The designer is resourceful, able to work with what poor materials and tools may be at hand, but able also to access better inputs where that makes sense as well.
Research is frequently part of the design process.
Bibliographic guides are dangerous to the degree that they prevent the researcher from striking off at a right angle. Pursue private means of knowledge. Many of these, as well as other resources, are available for reference in the Design Seminar Room. Web resources are listed and annotated here . Art Index International, available at Montserrat in books and via the Internet.