What research formats do you use?
Result question taken from a survey, Semiotics studio: collecting + organizing research, given during the spring 2021 course.
Research Collection + Organization Tools - What are you using?
Almost all respondents use their computer or external drives in combination with one or more of the following tools.
- Are.na
--Social network created by artists for visually sharing, discovering and organizing ideas, media and content.
--Strengths: Visual collection, organization and social discovery.
--Free (for basic).Funding -- premium accounts + apparel/store - Zotero
--Open source, personal research database. Web and application.
--Research collection, organization and citation output. ----Not visual.
--Strengths - 1. Gathering your research. Save almost any research format and create collections, tag and add notes. 2. Cite while you write and 1-click bibliography
--Free up to 300 MB. Funding: George Mason University; Endowments Roy Rosenzweig + NEH - Figma
--Digital whiteboard. Web and desktop based collaboration tool where member can design and comment in real time.
--Organize and rearrange collected visuals.
--Free to students and educators (including unlimited files and editors). To take advantage of that, you can apply for the Education account at figma.com/education/apply and then following the instructions here. We recommend using a WashU email address and setting your own password. Note that there is an online (browser based way to use it) and you can also download a desktop application version at this link. Funding - private company; investors 
--Image sharing and social media service to save and discover images.
--Strengths - Visual collection, organization and discovery.
--Free. Funding: advertisements- Behance
--Online platform to showcase & discover creative work. A digital portfolio
--Free, limited account. Funding: privately owned (Adobe)