Research...

Researching and investigating is an essential part of art and design practice. It is important as a designer, artist or a photographer that we fully understand the project that we decided to involve ourselves with in order to get the best outcome there is.
There are two forms of research, primary and secondary. In primary research, the designer is literally starting from scratch. They have no data given to them, and have to create their own fresh ideas. Secondary research is where the researcher uses specific data and information available, retrieved from other organisations that have done primary research. They use this data as a stepping stone or inspiration for their creative journey.
In terms of a creative person, this research is known as 'visual research'. This can consist of sketching, collecting, reading, photographing and mind mapping. As creative people, we should be constantly surrounding ourselves with stuff that inspires us and be in a ever growing enquiry by doing such things. 
"Notebook after notebook after notebook because I feel sick when I forget potential good ideas..."

A quote from the illustrator, Paul Davis. He is a prime example of an artist doing his own primary research and creating his own inspiration. Despite formally being known an illustrator, he sketches, photographs, collects, writes and prints. Doing such varied work gives an artist a more broad spectrum of inspiration for them. Even if it is not an artist's fortay, they should still be trying different mediums that break them from their comfort zones.
To the left is a print from Paul Davis's notebook that shows great evidence of primary research. He sketches people he sees on the streets and also adds what they say whilst he passes them. This primary research is a great idea for a potential project, and the research he has done has giving him a good amount of work to reflect back on. This primary research is also sure to be the source of secondary research for other designers. Research is an ever growing cycle of inspiration for artists around the world. 
As a photography student, I mainly record inspiration by photographing. I see something that inspires me, photograph it, and reflect back on it at a later date. I also like to sketch a lot. Keeping a notepad and pen is always handy if something unexpected comes along. With these sketches, I also like to annotate them to say what I'd like to do to this certain object, how it is inspiring to me and how I could turn it into another unique piece of work. If I am given a task to complete, I already the basis of what my project is going to be about. I then carry out secondary research in order to find inspiration to expand the project. For example, I am currently working on a magazine based on Birmingham. I firstly started to research different magazines to see how they are presented, and also I explored Birmingham. Here, I have shown examples of secondary research.