Domestika's blog

The largest creative community

All articles
Categories
Popular tags

February 2021

  • What Is a Design System and How Can I Use One in My Digital Projects?
    Web & App Design

    What Is a Design System and How Can I Use One in My Digital Projects?

    Find out how you can use design systems to develop online products If you work in web development or the creation of digital products–such as apps, websites, portals, or digital services–design systems are a set of principles that will help you develop your project in a comprehensive and efficient way. Find out what a design system is and how you can start using one right away. What is a design system? A design system refers to the processes used to decide which elements will be included in a system during the planning and construction stages of a digital project. These elements include the structure, modules, components, interface type, design, and usability of the website or app you are building. A design system looks at a digital product as a whole and understands how all of the different elements interact. You can think of it as architecture for a digital product.

    • 4
    • 0
  • 5 Free Animation Online Classes to Learn After Effects From Scratch
    Teacher 3D & Animation

    5 Free Animation Online Classes to Learn After Effects From Scratch

    Discover this popular software’s advantages and animate your best ideas As a professional designer and illustrator, or if you wish to pursue a new career in animation, you’ll find a key ally in Adobe After Effects. This software is intuitive and perfect to create all kinds of animated projects, however big or small they might be. Now animation and motion graphics experts share some tips to start using this program from scratch. To watch each class, just click on its red title.

    • 5
    • 1
  • 4 Hoaxes That Shook the Modern Art World
    Art

    4 Hoaxes That Shook the Modern Art World

    Is modern art really art? Learn how chimpanzees, teenagers, and fake artists tried to challenge it Modern art has many supporters, as well as detractors. When Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's piece 'Comedian' was unveiled at the Art Basel exhibition in Miami in 2019 and was sold for 120,000 dollars, modern art became the object of disapproval, ridicule, and even anger. The reason for all the fuss was that the artwork consisted of a fresh banana stuck on a wall with duct tape. Even the most popular banana brands joined in on the joke, and the parodies lasted a considerable time.

    • 1
    • 0
  • Download Two Lighting Schemes for Portrait Photography
    Film & Video

    Download Two Lighting Schemes for Portrait Photography

    Photographer Esteban Calderón shows you two ways to design lighting for portraits When preparing a portrait it is important to enhance the aspects that most flatter a person and, in this way, make them the true protagonist of the photo. To achieve this, lighting is a fundamental aspect of the creative process. When we work with artificial lighting we can have absolute control of this aspect.

    • 1
    • 0
  • UX Tutorial: How to Conduct Qualitative User Research
    Teacher Marketing

    UX Tutorial: How to Conduct Qualitative User Research

    Learn the basics of UX and user research to analyze what your users are doing and why they are doing it, with Patricia Reiners UX research can seem like an intimidating area of study but it is actually based on a set of simple principles and methods that you can learn and apply to your own projects. Patricia Reiners (@ux_patricia) is a UX/UI designer based in Berlin who is an Adobe resident and the host of the Future of UX podcast. In this tutorial, she explains the basic principles and techniques of qualitative user research and how to use it to improve your product’s UX.

    • 3
    • 0
  • Top Tips for Creating Successful Online Events
    Marketing

    Top Tips for Creating Successful Online Events

    Social communication expert Natalie Koutia shares some tips to help you organize online events efficiently Nathalie Koutia (@nathaliekoutia) is a freelance designer and social media enthusiast who is the communication director and social media manager of the international creativity event OFFF Festival. In her recent Domestika live, Nathalie tells us how a large live event was transported into a virtual world. She advises on how to ensure your online events, however small, are also successful.

    • 2
    • 0
  • Why Is Calligraphy So Good for Your Brain?
    Typography, Calligraphy and Lettering

    Why Is Calligraphy So Good for Your Brain?

    Discover why writing by hand with pen and paper can be extremely beneficial Ever thought of what writing by hand entails? The brain and bodily processes involved in this activity are phenomenal. The first step is to stop and focus, feel, and invoke one’s memory. Then comes planning the idea to convey to the reader by connecting with one’s intentions and emotions. Then, again, we need to build a grammatical structure from our semantic word stock. Finally, we select the graphic signs and sequence of movements that correspond to each letter so that our hand can put it together. Writing may seem like quite a tiring process, but all the benefits this exercise brings to our body, heart, and mind make it worth repeating over and over again. On International Day Of Handwriting, we spoke to Alejandra Marcos, an educational psychologist specializing in cognitive neuropsychology, and calligraphy teacher Bego Viñuela Galarraga (@caligrafiabilbao). They helped us to better understand what goes on in our brain and heart when we write by hand.

    • 9
    • 3
  • What is Film Casting?
    Teacher Film & Video

    What is Film Casting?

    Discover the origins of casting and why it’s such an important part of film production, with Luci Lenox Casting is a fundamental element for any film project, whether you’re producing a short or a feature length film. In fact, many directors say that 90% of the work of directing actors comes down to casting. Luci Lenox (@lucilenox) is an international casting director with over twenty years of experience, and she’s worked with clients such as Netflix, Disney, and Paramount to help bring their projects to life. In this video, she explains what casting is, the crucial role it plays in every film project, and what makes for a successful casting director.

    • 0
    • 0
  • Top 14 Needle Felting Artists To Be Inspired By
    Craft

    Top 14 Needle Felting Artists To Be Inspired By

    Discover the work of these top needle felting artists using wool in inventive ways Needle felting, a technique that involves compacting a ball of wool to create different shapes using a spiky needle, is growing increasingly popular. This is largely thanks to social media, which provides artists with a platform to share and sell their adorable needle felted art toys and other creations. In this blog post, three Domestika teachers share a list of needle felting artists whose work will inspire you to pick up a needle. Artists selected by Caro Indy (@caroindy): Wes Anderson – The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox Let’s start by talking about Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, a stop-motion animation film starring some very charismatic needle-felted animals who stole the hearts of indie film lovers. This film made needle felting very popular, even though Wes didn’t actually make the animals with his own hands. Carolina Alles recommends the book, The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox. The film is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's classic, a story that Anderson reimagined in 2009 for the enjoyment of a new generation of cinema-goers. The book offers a vast amount of material, such as storyboards and behind-the-scenes photos.

    • 0
    • 0
  • Free Graphic Visualization Presentation Template
    Design

    Free Graphic Visualization Presentation Template

    Use, modify and enjoy a template with 60 stunning slides prepared by Data Designer Katya Kovalenko If you truly want to impress your clients, your colleagues or potential collaborators, you need to develop your concepts in a visually compelling fashion. Presentations and data visualization will help you to organize your ideas and articulate what you want to communicate. That’s the area of expertise of Presentation and Data Designer Katya Kovalenko (@katyakovalenko), whom specializes in creating graphic visualizations that help companies articulate what their product is about. Her secret is to deeply understand how our brains perceive information and align that with design principles.

    • 1
    • 0
  • What Is Japandi Style in Interior Design?
    Design

    What Is Japandi Style in Interior Design?

    Learn about this minimalist interior design trend mixing Scandinavian and Japanese styles Also known as Japanordic or Scandenese, this aesthetic mixes Scandinavian coziness and traditional Japanese elegance. Japan and Scandinavia are on opposite sides of the world but have a lot in common in the simplicity of décor and understated style. The notions of ‘hygge’ (the Scandi homely feeling of coziness) and 'wabi-sabi' (the Japanese quest for finding beauty in imperfection) are a perfect foundation on which to build calm and stress-free living spaces.

    • 4
    • 0
  • 5 Creative Ideas for Instagram Reels
    Teacher Marketing

    5 Creative Ideas for Instagram Reels

    Get the most out of these 30-second-long vertical videos for your Instagram profile Last week, I talked about what Instagram Reels is. Many creatives have started using this new format of short vertical videos that last 15 to 30 seconds. I highly recommended using this tool and the new formats that Instagram is launching since the algorithm usually makes them stand out. In this case, it is also a perfect content format for creatives and very suitable for attracting an audience that increasingly prefers short, visual, and easy to assimilate content. This content is especially interesting to connect with younger generations; both millennials—those who are now between 32 and 26 years old—and Gen Z or Zillennials—born between 1995 and 2009. Let's explore some ideas to get the most out of this format with some examples from the Domestika teachers who already use it:

    • 4
    • 0
  • My Materials: Acrylic Illustration
    Illustration

    My Materials: Acrylic Illustration

    Illustrator Jon Berkeley takes us through the tools he uses to conceive, paint, and publish his acrylic illustrations Whether digital or analog, the variety of materials available to an illustrator is vast. Everyone has their own preferences but when investing in your own materials, it can be helpful to see what other professionals use. Jon Berkeley has over 30 years of experience in editorial illustration, and has won awards from Creative Quarterly, the Society of News Design, and the British Society of Magazine Editors for his work illustrating for the biggest magazines in the world. His preferred medium is acrylic as, in his opinion, it offers him the best of watercolor and oil painting. In this video, Jon shows us what tools he uses, sharing simple tips on how and why they are useful for acrylic illustration.

    • 4
    • 0
  • 5 Photography Online Courses to Create Self-Portraits Like a Pro
    Photography

    5 Photography Online Courses to Create Self-Portraits Like a Pro

    Learn from experts to create original, emotional-filled self-portraits Photography is a magical and expressive universe that enchants thousands of people through a fascinating play of lights, moments, scenarios and original creations. Self-portrait, in this context, is an excerpt from the photography universe that overflows meanings and transforms personal emotions and motivations into powerful, intimate and mysterious narratives. You are the one who sets the creative tone from start to finish. These five photographers and artists are experts in self-portrait and share with you their best techniques in the courses below.

    • 1
    • 0
  • 5 Free Essential Color Theory Classes Online
    Teacher Illustration

    5 Free Essential Color Theory Classes Online

    Learn how to use the color wheel and benefit from this important tool for illustrators and painters We often talk about the importance of the color wheel and color theory, but how are they applied? With the intention that you observe closely the use that the experts give it and so that you analyze how to apply the color wheel to your projects, we have selected the following free classes. To see each lesson, you just have to click on its red title. Enjoy!

    • 18
    • 7
  • Celebrate Black History Month with Over 2,000 Free Images
    Art

    Celebrate Black History Month with Over 2,000 Free Images

    The Smithsonian National Museum collections offer public domain resources for you to use The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the most important museum dedicated to African American history, life, and culture. With over 36 thousand artifacts, it provides an exciting opportunity to explore through interactive exhibitions. As a public institution in the US, and part of the Smithsonian National Museum, it’s open to collaborations and participation from the public.

    • 2
    • 0
  • 11 Free Apps and Websites To Organize and Track Your Activities
    Web & App Design

    11 Free Apps and Websites To Organize and Track Your Activities

    Would you like to plan your time better and keep a record of how you spend it? These websites will help you do just that When setting goals for yourself, it helps to know your habits and how you invest your time. Your targets may be to read more, learn a new skill, or spread activities more effectively over your week. We’ve compiled a list of websites and apps that will help you plan out all your activities and reach your goals. A number of them analyze activities to help you change your schedule accordingly. You can make lists of whatever you want to achieve and even save time deciding what film to watch in the evening.

    • 1
    • 0
  • What Is Pop Art and How Did It Revolutionize the Art World?
    Art

    What Is Pop Art and How Did It Revolutionize the Art World?

    Discover the art movement that flourished in the 1960s Today, we recognize both the artistic and commercial value of works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and David Hockney. In November 2013, Warhol’s serigraph, Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster), sold for $105 million, setting a new record for the artist’s work. Warhol is considered one of the fathers of the Pop Art movement. Lichtenstein’s Masterpiece was auctioned for an even higher price in 2017: $165 million. While these pieces have been auctioned for millions of dollars in the 21st century, this movement has not always been held in such high regard. When Pop Art first emerged, critics described it as vulgar, sensationalist, and "a joke." Intrigued to learn more about its history? In this article, we will delve into the story of a movement that not only revolutionized the art world in the 50s and 60s, but raised questions about the true meaning of art in an ever-changing world.

    • 1
    • 0
  • Domestika Challenge: Draw Keanu Reeves’ Many Facial Expressions in 5 Minutes
    Illustration

    Domestika Challenge: Draw Keanu Reeves’ Many Facial Expressions in 5 Minutes

    Can character designer Laura Ewing illustrate Keanu Reeves’ many emotions in 5 minutes? The face is one of the most expressive parts of the body, which is why understanding how to illustrate believable facial expressions is a key skill for any character designer. Laura Ewing (@le_lauraewing) is a storyboard artist and character designer whose job it is to capture the essence of a story quickly and convincingly for films, documentaries, and publishing houses. We challenged Laura to imagine and illustrate actor Keanu Reeves’ face expressing different emotions, using surprise prompts ranging from “just won an Oscar” to “just got fired” via “too much coffee”. See how she did below:

    • 2
    • 0
  • 7 Tips to Succeed on Facebook Like a Pro
    Marketing

    7 Tips to Succeed on Facebook Like a Pro

    Experts reveal their secrets to exploit the potential of your brand on Facebook Despite the fact that every year we hear that a new social network is gaining popularity among users, Facebook continues to be a powerful ally of brands. With a wide portfolio of tools that is constantly updated, creatives, brands and services of all kinds can promote themselves and reach their target audience. So that you too can improve your Facebook marketing practices, experts share their best tips and practices with you. To read the article that interests you, just click on its red title.

    • 1
    • 0
  • Free Creative Brief Template for Social Media
    Teacher Marketing

    Free Creative Brief Template for Social Media

    Senior Copywriter Paul Anglin shares his comprehensive and easy-to-edit template for writing a great brief When engaging with a new client, a brand, or planning your own social media plan, there's one crucial step of the process: the brief. For Senior Copywriter Paul Anglin (@paulanglin), this might be the single most important document for any project. Drawing on twenty years of experience working with brands like Apple, Nike, and Microsoft, in his Domestika course, Paul shares his process for developing a brief that ticks all the boxes, and how to use that brief to write captivating copy for your social media audience.

    • 8
    • 0
  • 20 Architecture and Design Blogs and Magazines You Should Follow
    Architecture & Space

    20 Architecture and Design Blogs and Magazines You Should Follow

    The founders of Clap Studio share a list of blogs and magazines that deliver a daily dose of inspiration What can I do to get my creative juices flowing? We ask ourselves this question several times a day, especially when there’s pressure to create. How to keep our creativity afloat can get philosophical, but, in reality, the solution is simple: find references! Sourcing references means connecting with new ideas, concepts, projects, professionals, techniques, and expressions. Mixing everything together is sure to result in something unique, vibrant, and creative. To help you get your creative juices flowing, Jordi and Ángela, the founders of Clap Studio (@clapstudio), have drawn up a list of go-to blogs and magazines that deliver a daily dose of inspiration. Enjoy! Dezeen Dezeen is one of the world's most popular architecture and design magazines and offers curated content for professionals and individuals interested in these creative fields. The magazine features projects from around the world and sets out to create a global design community.

    • 14
    • 4
  • 10 Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts for Pattern Design
    Design

    10 Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts for Pattern Design

    Streamline your pattern design workflow with the most commonly used Illustrator shortcuts The beauty of pattern design is that it has no limits: you can stretch your design infinitely and create patterns in all sorts of detailed or minimalistic styles. If you are an illustrator, a graphic designer, or perhaps both, you will likely create patterns that can be applied to all sorts of projects at some point in your career. Sarmiento, better known as Sara Tomate (@saratomate), knows this for sure:

    • 1
    • 0
  • 9 Free Websites With Textures and Models for Your 3D Projects
    3D & Animation

    9 Free Websites With Textures and Models for Your 3D Projects

    Discover where to find textures, models, and resources to give your 3D projects an edge When starting a 3D project or assembling a mood board for one, one of the most important steps is researching and gathering reference images. This stage will give you a more precise and more defined idea of what you will need to create the final project in terms of assets, models, textures, and other graphic elements. To help you find free textures and varied types of assets, Ali Sahba (@alisahba), a multidisciplinary designer and photographer, shares a list of the sites he uses in his projects and what you will find in each of them. When searching for textures Textures.com This site features numerous royalty-free textures but is mostly limited to 1k (1024 x 768 pixels) or 2k (2048 x 1080 pixels) resolutions. These images are not ideal for close-ups, but you will find varied textures—fabrics, ceilings, floors, metal, and many others—and you can use them to have a general idea of how your project will end up looking

    • 6
    • 0
  • Basic Materials For Your Next Binding Project
    Craft

    Basic Materials For Your Next Binding Project

    Discover the tools and materials you’ll need to bind without creating any folds With so many aspects of our lives becoming digitized, we have found a new appreciation for objects that awaken all the senses. Binding is a technique used to create beautiful objects using just our hands. It is a great way to present art and design work, a publishing project, your portfolio, and much more. In this blog post, Susana Domínguez (@susanadominguez)–who won a national competition for artistic binding in Spain in 2017–shares a list of basic materials you’ll need to bind without creating any folds. Your creation will open up 100% and enable you to present your work without having to worry about losing any loose pages. Let's get to work!

    • 3
    • 0
  • James Chapman on Swapping Microscopes for Acrylic Paint Markers
    Illustration

    James Chapman on Swapping Microscopes for Acrylic Paint Markers

    Illustrator James Chapman on why he chose a career in art after completing a PhD in physics Over the last five years, illustrator designer James Chapman (@jameschapman) has written and illustrated his own books; worked on projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, and Universal as a 2D designer at the animation studio, Brown Bag Films; created viral content for Buzzfeed; and seen his POSCA pen sketchbook series evolve, attracting tens of thousands of followers to his Instagram account. James describes his specialty as “making art that’s cute and colorful and overall entertaining.” James grew up in an artistic household in the West Midlands in England. “My dad was an architect, and my brother was very good at drawing.” Inspired by the talents in the family, he set about practicing his drawing skills at a very young age, producing pictures of the things he liked most (namely Sonic the Hedgehog). Aged 16, he came to a crossroads when picking the subjects he would study at A-level–a decision that would determine what he could go on to study at university. Forced to decide between science and art, he eventually chose science and went on to study physics, right up to PhD level.

    • 3
    • 0