20 Key Concepts For Surviving in the Creative World
Discover these essential creative terms that are sure to come in useful for your projects
To broaden your vision of the artistic world, it is important to get to grips with the concepts that are currently making an impact. Not only will doing so turn you into an expert in your field and expand your vocabulary, but it will also improve your understanding of different disciplines and the work of other experts in a more precise way.
The following list features 20 concepts that will help you to perfect your knowledge of creativity. You will find definitions of documents such as a brief or a portfolio and discover what makes sketchbooks and mood boards such valuable tools. You will also explore color theory, learn why NFTs are taking the digital art world by storm, and find out about professions such as art directing.
If you want more information, you can read the articles in full by clicking on the red titles.
What Are NFTs, and How Are They Transforming Digital Art?
On March 1st, visual artist and musician Grimes sold some videos for $6 million. And on March 11th, a single jpeg file sold for $69 million. What do all of these works have in common? Well, they don't exist in the physical world. In short, an NFT (non-fungible token) is a unit of data that functions as a unique signature, a digital certificate that certifies the authenticity of a creation. In this post, we reflect on how NFTs benefit the art world, the risks they pose, and why people are concerned about their environmental impact.
What Is a Press Release and How to Write One
In the digital age, the average human attention span is getting shorter and shorter. This means getting people to notice what you have produced is increasingly harder. Learning to write an effective press release is essential. In short, a press release is an official statement (almost always in writing) that an organization or person sends to journalists or other media agents containing information, usually an announcement, that can guide these professionals when writing a story or article. Learn more about their tone and structure.
What Is a Counterbrief?
Whereas the brief is usually sent by the client, the counter-brief is the designers' first response. This delivery defines the script and refines the initial ideas of the project. It must be clear and efficient, which will give you the confidence to see the development of any project through. Take note of what Andrea Gálvez and Martín Bedoya of branding studio FIBRA (@fibra_branding) have to say.
What Is a Mood Board and What Is It For?
Also known as an inspiration board, a mood board has everything you need to define the direction of your project: photographs, designs, illustrations, color palettes, textures, and descriptions. If you haven’t yet created one, here, founder of Hamabi Design, Zita Chocarro, shares tips on how to develop a digital mood board that can be applied to any creative endeavor.
What Is a Sketchbook?
Do always have a sketchbook on you? Many creatives carry this tool with them wherever they go, always prepared to get their ideas down on paper as soon as they appear. Sketchbooks allow us to try out techniques, experiment, make mistakes, and let our imaginations run wild. History shows that before every great artwork came a great sketchbook. Learn more about how they work and be inspired to create your own.
What is a Creative Portfolio?
This tool is a collection or folder that gathers together a set of work by someone who specializes in a particular field. Like all good summaries, your portfolio should be clear and direct, containing few but powerful images of your key work. When preparing it, it is also important to think about the person who will receive it. Discover more tips and examples with photographer Pati Gagarin (@patigagarin).
What makes a good (and bad) portfolio?
In all creative fields—especially those that are visually led—a good portfolio will open doors to new clients and employers. Sandra López—one of the founders of the first-ever illustration agency in Spain, Pencil·Ilustradores (@pencil)—answers all of your questions and explains exactly what a creative portfolio sets out to achieve. Be inspired by the video-CV of illustrator Sophie Garrigues.
What Is Fine Art Printing?
Fine art printing, also known as giclée printing, is a printing process that allows you to obtain much better image definition in photographs, illustrations, designs, collages, and any other type of graphic representation. Discover why you should use this high-quality process in your art projects.
What Are Spot (or Solid) Colors?
Both Chack Robles (@chackrobles) and John Naranjo (@jonaranjo) have spent over two decades in the worlds of advertising and editorials and are consequently experts in the world of printing. In the world of corporate identity, both designers agree that if we want to achieve homogeneity and have greater control of the finish and color in printing, regardless of the medium on which we are going to share our design, it is highly recommended to use spot colors or Pantone colors. Learn more about when and how to use them.
What Is a Pattern Design?
A pattern can repeat itself an infinite number of times: it is an image that we can apply to any surface infinitely. The basic element that is repeated is known as the rapport: this is the image or tile that is reproduced. If you are interested in pattern design, Juan Díaz-Faes (@diazfaes) will show you how to create your own in Adobe Photoshop.
What’s a Mockup and What’s its Design Purpose?
An idea goes through different stages before becoming your final piece. If you’re a designer, there comes a point at which you have to show your client how your idea will be applied to different formats. This is what mockups are for, allowing the client to understand how your designs will look in real life, putting your designs in context. Designers Francisco Andriani and Clara Fernández from the Argentine studio Asís (@weareasis) demonstrate how to work with mockups in this video.
What Is a Brand?
Many people use the term "brand" as a generic concept that encompasses everything. But what exactly is a brand, and what does it represent? There’s no doubt about it: a brand is so much more than visual representation. That’s why the process involved in creating a brand is so important. For a brand to be properly represented, it must meet three inherent basic objectives. Learn about them and create an unforgettable brand.
What Is A Brand Identity Manual And What Should It Include?
To guarantee consistency within a brand, it’s important to create a document covering everything from strategy to aesthetic criteria. This document is known as a brand identity manual. An identity manual is a document, which can be printed or digital, where a set of rules or visual guidelines for a brand are compiled. Discover everything it should include and what sets apart a brand book, identity guidelines, and brand guidelines.
What is Copywriting?
Creativity can also be written down. Thanks to copywriting, ideas can be transformed into words and concepts that convince someone, tell a story, sell products, or spread ideas. It sounds simple, but it requires a lot of skill to grab the user's attention and arouse their interest. Find out more about this discipline that offers infinite possibilities.
10 Inspirational Bullet Journal Instagram Accounts
If you love to be organized and creative, you’re going to love bullet journaling. Bullet journaling means taking a blank notebook and shaping and evolving its contents. We asked the Domestika Instagram community to recommend their favorite bullet journaling accounts to give you some inspiration. Check out the results.
What Is Creative Writing?
Anyone can try writing, even if they don't want to be a writer. Creative writing helps develop certain skills such as problem-solving or abstract thinking. It has also been recommended for perfecting verbal communication, and in some cases, it can even be therapeutic. Practice creative writing with some exercises recommended by teachers.
What Is an Artist's Book?
There are almost as many artist books as there are artists, yet what is clear is that these objects answer a creative need. Sometimes, the content inside the artist's book is someone's artistic work. However, it could also be a product designed as a whole, combining texts, photographs, engravings, and illustrations. If you want to discover more about the artist’s book, Susana Domínguez (@susanadominguez), an expert in artistic bookbinding design, explains the key principles.
What Is an Art Director in a Design Studio?
Linus Lohoff (@linus_lohoff) is a freelance art director for Adobe, Nike, and Comme des Garçons. For Linus, an art director is a communicator and a leader. His main task is to develop visual communication strategies for the client's creative brief. They are responsible for the visual output of the project. If you are considering becoming an art director, Linus will explain what exactly it entails.
What Is Color Theory?
There is a set of rules we can apply to color that helps us understand how they are created and how to combine them. It is called ‘color theory.’ Studying these rules will allow you to develop your art projects in unique and practical ways. Understanding the color wheel will also help you create your own color palettes.
What Is the Color Wheel?
This tool presents 12 colors based on the RYB system, i.e., red, yellow, and blue, in a circular structure. The colors’ order cannot be modified as it provides us with key information: it shows us how each color was created. Discover its history, uses, and characteristics. What do you use your color wheel for?
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