Domestika's blog, the largest community of creatives

Illustration

Free download: 10 essential tips for creating memorable characters

Create Characters that Come Alive: 10 Essential Domestika Tips. Character creation is one of the fundamental pillars in illustration, animation, graphic narrative and children's literature. A well-constructed character is much more than an attractive drawing: it is a mix of personality, emotions, internal coherence and own story. It is the heart of any visual story. It's not enough to define physical traits: a memorable character is born from what he feels, what he desires, what he fears and how he relates to his world. To help you develop them, at Domestika we've prepared a free download with 10 practical tips, inspired by the course "Children's illustration techniques with sketchbook". Why it is so important to develop solid characters. Characters are the gateway to the narrative universe. They allow the audience to identify, get excited, learn or have fun. In children's illustration, the character is a bridge between the story and the imagination of the little ones. A well-developed character can support an entire series, an illustrated story or a personal project. They are the soul of the story and the reason why a story remains in the memory. What's included in this free download The resource brings together the 10 essential tips for designing cohesive, expressive, and unique characters: - Physical traits with intent - Defined personality - Movement and expressions - Relationship to their environment - Objectives and conflicts - Appropriate color palette - Distinctive silhouette - Emotions and vulnerabilities - Coherence in style - Life-giving details Also includes: - Exercises to apply each tip in your sketchbook. - Recommendations for exploring different styles - Ideas for developing characters from drawing or writing
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Craft

Creative family projects for the holidays: craft, drawing, cooking and photography ideas

The Magic of Creating Together: Turn the Holidays into a Family Memory Workshop. The holidays are an opportunity to slow down, look around and reconnect with those we love the most. In an age marked by rush and screens, taking time to create as a family can become a deeply meaningful experience. Shared creativity doesn't just result in beautiful objects: it strengthens bonds, awakens laughter and transforms everyday moments into memorable memories. In this article you'll find easy, fun and adaptable creative projects for all ages, perfect for turning the holidays into a space for play, expression and collaboration. Why creating as a family is a tradition we should bring back. Creative activities don't just entertain: they help work on imagination, cooperation, patience and emotional connection. Creating as a family reminds us that the important thing is not the perfection of the result, but the shared process: the paint-stained hands, the stories that emerge while cooking, the laughter when something doesn't turn out as expected. Through art, cooking or photography, children and adults find a common language that unites generations and opens spontaneous conversations. Creative projects to do as a family during the holidays. Below are activities grouped by discipline, all easy to adapt according to age and available materials.
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Writing

Free download: Inspiration questionnaire for personal storytelling

Personal Storytelling: Unlock your Memory and Find the Stories that Connect. Personal storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for understanding who we are, communicating authentically and transforming memories into stories that connect. Through storytelling we make sense of what we have experienced, discover patterns, recognize emotions and find a thread that links our past to our present. However, many people want to tell their story and do not know where to start. There is a lack of clarity, it is difficult to go deeper or it is difficult to identify memories with narrative potential. To accompany you in this process, at Domestika we have created a free download: a questionnaire designed to unlock your memory, awaken your creativity and help you find the stories that live inside you. This article guides you through its contents and shows you how to use it to start or strengthen your storytelling practice. Why it is important to work on your personal storytelling. Storytelling doesn't just belong to writing: it's used to present ideas, communicate projects, connect with others and build identity. Knowing how to tell who you are - and why - is valuable in a literary text, an interview, a portfolio or a personal conversation. Self-knowledge is the basis of storytelling. Our experiences, contradictions, emotions and memories are narrative raw material. Storytelling transforms common experiences into universal stories capable of resonating with other people. What's included in the free download The resource brings together questions designed to trigger your memory and emotions: - Deep, intimate and creative questions to explore your biography. - Indicators to detect key moments, learnings and conflicts. - Guides to connect with sensory memories, important links or decisions that marked your life. - Spaces to transform answers into stories or narrative fragments.
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Craft

How to make your own illustrated Christmas cards: step-by-step with lettering and collage ideas

Handmade Christmas cards: bring your illustrations to life with lettering and collage. Sending illustrated Christmas cards is a tradition that keeps alive the value of the handmade. In an era dominated by screens, receiving a physical postcard created with time and love becomes a deeply personal gesture. Handmade postcards preserve the magic of the tangible: the paper, the color, the texture, the calligraphy... elements that tell a story and convey an authentic message. Here you will learn how to create your own postcards combining lettering, collage and illustration, perfect for any creative level. Why create your own Christmas postcards Making handmade postcards is a mindful and creative way to celebrate. Its benefits: - Artistic and personal value: each stroke reflects your style. - Sustainability: you reuse paper and materials, reducing waste. - Accessible creativity: you don't need to be a professional to create something beautiful. Creating your own postcards is an opportunity to reconnect with your creativity and share art with those you love the most. Basic materials you need - Paper or cardboard (ideally recycled or handmade). - Pencils, markers, pens or watercolors. - Scissors, glue and cut-outs for collage. - Decorative elements: stamps, ribbons, buttons, patterned papers. - Envelopes and postage stamps if you want to send them. Simple materials → unique results.
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Architecture & Space

100 years after the death of the genius: the life and legacy of Antoni Gaudí

Gaudí: The Centenary of a Visionary who Transformed Modern Architecture. The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), one of the world's most visionary architects. His work, deeply linked to nature, spirituality and geometry, transcended the limits of architecture to become a artistic language of its own. A century later, his figure continues to fascinate architects, designers and art lovers. This article reviews his life, explores his creative process, and celebrates the universal influence of a creator who forever transformed modern architecture. The origins of a visionary. Antoni Gaudí was born in Reus in 1852, into a family of artisan coppersmiths. His fragile health led him to spend much time observing nature, a practice that would mark all his work. Natural forms, proportions and rhythms would become his main source of inspiration. He studied architecture in Barcelona and from the beginning developed his own style. Although he mastered classical technique, his gaze sought to unite art, geometry and spirituality, anticipating Catalan modernism.
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Design

Free download: guide to create your own substrates and care for your plants like a professional

Master the art of the perfect substrate: free guide to take care of your plants like a pro The substrate is the heart of any plant. Beyond light and watering, it is the base where roots develop, nutrients are stored and the balance between water and oxygen is maintained. Choosing or preparing a good substrate can make the difference between a plant that simply "survives" and a small ecosystem that thrives in a healthy way. Whether you grow houseplants, succulents, aromatic plants or an urban garden, knowing how to create the right substrate allows you to adapt the mix to the real needs of each species. That's why we at Domestika have prepared a free download: a PDF inspired by the course "Designing green spaces for your home". A practical guide to understand the soil, customize it and take care of your plants like a pro. What is a substrate and why is it so important. The substrate is the mixture where the roots grow. Its main function is to retain water and nutrients, but also to allow air to circulate freely. This balance is essential for plants to breathe, absorb minerals and grow strong. A poorly chosen substrate can cause: - Excess moisture → fungus and rot. - Lack of aeration → suffocated roots. - Nutrient imbalances → yellow leaves, poor growth or lack of resistance. Knowing the materials and proportions is key to healthy and sustainable growth. What you will find in this free download. The guide includes: - Types of substrates for indoor, succulent, aromatic, urban garden and tropical plants. - Essential components: peat, coconut fiber, perlite, vermiculite, compost, coarse sand, bark.... - Recommended proportions to balance humidity and aeration. - Tips for reusing used substrates and enriching them. - Recommendations to keep the mix fresh, light and free of fungi. An indispensable guide to creating and maintaining a sustainable green environment.
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Illustration

Expressionism: 5 exercises to explore emotion through color

Let color speak for you: expressionism to explore your inner world. Expressionism is much more than an artistic movement: it is an invitation to look inward. Emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this artistic approach moves away from objective representation to focus on what is not seen: emotions, inner intensity and deep sensations. Artists such as Edvard Munch, Egon Schiele, Wassily Kandinsky or Emil Nolde used color, line and form as an emotional language. They did not seek to copy reality, but to translate human experience into visceral and vibrant strokes. In this article we propose 5 expressionist exercises to explore your emotions through color, without the need to master the technique. You just need to let yourself go and let the color speak for you. The emotional power of color in art. Color connects with our most intuitive part. Each tone can awaken a different emotion: - Blue: calm or melancholy. - Red: anger, passion or intensity. - Yellow: energy or hope. - Dark tones: restlessness or introspection.
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Culinary

Free download: step-by-step guide to make moldable chocolate like a professional

Moldable chocolate step by step: the free guide every creative pastry chef needs. Moldable chocolate has become one of the essential techniques in creative pastry making and artistic modeling. Its versatility allows you to transform a simple chocolate mixture into figures, toppers, edible decorations and even small sculptures with a professional finish. And the best part: with the right recipe, anyone can learn how to prepare it at home. That's why at Domestika we have created a free download: a complete guide to prepare moldable chocolate from scratch, inspired by the course "Chocolate modeling: create animal toppers". In it you will find the recipe, tricks and key steps to master this delicious and creative technique. What is moldable chocolate and why you should learn how to make it. Moldable chocolate-also called plastic chocolate or modelling chocolate-combines chocolate and glucose syrup (or honey) to create a flexible, soft, modelable, clay-like mass. Unlike fondant or marzipan, modelling chocolate: - Has a more natural flavor. - It offers a more pleasant texture. - It allows realistic details to be modeled more easily. - It retains shapes better and offers a cleaner finish. Its applications are wide: toppers for cakes, flowers, decorative figures, sweet sculptures or personalized decorations.
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Craft

10 DIY ideas for a sustainable Christmas: create ornaments, wrappings and decorations from natural and recycled materials

Sustainable Christmas: creativity, recycling and handmade magic to decorate your home. Christmas can be a magical time without the need to fall into overconsumption. Every year, during the holidays, tons of waste are generated: single-use wrappings, plastic ornaments, disposable decorations... But there is another way to celebrate. A sustainable Christmas bets on creativity, recycling and environmental awareness, demonstrating that the handmade can also be festive, beautiful and emotional. With a few natural materials, recycled elements and a lot of desire to create, it is possible to transform your home into a warm and decorated space with intention. In this article we share with you 10 easy, inexpensive and charming DIY ideas to enjoy a more responsible, handmade holiday season full of personality. Why go for a more sustainable Christmas. The mass production associated with this time of year-rapid decorations, disposable toys, unnecessary packaging-has a direct impact on the planet. Choosing sustainable alternatives not only reduces waste, but also invites you to change your relationship with the holidays: moving from consumption to creation, from buying to making.
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Domestika

December live: a month to learn, create and share

Discover all the lives of the month and join the creative sessions that close the year in style December is full of inspiration and live learning. It's the perfect time to close the year exploring new techniques, discovering creative voices and connecting with an ever-growing community. During this month we have prepared a special agenda of free lives so you can learn from leading professionals, resolve doubts in real time and take your creativity to the next level before saying goodbye to 2025. Each session is designed for you to practice, experiment and discover new perspectives. Whether you're an illustrator, design lover, multidisciplinary creative, content creator or just someone who wants to learn something new, you'll find a live event made for you. Take note, book your day and get ready to be inspired. Here's the full schedule of December's lives.
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Illustration

The power of drawing as a mindfulness tool: how to connect with the present through art

Drawing and Mindfulness: The Creative Tool to Promote Well-Being, Cultivate Calmness and Improve Concentration. Drawing is much more than an artistic skill: it can become a practice of calm, focus and well-being. When we set aside expectations, perfectionism or the pressure to "get it right", the act of drawing becomes an intimate space of mindfulness. The simple action of moving the pencil over the paper, observing what is in front of you and allowing your hand to move forward without judgment can help you reduce stress, improve concentration and reconnect with yourself. That's why this article proposes a different look: to discover drawing as an accessible tool of creative mindfulness, open to anyone, even those who don't consider themselves artists. Here we explore how art can bring you closer to the present, help you listen to your emotions and offer you a respite from the hectic pace of everyday life. The link between art and mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present: observing, feeling and breathing without judgment. Drawing from this perspective turns the artistic process into a kind of active meditation. When you draw with mindfulness, you allow yourself: - Calmly observe form, light, texture or movement. - Coordinate your breathing with your strokes. - Let your hand flow without your mind clinging to the result.
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Domestika

4 contests to awaken your creativity in 2026

Explore, experiment and share your creative process to win prizes and connect with a global community. Creativity flourishes when we find a challenge that invites us to play, experiment and express ourselves without limits. That's why these four contests are a perfect opportunity to explore new ideas, try out different disciplines and bring to life projects that have long haunted your imagination. Each contest celebrates a different way of creating: from edible art to lettering, illustration to film redesign. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned pro, you'll find a space where your perspective matters. Plus, you'll be able to share your step-by-step process and be eligible for prizes that will boost your creativity even more. You have time to participate until February 2, 2026. Discover each of the contests below and start imagining your next great work.
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Illustration

Free download: guide to unlocking your creative confidence and reconnecting with inspiration

Unlock Your Creative Confidence: Domestika's Free and Complete Guide to Overcome Creative Block and Bring Your Boldest Ideas to Life. Creative confidence is the silent engine that drives any artistic or personal process. It doesn't matter if you illustrate, write, design, cook or simply enjoy exploring new ideas: creating requires daring. However, even the most experienced artists face moments of doubt, fear of error or blocks that seem to dampen inspiration. To accompany you in those moments, at Domestika we have created a free resource: a practical guide to unlock your creative confidence, inspired by the course "Food journaling: to remember flavors and recipes". This approach uses senses, emotions and everyday memories as a gateway to creativity, helping you reconnect with your intuition without pressure or judgment. Why it is important to work on creative confidence. Creativity isn't just a spark of brilliant ideas: it's the ability to trust that you can shape, explore and transform them. And that confidence can falter for many reasons: - The fear of judgment, your own or others. - The comparison with what others do. - The pressure for perfection or to obtain an impeccable result from the first attempt. When these feelings appear, they can paralyze even the most talented profiles. Working on creative confidence implies going back to the origin: enjoying the process, allowing oneself to play, make mistakes, test and discover. It is a journey that is more emotional than technical, and a habit that can be cultivated day by day. What you'll find in this free guide. This guide is designed as an intimate, comfortable and accessible space to reconnect with yourself and your imagination. Inside you will find: - Exercises to reconnect with the senses, especially taste, smell and sensory memory. - Creative dynamics based on intuition, nostalgia and emotion, without strict rules. - Tips to identify your blockages and address them from curiosity instead of demand. - Pages to reflect on your relationship with inspiration, the creative process and the stories you keep inside you. It is not a guide to "make perfect", but to open space, take a deep breath and remember that creativity feeds on the everyday.
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Craft

Create your own artistic advent calendar: 24 mini drawing, writing and photography challenges to inspire you every day.

Awaken your creativity and master new techniques: A 24-day Artistic Challenge with our Advent Calendar. December is often filled with gift lists, commitments and rushing around... but it can also become a month to get back to your creativity. An artistic advent calendar is a simple and motivating way to celebrate these weeks leading up to the holidays with small doses of art each day. Instead of opening little windows with chocolate, you open micro-spaces of inspiration: 10 or 20 minutes to draw, write or take a photo that captures your moment. It's not just a Christmas tradition adapted to the creative world; it's an exercise in constancy, self-discovery and play. The proposal is that you create your own calendar with 24 mini artistic challenges, adapted to your discipline and your level, to enjoy the process more than the result. You don't need large materials or a lot of time: just curiosity, something to create with and the desire to surprise yourself every day. Why create a creative advent calendar? An artistic advent calendar can become your favorite end-of-year ritual because: - It encourages the habit of daily practice. Setting aside a few minutes a day to create helps you train discipline and integrate creativity into your routine. - It invites conscious creativity. By having a concrete challenge and limited time, you focus on the here and now, without distractions or perfectionism. - It allows you to experiment without pressure. They are small exercises: the ideal space to try new techniques, styles or ideas without fear of "messing up" anything important. - Turns holiday waiting into a play space. - Keeps inspiration alive at the close of the year.
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Illustration

Free download: exercises to practice watercolor basics

Download a free guide with watercolor exercises to practice gradients, blending and basic techniques, ideal for beginners and illustration lovers.. Watercolor is one of the most expressive and versatile painting techniques that exist. Its transparency, fluidity and ability to create unique atmospheres make it an ideal tool for both beginner artists and experienced illustrators. However, mastering it requires an understanding of how water, pigment and paper interact. Before venturing into complex compositions, it is essential to work on the fundamentals of watercolor: water control, transparency, blending and layering. Domestika provides you with a free resource that brings together essential exercises to improve your technique, gain confidence and develop a more natural handling of the brush. Below, we tell you what this guide includes, how to take advantage of it and what steps you can follow to continue growing in your artistic practice. Why practicing the basics is key in watercolor. Watercolor is a living technique: every stroke and every drop of water influences the final result. Before focusing on complete illustrations, it is important to understand how pigment behaves on paper and what changes are produced by varying humidity. Practicing the basics allows: - Understand how colors expand and control edges. - Become familiar with transparency and layering. - Learn to balance water and pigment according to the desired effect. - Gain fluency, confidence and a more fluid style.
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Teacher Culinary

Culinary Tutorial: Batch Cooking for Creative, Stress-Free Eating

If you’ve ever tried meal prep and felt overwhelmed, restricted, or bored by eating the same dishes over and over again, you’re not alone. What if meal prep could be simple, flexible, and designed to support your creativity, focus, and energy — instead of limiting it? That’s exactly what nutrition expert Mascha Davis proposes in this easy, realistic system based on one core idea:
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Illustration

Street Art: how urban art is influencing fashion and graphic design

From Wall to Brand: How Urban Art Aesthetics Become a Defining Element of Contemporary Fashion and Graphic Design. Urban art was born in the streets, among anonymous walls, subway stations and street corners full of movement. What began as a spontaneous expression-sometimes marginal, sometimes rebellious-has transcended its origin to become one of the most influential forces in contemporary visual culture. Today, street art not only inhabits walls and trains: it is also present in galleries, advertising campaigns, fashion collections and graphic design projects. Over time, artists, designers and brands have recognized that its raw, vibrant and honest aesthetic is an inexhaustible source of creativity. What was once an ephemeral intervention now inspires visual identities, luxury collaborations, and graphic pieces that celebrate diversity and urban energy.[/b The purpose of this article is to analyze how graffiti aesthetics, murals and street expression are setting current trends in graphic design and fashion, becoming a bridge between popular culture, visual communication and contemporary creativity. From wall to branding: the evolution of urban art. To understand the influence of street art, it is necessary to look at its roots. Modern graffiti emerged in the 1970s in cities like New York and Philadelphia, where young artists began to sign walls and street cars as an act of identity. What began as a clandestine expression evolved into a cultural movement with its own codes. Figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring took this aesthetic to museums and galleries without renouncing its street spirit. Later, names like Banksy, Shepard Fairey (OBEY) or KAWS expanded this language globally, mixing activism, irony, graphic design and social criticism. This evolution consolidated street art as a direct, emotional and immediate visual language: three qualities highly valued by today's designers and brands.
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Design

Two free documentaries to rediscover the genius of Jim Henson: The World of The Dark Crystal and Inside the Labyrinth

Jim Henson: The visionary behind The Muppets, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, was a creative genius who revolutionized the world of puppetry and children's and family entertainment with his innovative blend of humor, warmth and artistic complexity.. Few artists have marked the collective imagination of the 20th century as much as he did. Although his characters have become cultural icons, his true legacy lies in his ability to fuse technique, emotion and craftsmanship to build unforgettable universes. His work philosophy -collaborative, experimental and deeply human- made him an essential figure in the history of fantastic cinema. Today, two free documentaries allow us to delve into his creative process and understand how he brought his most complex worlds to life. They are The World of The Dark Crystal and Inside the Labyrinth, unmissable pieces for lovers of handcrafted cinema, creature creation and visual storytelling. The Art of Creating Worlds: The World of The Dark Crystal This documentary offers an intimate journey through the process of creating the universe of The Dark Crystal (1982), a film co-directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz that marked a before and after in fantastic cinema. Here we show how Henson built a completely new world without resorting to digital effects, relying solely on mythology, craftsmanship and visual experimentation.
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Design

The history of the IKEA catalog: 70 years of design, culture and creativity in print.

Discover the evolution of the IKEA catalog, an icon of design and visual culture for 70 years, from its origins to its latest printed edition.. From its first issues in the 1950s to the last printed edition in 2021, the catalog was conceived, written and produced in Älmhult, Sweden, the very place where IKEA was born. Each page reflects the evolution of the home, fashion in interior design and changes in society, becoming a benchmark of democratic design and visual storytelling. This article explores the history of the catalog, its aesthetic evolution, its leap into the digital environment and its cultural legacy, showing how a seemingly simple publication managed to influence generations of designers, photographers and creatives. The origins: Ingvar Kamprad's dream. In the 1950s, Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA, personally wrote the catalog texts. The idea was clear: democratize design, bringing beautiful, functional and affordable furniture into every home. The first editions were simple, without people in the pictures and with a sober presentation, but they already showed the essence of IKEA: closeness, functionality and Scandinavian style. This approach laid the foundation for a publishing project that would eventually become a symbol of modern home culture. The rise of the catalog: from commercial tool to cult object. During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the catalog went from being a sales tool to a cult object. Editorial photography, graphic design and the layout of each page received meticulous attention: typography, lighting, color and framing were taken care of in detail. The IKEA catalog was massively distributed, becoming one of the most widely read publications in the world, surpassing even the Bible in annual print runs. Every page invited you to imagine a more functional, cozy and aesthetic home, beyond the act of buying furniture. In the 1970s, children playing in the rooms, adults smoking and even political details appeared in some spaces, reflecting the culture and spirit of the times. In the 80s, homes adopted more sophisticated trends with bright fabrics and modern materials. In the 1990s, aesthetics returned to simplicity and Scandinavian tradition.
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3D & Animation

The untold story of Hayao Miyazaki: the soul behind the master of animation

Explore the lesser-known history of Hayao Miyazaki, his creative process and philosophy, from his beginnings at Toei to the founding of Studio Ghibli.. To talk about Hayao Miyazaki is to talk about one of the most influential creators in the history of animation. Founder of Studio Ghibli and author of classics such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke, his films have transformed the way the world understands cartoons: not as children's entertainment, but as an artistic language capable of exploring human emotion with depth and beauty. But behind the master is a man full of contradictions: obsessive, idealistic, sentimental and, at the same time, radically critical of the world around him. This article reveals Miyazaki's less told story: his way of working, his influences, his initial failures and the philosophy that shaped his poetic universe. The content is inspired by the documentary The Never-Before-Told Story of Hayao Miyazaki and the key stages of his early career.
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Artificial Intelligence

10 Canva tricks you may not have known (and that will make you design like a pro)

In recent years, Canva has become one of the most used -and loved- tools by content creators, entrepreneurs, marketing professionals and anyone who needs to communicate visually without complications. Its intuitive interface allows you to design without technical knowledge, but what many do not know is that, behind that simplicity, there are advanced features capable of elevating any design to a professional level. Because Canva is much more than dragging and dropping elements: it is a rich, versatile and constantly evolving platform. And if you learn to take advantage of its "hidden" tools, your work will be not only faster, but much more creative and consistent. In this article we share 10 little-known tricks that will help you optimize your workflow, improve the visual quality of your pieces and design like a pro, even if you have no previous design experience.
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Artificial Intelligence

Design like a pro without being a designer: how to create effective visual pieces with accessible tools

For years, graphic design was a territory reserved for professionals with specialized training and mastery of complex programs. But that has changed. Today, anyone can communicate visually in an attractive way thanks to accessible and increasingly intuitive tools. And the best part: you don't need to know everything, you just need to understand the basics. The key is not to learn advanced techniques or memorize software shortcuts, but to understand the basic principles of design and apply them with aesthetic sense, intentionality and strategy. Designing well is not a talent reserved for a few: it is a process that is learned by practicing, observing and choosing wisely. In this article you will find tips, principles and resources so that you too can design like a pro, even if you have never opened a design program in your life.
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Marketing

Predictions for social media marketing in 2026

Discover the trends that will define social media marketing by 2026. AI, immersive content and gated communities will mark the strategy of brands and creators.. Social media marketing has undergone dizzying transformations in recent years. Artificial intelligence (AI) has burst into content creation, personalization has become extreme, short formats dominate user attention and platform saturation forces brands and creators to rethink their strategies. To anticipate these changes, Social Media Today has compiled the main predictions on how this landscape will evolve by 2026. The objective is to offer a practical vision of the trends that will define the strategy of brands, creators and agencies in the coming years, and how to prepare for a more competitive and creative environment. 1. Artificial intelligence consolidates its position as a driver of personalization 2. In 2026, AI will not just be a support tool: it will be at the heart of content personalization. - Brands will create content adapted in real time to user behavior. - Algorithms will be predictive, prioritizing relevant experiences over chronological order. - Creative AI tools for text, image and video will be part of the daily workflow of marketing teams. This will enable unique experiences to be delivered to each user, increasing the emotional connection and efficiency of the digital strategy.[/i 2. More private platforms and closed communities. - Audiences will move to intimate spaces such as WhatsApp groups, Discord, Telegram, Finstas or paid communities. - Brands will have to learn to integrate naturally without invading conversations. - Closed communities foster authentic engagement, with audiences more engaged and receptive to valuable content. Learning to participate without interrupting will be key to staying relevant.[/i
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Craft

Free download: tips guide for scanning and storing your collages

Learn how to digitize and preserve your collages with this free guide from Domestika. Scan, organize and store your works like a pro. Collage is a fascinating artistic technique that combines analog and digital materials to create unique compositions, full of texture, color and meaning. Each fragment pasted on paper tells a different visual story. But once you finish your works, digitizing them correctly is essential: it allows you to preserve their quality, share them online or even include them in editorial projects and digital portfolios. To help you in this process, Domestika offers a free resource: a practical guide with professional tips for scanning and storing your collages, ensuring that every detail remains faithful to the original. Why it is important to scan your collages correctly Scanning your artwork is not only a technical issue, but a way to preserve your artwork. Here are some reasons why doing it right makes a difference: - High-quality preservation: prevents deterioration of paper or physical materials. - Digital versatility: it will allow you to use your collages in portfolios, social networks, prints or mockups. - Visual fidelity: ensures that colors, textures and details remain faithful to the original piece. What this free resource includes. The downloadable guide brings together a selection of technical and practical tips for you to digitize your works with professional results. In it you will find: - Recommendations on ideal resolution, color and file format (TIFF or PNG). - Tips on how to light and position the work to avoid shadows and reflections. - Physical storage methods to protect your collages from dust, humidity or discoloration. - Keys to create an organized digital library, with your works classified and safe.
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Design

Top 25 creative and inspiring portfolios of 2025 that you should know about

Discover the 25 most creative and inspiring portfolios of 2025. Design, storytelling and technology at the service of digital talent. In the digital era, the online portfolio has become the most powerful cover letter for designers, artists and creatives of all disciplines. It is no longer just about showing projects, but about telling a visual story that communicates who you are, how you work and what makes you different. Every year new ways of presenting talent emerge: immersive experiences, expressive typography, micro-interactions or three-dimensional effects that transform browsing into a visual journey. This article compiles a curated selection of the 25 most creative and inspiring portfolios of 2025, inspired by the ranking published by Muzli. Each of them redefines what it means to showcase your work on the web: design, interaction and storytelling united to make a mark. What makes a portfolio stand out in 2025. A good portfolio doesn't just showcase projects, it builds an experience. In 2025, trends point to a combination of technology, emotion and personality. - Immersive and narrative design: Portfolios are no longer static galleries; they are visual stories that guide the visitor. - Microinteractions and smooth animations: Small movements that enrich the experience without distracting. - Expressive typography: Variable fonts, bold contrasts and use of text as a visual element. - Color, light and movement: Chromatic effects are used to create atmospheres, not only aesthetics. - Personality and coherence: Each portfolio reflects the voice of the creator, conveying authenticity and purpose.
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Design

Free download: color proofing template for your stationery designs

Optimize your printed designs with this free color proofing template. Adjust tones and make sure you get professional results. Color is one of the pillars of graphic design. In stationery projects -such as invitations, cards or catalogs- color accuracy is key to maintain visual coherence and convey a brand's identity. However, the colors you see on screen are rarely reproduced exactly the same when printed. That's why color proofing before producing any printed piece is an essential step. It helps you avoid surprises, adjust tones and ensure that the final result accurately reflects your original design. At Domestika we want to make this process easier for you: we offer you a free color proof template, editable and ready to print, that will allow you to compare color values, calibrate your printer and optimize the quality of your stationery projects. Why color proofing is essential in graphic design Digital devices and printers interpret colors differently. A bright red on your monitor may look duller on paper, or a deep blue may take on greenish hues depending on the type of ink or media. Color proofing allows you to: - Adjust tones, contrast and saturation before printing en masse. - Prevent waste of materials and ensure consistent results. - Optimize color management, especially when working with different papers or finishes. Color proofing allows you to: - Adjust tones, contrast and saturation before mass printing. - Prevent waste of materials and ensure consistent results. - Optimize color management, especially when working with different papers or finishes. What's included in this free template Domestika's color proofing template has been designed to suit the needs of graphic designers, illustrators and creatives looking for accuracy and efficiency. Inside the file you will find: - An editable document for printing and comparing different color values. - Annotation spaces to record combinations, Pantone references or HEX/RGB codes. - A design adaptable to different types of paper and finishes, so that you can evaluate how colors behave on each material. - b]A visual guide for calibrating printers or adjusting inks manually. With this tool, you can perform your own professional proofs without relying on expensive external services. How to use the template step by step. Download the free file from Domestika. Open the document in your usual design software: Illustrator, Photoshop or InDesign. Insert your palettes or base colors in the designated areas. Print a proof on different types of paper and see how the tones change depending on texture or brightness. Adjust values until you find the most faithful version of your original design. This process will allow you to develop more accurate color criteria and improve the quality of your printed work. From resource to complete course. If you want to take your mastery of color and visual composition to another level, we recommend the Minimalist Graphic Design for Stationery course.
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Art

How surrealism can inspire your creative projects today

[Surrealism: A Century of Inspiration for Contemporary Creativity. Discover how this artistic movement revolutionized art. Surrealism: how to unleash your creativity beyond reason. Surrealism was one of the most influential artistic movements of the 20th century. It was born out of the desire to free the mind from the limitations of reason and explore the subconscious as an inexhaustible source of creation. One hundred years later, its principles continue to inspire artists, designers and creators of all disciplines. In a world dominated by immediacy and digital logic, surrealism invites us to recover wonder, intuition and the irrational. In this article we will explore how to apply its ideas in contemporary creative processes to unlock new forms of expression. A brief overview of surrealism. Surrealism emerged in the aftermath of World War I as a reaction to the extreme control and rationality that characterized the society of the time. Inspired by the psychoanalysis of Freud and earlier artistic avant-gardes, this movement sought to free the imagination from the stranglehold of logic. Among its main referents were André Breton, considered its founder, together with figures such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Max Ernst, Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. They all shared an essential idea: art should be a vehicle to access the unconscious and express the invisible. Their key concepts-automatism, dream, chance, juxtaposition and unconscious symbolism-remain pillars for those seeking a freer and more authentic creativity.
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Design

10 graphic design trends for 2026 that will shape the visual future

Discover the 10 graphic design trends that will transform 2026: from naïve design to medieval futurism, a mix of nostalgia, technology and visual emotion.. Graphic design is in the midst of a transformation. Technological speed, cultural movements and the search for a more human connection are redefining how we communicate visually. The trends of 2026 do not seek to replace individual creativity, but to inspire it, opening up new aesthetic and emotional possibilities. The visual future moves between the naive and the futuristic, the organic and the artificial. Here are the main graphic design trends for 2026, extracted from the analysis of the video "2026 Design Trends", which already sets the tone for the next era of design. [Naïve Design 2.] Polished minimalism gives way to a naïve, honest and casual aesthetic. Simple illustrations, flat colors, imperfect shapes and playful typographies evoke the spontaneity of children's drawing. How to apply it: - Recover irregular strokes and naive compositions. - Use handwritten typographies or typographies with character. - It brings warmth and freshness to editorial, illustration or branding projects. 2. Trinket Design. The design is filled with small decorative objects, charms and digital jewelry loaded with meaning. It is a maximalist and emotional aesthetic, where each element tells a story. How to apply it: - Incorporate icons, charms or ornamental elements in your compositions. - Mix shiny textures, crystals or metals with soft backgrounds. - Perfect for visual identities with a personal and narrative touch.
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Illustration

Free download: Photoshop brushes for creating risographic textured illustrations

Reproduce the charm of risography in your digital illustrations with this free collection of brushes for Photoshop.. Free Photoshop brushes with risograph texture. Risography is an artistic printing technique that has conquered illustrators and designers around the world for its unique aesthetics: grainy textures, vibrant colors and slight imperfections that evoke the analog within the digital environment. Recreating this effect in programs such as Photoshop requires specific tools capable of simulating the ink, grain and overlays characteristic of traditional risography. To help you achieve it, Domestika offers an exclusive free resource: a folder with a selection of Photoshop brushes inspired by this technique, created and used in the course "Risography for illustrators: from digital design to print art".". With these brushes you will be able to give your digital works a tactile and authentic texture, perfect for projects with handmade personality. Why use brushes with risographic texture? The magic of risography lies in its intentional imperfection.. Each misalignment, smudge or color variation generates a warm, human feel that contrasts with the precision of digital design. Using brushes that mimic this technique allows you to: - Recreate the analog look within a digital workflow. - Bring character and visual depth to your illustrations. - Play with layers, transparencies, and hatching to achieve rich and expressive results. This type of brushes is ideal for artists and illustrators who want to maintain a handmade essence in their creations, without giving up the flexibility of digital tools. What's included in this free resource The downloadable file includes a curated collection of Photoshop brushes (.abr) designed specifically to emulate the risographic finish. Inside you will find: - Ink and grain textures, perfect for simulating the porosity of printed paper. - Noise and gradient brushes, that provide tonal nuances and depth. - Shading, fill and expressive stroke tools, that reproduce the irregularities of manual printing. - Brushes for color overlays, ideal for imitating the layers of real risography. All files are ready to install and use directly in your digital projects, without the need of previous adjustments.
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3D & Animation

The Strange Case of the Duplicate Rhapsody

Two animated characters performed the same Liszt piece and sparked one of Hollywood's most peculiar controversies. In the pantheon of Hollywood creative disputes, where egos clash with the regularity of cymbals in a Mahler symphony, there is a 1947 controversy so delightfully absurd that it seems invented by a particularly witty screenwriter¹. It was the year two animation studios produced, with timing that would have impressed Liszt himself, virtually identical short films about anthropomorphic animals attempting to perform "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" while being sabotaged by smaller rodents. The scandal, if we can dignify a cartoon dispute with such a term, involved two of the most recognizable characters from the golden age of animation: Tom, the perpetually frustrated cat from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Bugs Bunny, the irreverent rabbit from Warner Bros. Both, in their respective short films-The Cat Concerto and Rhapsody Rabbit-appeared in tails, seated at imposing grand pianos, attempting to navigate Liszt's formidable passages while dealing with furry little spoilers. The similarity between the two productions transcends mere thematic coincidence. The comic sequences - fingers crushed by piano covers, the progressive exasperation of the performer, the resulting musical chaos - unfold with an almost choreographic correspondence. It is as if two teams of creatives, separated by Hollywood's corporate boundaries, have been possessed by the same spirit of physical comedy.
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