reviews of a topic
  • These elements are often placed at the start of an article to set the stage.
• A deep dive into a specific research question, experiment, or study
  • Articles often focus on a narrower topic than books.
• Peer-reviewed information
  • Newspaper articles go through at least some fact-checking, while academic articles are typically reviewed by other scholars and dedicated editors.

To learn more about searching for articles, visit the Library’s Guide to Article Quick Search.

What is Interlibrary Loan?

• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a free service that allows UML Library patrons to access items we don’t own by borrowing from partner libraries.

How do I use Interlibrary Loan?

• Create an account
  • Visit our ILL Login Page and click "First Time Users."
  • On the new page, scroll down and click "Continue to new user registration."
  • Fill out the form and click "Submit Information."
• Place your request
  • Once you’ve created your account, visit our Guide to Interlibrary Loan to learn how to submit an ILL request through our Library’s catalog and databases.

Can I get Interlibrary Loan items quickly?

• Depending on how rare the item is or which libraries own a copy, it might take longer to process your ILL request. Be sure to allow enough time for your item to arrive.
  • Physical books, CDs, and DVDs usually arrive within 2-14 business days
  • Articles and book chapters often arrive in 1-2 business days, sent by email as a PDF

If you have questions about your ILL request or account, please send an email to ILLSOUTH@uml.edu.

Try these options to expand your research: