Research Guides: Product Innovation: Home

Meet your team of librarians

This guide introduces library resources and services for conducting interdisciplinary research in product innovation.
Since you are focusing on innovative ideas, your research could almost take you anywhere.
The following resources should help you get started but don't hesitate to contact your very own team of librarians.

Arts & Design	Engineering	Business

Carla-Mae Crookendale (804) 827-0367 cmcrookendale@vcu.edu	Julie Arendt (804) 828-1539 jaarendt@vcu.edu	Janet Reid (804) 828-6339 jmreid@vcu.edu

Research Your Industry

IBISWorld
Provides access to industry analysis and research for U.S. industries categorized by NAICS, as well as select Chinese and Global industries organized by sector.
BCC Research
Global market research reports, covering market intelligence, forecasting, statistical and analytical data, key players, industry structure, market share, technology trends, and more.
Note: Access to this resource will end on November 23, 2025. Alternate resources include BizMiner, Business: Insights (Gale), EIU Viewpoint, IBISWorld, Mergent Market Atlas, Mintel, Passport GMID, and Plunkett Research Online.

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Target Your Market

Mintel
Full-text market research reports covering US and global consumer markets. Reports analyze market share, segmentation, and trends. Upon first login register with your VCU email address.
Passport GMID (Global Market Information Database)
In-depth reports providing statistics and analysis on consumer, industry, and service markets around the world.

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Design Your Product

Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI)
International index to articles in hundreds of design and craft journals. Also contains data on designers, craftspeople, studios, schools, workshops, and firms.

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Build Your Product

Rapid Prototyping and Engineering Applications
This book covers the basics of selecting materials for prototypes and of buy / build decisions. Examples are interspersed throughout the book. Despite end-of-chapter questions, this book reads more like a practical handbook for beginners than a textbook.
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More Resources for Product Innovation

Entrepreneurship Research
More resources for your research and entrepreneurial activities.
Patents & Trademarks Research Guide
Check out this guide for more information on searching the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Innovative Media's Workshop
Offers a comprehensive suite of resources, services and workspaces designed to build a creative ecosystem for learning and using varied real and digital tools. Visit The Workshop on the lower level of Cabell for workstations, a makerspace and much more.

Featured Publications

Research Product Innovation

Here are just a few publications you have access to through VCU Libraries.