Which term refers to information gathered from existing sources such as textbooks, websites, standards or product reviews to inform design decisions?

• A. Primary research
• B. Design brief
• C. Target market
• D. Secondary research

Answer: (D)

Gathering information from existing sources to inform design decisions is secondary research. This means using sources that already exist—textbooks, websites, standards, and product reviews—to understand what is known, what standards apply, and how similar products perform. It helps you build on existing knowledge, set realistic constraints, and identify potential risks before creating new designs. Primary research would involve collecting new data directly, such as conducting experiments or surveys. The other ideas refer to different aspects: a design brief is the document that defines the problem and requirements, while the target market describes the user group for the product. So the term that matches the described approach is secondary research.