To find out how designers collect and use visual material, this PhD research project combined working prototypes, theories and methods from different disciplines and contextual observations in a "research through design" approach.Initially working prototypes were used to infer knowledge from theory and practice; at the end the working prototypes were used to explore and gain knowledge about theory and practice.Cabinet, the final prototype from this research, demonstrates how designers can be supported; it was placed in the designer environment to find its effect on collecting behaviour.