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Typography, Calligraphy and Lettering

Creating a Magazine Cover with Illustrated Type

Birgit Palma shares her process for creating a magazine cover in her latest Domestika Live Birgit Palma (@birgitpalma) is an Austrian illustrator and lettering expert based in Barcelona who’s been freelancing for the best part of the last decade. She’s worked on projects for major clients, including Adidas, Adobe, Diesel, Hyundai, and Coca-Cola. After revealing that she shares her birthday with Hugh Hefner (April 9th, in case you were curious!) and that she used to love playing Counter-Strike and headbanging to heavy metal, Birgit shares her top tips for combining illustration and typography in her latest Domestika Live. Before showing us how to create illustrated modular typography from scratch, Birgit shares her process behind creating a cover for the magazine, Yorokobu.
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Photography

What is CGI Photomontage?

Discover this method for creating impressive (and often unimaginable) images, as if by magic The initials CGI stand for “Computer Generated Imagery” and refer to any form of visual expression that uses a digital medium: digital photography, analog photography scanner, digitalizations, image banks, and 3D images, etc. Ricardo Salamanca (@ricardo_salamanca) is a designer and art director. He has worked on advertising campaigns that have won awards at festivals around the world. Ricardo describes CGI as “the result you create with an image that has been digitized,” which involves integrating photography shots, 3D images, or takes of actors performing against a green screen, as well as any other image generated using digital means.
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Web & App Design

4 Project Management Tools for Working From Home

Work more efficiently from home and make the most of your time with these tools The evolution of technology and the democratization of the internet have made working from home a daily reality for many. Managing projects remotely means that teams can be completely decentralized–a designer in Peru can successfully work on a project for a client in Europe without ever meeting face to face. Foncho Ramírez-Corzo (@cholutions)–a digital marketing expert and consultant–embraces and applauds the home office trend. In this blog, he shares a list of project management tools that will transform your working-from-home routine and help you juggle different tasks and stay organized.
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Teacher Craft

Upcycling Tutorial: How to Start Patching Your Clothes

Learn to prepare patches to repair your clothes with Ofelia & Antelmo Fixing damaged clothes is not only good for our pocket, but also for the environment. Patches are a canvas on which you can paint, draw, and embroider: they allow us to extend the life of our favourite garments in style. Gabriela Martinez, specialist in embroidery and textile art and creator of Ofelia & Antelmo (@ofeliayantelmo), will show us the first step in fixing and adding personality to our torn or stained clothes with patches that you can even embroider if you so fancy. You can see the tutorial here.
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Teacher Craft

Transfer a Drawing to Fabric With This Simple Method

Learn a simple method to transfer your drawings to fabric to be able to embroider them easily When starting to embroider, no matter what method we want to use, having a pattern helps us know where to work, especially if we are just starting out. A common option is to transfer a drawing to fabric and then use it as a reference for our stitches. In the following video, the designer, embroiderer and art director Koral Antolín (@koralantolin) shows us a simple method step by step to transfer our drawings to fabric and embroider them easily. Discover it below:
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Design

What Are Character and Paragraph Styles in InDesign?

Learn how to apply character and paragraph styles in InDesign, a key step in editorial design While, among designers, it’s not as popular as Photoshop and Illustrator, InDesign is an essential program for those working specifically in editorial design. As a layout tool, it enables users to work with large bodies of text in an agile and simple way, making it a favorite for designers working on magazines, books, newspapers, brochures, or even posters. In other words: people who work with different types of text, such as titles or pull-quotes, that are repeated throughout the document. One of the most useful tools InDesign offers is character and paragraph styles; these allow you to create shortcuts for editing similar texts with just one click. Although this is one of the program’s most notable features, often people don’t know the difference between the two and therefore don’t make the most of what they can do. To help you speed up your editing and layout processes, here we explain everything you need to know about character and paragraph styles when working in InDesign.
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Photography

What Is Location Scouting, and Why Is It Important in Photography?

Photographer Viridiana enlists the main aspects of this pre-production stage Preparation is crucial in all kinds of photography to determine the success of your images. Once you have a concept clear in your mind, it is time to move on to pre-production. This includes finding a place to shoot, in other words, location scouting. Photographer Viridiana (@holaviridiana) specializes in editorial fashion photography, and her work has appeared in magazines such as Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan. Read on as she explains why scouting a location is essential.
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Craft

What is Amigurumi and What do I Need to Start From Scratch?

This crochet and knitting technique makes any day-to-day object irresistibly adorable While it’s practically impossible to pronounce this crochet technique’s name, anyone who tries falls in love with it. Amigurumi allows you to create sweet little characters and other items in a soft, adorable style. Something this kawaii and lovable had to come from Japan, but what is Amigurumi? And how can you start making such wonderful creations? We spoke to Leire Villar, aka Ameskeria (@ameskeria). This amigurumi and crochet specialist talked to us about the nature of her craft and revealed everything you need to give amigurumi a go. Discover her tips in the video.
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Design

Learn How to Analyze Color Palettes Using a Book From 1902

Discover the work of artist and color theory student Emily Noyes Vanderpoel in her book, Color Problems: A Practical Manual for the Lay Student of Color Mixing colors to create specific effects, transmit feelings, and boost certain moods is what color theory has been teaching for centuries, starting with the first records from the artist Leone Battista Alberti (1435), and the studies of Leonardo da Vinci (1490). However, during the eighteenth century, Isaac Newton revolutionized this field by studying light dispersion and discovering the color spectrum as we know it today. Since then, several scholars, artists, and scientists have analyzed the visible spectrum's colors to create a knowledge base that can guide other people in combining shades and creating palettes. In 1902, the artist Emily Noyes Vanderpoel, known for her work with watercolor and oil painting, started to compile the color palette of everyday objects and elements present in nature to understand the color patterns found in the natural world.
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Teacher Craft

A Brief History of Pop-Up Books

Pop-up books started 800 years ago as a "philosophical machine", evolved into scientific manuals, and still survive today as a kids' favorite. The oldest pop-up books do not have dazzling illustrations of castles, forests, kings, queens, dragons, and fairies. They were made in the Middle Ages to facilitate the understanding of natural and religious phenomena. One of them is a Volvelle (a type of book containing rotating circles attached to the pages), handmade in 1250 by the English Benedictine monk Matthew Paris, which explains the relation between the moon's seasons and phases and religious holidays.
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Teacher Design

7 Books to Inspire You When Writing Video Game Scripts

Discover the titles every aspiring narrative designer should have in their personal library The simple video games that entertained us for hours decades ago seem downright prehistoric when compared to today's blockbusters. With a style and narrative much closer to cinema, video games have become authentic works of art in which dialogs and stories have an impressive weight. In this new reality, professionals like Víctor Ojuel (@victor_ojuel)–narrative designer for video games–are a key piece for the development of titles. Books, of course, are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for video game writers like him, so Victor is sharing with the Domestika community which books have influenced his professional career: The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, by Christopher Vogler It is, or should be, the bedside book for any professional scriptwriter. Although this book was written with Hollywood film productions in mind, Victor thinks it is an essential reference manual for those who want to start writing video game narratives because he uses the theory behind The Hero with a Thousand Faces with an efficient approach.
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Marketing

5 Essential Brand Strategy Books and the Power of Presentation

Discover the brand strategy publications that will help you harness the influential art of presentation design The way we present information dramatically influences what the audience absorbs, which is why presentation design is an art in and of itself. Katya Kovalenko (@katyakovalenko) is a Barcelona-based data designer with a background in communication and advertising. She helps businesses communicate visually, clearly, and effectively. Some of her clients include Telefónica, Nestlé, Indra, and plenty of startups she has assisted in delivering their messages efficiently. In her Domestika course, Katya explains the potential of presentation design and the process she uses with her clients to build their brand strategy. She helps you structure your presentation, develop the content and narrative, and design it professionally.
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Illustration

Children’s drawings: Illustrating memories of childhood

The illustrators Fabi (of the duo Marmota vs Milky), Brenda Bossato and Weberson Santiago recreate drawings created as children (or by their children in Santiago’s case) and offer us advice on creativity.
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Teacher Illustration

More than 100,000 Medical Images, Free of Charge

The Wellcome Library in London has published these free-to-use images related to the history of medicine
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Teacher Illustration

Jon Berkeley: Illustrations That Tell a Story

Editorial illustrations complement a text and tell a story without using words Irish illustrator Jon Berkeley (@jon_24) found his call in editorial illustration. While he usually enjoys drawing for younger audiences, he has also found that working for newspapers and magazines is ideal for educating, informing, and entertaining readers, an activity he finds challenging and gratifying in equal parts. Berkeley was born in Dublin, the city that saw him grow and develop into a professional illustrator. He took his first steps in this field when the internet had yet to become the hive of creative opportunities it is nowadays and carved himself a career by knocking on every possible door. This is how he got to collaborate with Time, Newsweek, and The Economist.
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Photography

Turning a Concept Into a Strong Project Statement

Conceptual portrait photographer Verónica Cerna shares tips for turning a concept into a strong project statement Verónica Cerna (@veronica_cerna) is a photographer and videographer who’s had her work published in magazines such as Musée Magazine, Shots Magazine, Better Photography, and Revista Pecado. Verónica started out creating self-portraits and has always been drawn to experimental portraiture. During her teens, she discovered that photography was a way for her to understand herself and take control of her body. She counts Edward Hopper, Ouka Leele, and Gregory Crewdson among the artists she’s been most influenced by. In her Domestika course, she invites you to learn about her process for creating a series of conceptual portraits. In this blog, she shares tips on how to create a concept and convert it into a powerful statement.
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Design

What is Surface Pattern Design?

Learn more about surface pattern design through these examples and discover the techniques used to create them Maybe you’ve heard of this term or come across it while scrolling through one of the many creative accounts you follow on Instagram. However, you’re still not 100% sure what surface pattern design consists of. And while you constantly encounter countless examples, you’ve not clocked that an object in front of you has been created by a surface pattern designer.
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Photography

Domestika Diary: Elaine Li

Art director and photographer Elaine Li shares her process for capturing cityscapes This year, coronavirus has had an impact on nearly every sector, and for industries like travel photography the sudden restriction of movement has come with a unique set of professional challenges. But just because travel is limited doesn’t mean photographers still can’t turn their lenses onto their home cities, finding new ways to capture iconic landmarks. Elaine Li is a Sydney-based art director and photographer who specializes in cityscapes and travel photography. In this Domestika Diary, she explains what lenses she likes to use and takes us on a sunset photoshoot of the Sydney Opera House while sharing tips and recommendations about how to take dynamic shots.
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Teacher Domestika

Learn to Unlock Your Creativity for Free Drawing with Puño

For 48 hours only, access this course for free to improve your drawing skills It doesn't matter where your skill level is at: if you like to draw and you still find it difficult to master elements such as color, shadow, perspective or proportion, this course is for you. Illustrator and educator Puño (@puno) is dedicated to teaching people who believe they would never be able to draw just that. He has perfected a teaching method by which, through simple and fun exercises, he will get your hand going and your mind to work, unlocking your creativity.
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Teacher Illustration

5 Free Classes to Boost Your Procreate Skills

Discover all the secrets of Procreate from illustration experts who work with the app daily The future of digital illustration is without a doubt leaning towards Procreate, the iPad drawing app that has become a favorite of creatives and artists throughout the world. Although it is quite intuitive, this software includes tools that might be new to you and these five free Procreate lessons will help you improve your illustrations. To watch each lesson, just click on the title in red and enjoy!
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Photography

What is Visual Storytelling?

Photographer and designer Marioly Vázquez explains why visual storytelling is the best branding ally you can find Social networks were designed to make people connect to each other, but, according to Marioly Vázquez (@cestmaria), the way we use them now can often make us feel more isolated. In this context, how can you get your personal project or brand to truly connect with the audience? Marioly, an expert in creating creative online content, has the answer. Find out what visual storytelling is, how to build your brand, and how to create deep connections with your followers using this technique.
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Teacher Design

5 Ways to Find New Ideas

Alejandro Flores explains the methods he uses in his design studio to turn his team's ideas into workable concepts Creativity is not an exact science, and that means there is no single way to achieve it. Each person, each designer, will find their favorite method to make ideas flow. They may even want to try several of them, and choose one or the other depending on the type of project you have in hand, the team they work with, the deadlines, or the means at their disposal. Alejandro Flores, founder and creative director of the Mexican design studio Human (@human_), has 5 methods for conceptualizing ideas that his team uses to create groundbreaking designs. Mind mapping This is one of the most well-known methods. Starting from a central idea, you start making ramifications using related concepts that will help new ideas flourish. It is especially useful to discover new avenues that seemed unrelated to the original idea at first.
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Craft

Materials: Crochet

Steel & Stitch gives beginners a primer on the different types of crochet hooks and tools One reason why crafting can be intimidating is that it’s difficult to know where to begin. Before you can make your first stitch, it’s important to have selected the correct materials and tools since these elements will greatly impact the process, and result, of your project. The tools you use in crochet can do more than shape the yarn itself. As a repetitive physical motion, crochet can put stress on your wrist or tire your hand if you don’t pick wisely. In the video below, crochet and upcycling expert Emma Friedlander-Collins, also known as Steel & Stitch (@steelandstitch), gives a primer on the pros and cons of different types of crochet hooks, as well as other tools you can use to take your projects to the next level.
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Design

Why did all pirates use the same flag?

Discover the history of the Jolly Roger flag, the powerful image of the pirate brand Imagine riding the ocean waves in a merchant navy ship when, on the horizon, a boat raises a flag: it's black and bears a white skull and crossbones. Just by seeing it, you know that a pirate ship is approach. The classic pirate flag is called the Jolly Roger. It was used in the 18th century and rapidly became the symbol of choice for pirates across the oceans. Why did that design go viral? The response is simultaneously simple and complicated: the power of branding and design over people. Learn its history in the video below:
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Web & App Design

What Kind of 3D Projects Can You Create Using Maya?

3D artist Albert Valls Punsich shows us the incredible scope of this powerful software Albert Valls Punsich (@albert_valls_punsich) specializes in creating 3D digital worlds and modeling and VFX scenarios for film and television. Part of the production company Framestore, he has worked on films such as Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
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Illustration

7 Questions To Answer Before Every Illustration

The 7 questions award-winning illustrator and author Jon Berkeley asks before starting any illustration Jon Berkeley has illustrated over 150 magazine covers during his career for publications including The Economist, Newsweek, and Nature, and has worked on numerous commercial projects for the likes of Vodafone, Smirnoff, and Ted Baker. In this article, Jon, who teaches the course Acrylic Techniques for Creative Illustration, shares the 7 questions that three decades of illustrating have taught him are crucial to answer before embarking on a project. 1. Where’s it going to be? The location of your image is one of its most definitive elements. There are ideas that only work vertically or horizontally and considerations change according to a picture’s position. 2. What’s the page layout? For example, if you are creating a piece for the front cover of a magazine, the design is probably going to have to strictly adhere to an established layout. Elements that will affect your concept and its effectiveness include titles, prices, barcodes and dates.
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Typography, Calligraphy and Lettering

Type Illustration: Transform Your Inspiration

How to transform your reference images into graphics for your next type illustration project Type illustration has existed for centuries: woodcut initials are some of the earliest examples, which can be found in medieval books and old bibles. Some are so detailed that they are like small stand-alone works of art. Combining type and illustration is a powerful tool that can captivate our attention and convey a message. It can transform the meaning of a word because not only are you reading it, you are seeing it. “As soon as you start to illustrate a word, you give it some special kind of feeling,” says Birgit Palma (@birgitpalma), a Barcelona-based artist specializing in illustration and lettering. “You can make the word stronger, but you can also destroy the word, depending on the type of illustration you use.” Illustrated type can send subliminal messages that convey an impactful meaning.
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Design

Whorl, The App to Awaken Your Creativity

Discover the app that awakens your creativity by appealing to a basic exercise of the imagination: play. There is one significant difference in the way a child thinks compared to an adult. Children can think up and arrive at solutions a grown up would never imagine. Their creativity is boundless and stems from their ability for playfulness, something most of us adults have long forgotten. The Whorl app–designed with adults in mind, but suitable for children alike–aims to awaken our creativity through play.
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Illustration

10 Apps for Restless Illustrators

Inspiration comes in all sorts of places, so best be prepared for it. Here are 10 apps for illustrating on the go A sketchbook and a drawing tool have always been indispensable to artists, needing to be within their reach whenever the opportunity arises. New technologies have relegated paper to second place, favoring smartphones and tablets. Numerous apps are available to allow us to create illustrations with excellent results. Here is a small selection we believe you need to know. Procreate One of the best-known apps around, Procreate's technical and aesthetic features–along with its creative excellence–have earned it an Apple Design Award. It is a comprehensive app that allows us to create digital illustrations to a very high resolution.
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Teacher Craft

Free Download: Printable Punch Needle Template

Discover the possibilities of the punch needle with this embroidery template by Laura Ameba Known as a punch needle or a magic needle, this little embroidery gadget allows you to create authentic works of art with thread by adding volume and texture to your textile creations. Chilean textile artist Laura Ameba (@lauraameba) has spent years exploring its possibilities and has trained in Spain and Japan, where she was inspired not only to perfect her technique but also to explore ideas and ways of expressing herself. This punch needle embroidery template that she has shared with Domestika will help you practice your skills as a punch needle embroiderer and encourage you to show the world your techniques.
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