Inspiration

Expand your personal library of references and get to know the work of creatives from various disciplines.

Inspiration
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  • Get Ready For SXSW Online 2021
    Film & Video

    Get Ready For SXSW Online 2021

    South by Southwest 2021 offers a diverse program of film, music, comedy, and conferences Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW (read “South by Southwest”) is about to celebrate its 28th edition. SXSW Online 2021 is scheduled to take place from the 16th to the 21st of March: a digital experience where the interactive, film, and music industries converge. This year’s program features Keynotes, Conference sessions, Music Festival showcases, Film Festival screenings, world-class networking, online Exhibitions, and more.

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  • Celebrate 10 Years of Procreate With These 10 Amazing Timelapse Videos
    Illustration

    Celebrate 10 Years of Procreate With These 10 Amazing Timelapse Videos

    The illustration app, one of the most loved among creatives, is 10 years old The creators of Procreate claim that their dream was to develop the best drawing app for the first iPads. 10 years on from its launch, the team strives to improve this unique tool's drawing experience. Procreate's potential, versatility, and simplicity have won over artists from all over the world. The following 10 fascinating time-lapse videos showcase expert illustrators using Procreate, creating classic manga characters such as Sailor Moon, incredible portraits, or extraterrestrial figures. Watch them as they use analog and digital techniques to capture their projects' qualities and be inspired by their drawing styles and skillful character designs.

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  • Sonia Pulido: "Illustration Fosters Reflection and Change"
    Illustration

    Sonia Pulido: "Illustration Fosters Reflection and Change"

    We spoke to Spain's winner of the 2020 National Illustration Award about the role of illustration in today's 'tsunami of images' We could say that Sonia Pulido, illustrator and winner of the National Illustration Award of 2020, decided that she wanted to devote herself to this profession after watching a rerun movie on a Sunday afternoon. When she was nine, she noticed a secondary character in one of those films: an illustrator who had a fantastic studio filled with art materials and drawing tables. Suddenly, all the illustrated books in her home took on a different meaning. "I almost felt something click when I realized it was those people who made the illustration," she recalls. Unlike many others, she never abandoned drawing. At the university where she studied Fine Arts, she discovered a book by illustrator Ana Juan in the library and had another revelation. It opened the doors to a whole other world. "I came across a style and method different to what I had ever produced before," she explained.

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  • 10 Creatives to Follow on TikTok in 2021
    Marketing

    10 Creatives to Follow on TikTok in 2021

    Domestika’s Instagram community votes for the social network's most inspiring accounts TikTok is much more than dance moves, reactions, and laughs. There is also a growing wave of creatives surprising everyone with their talents. On Instagram, we often get to see a more carefully-curated side of each user, with heavily edited photos and thought-out angles. TikTok gives us a more relaxed experience and a behind-the-scenes atmosphere. That's why we asked Domestika’s Instagram community which TikTok accounts they find most inspiring. These were the most voted: Marjan Roshan @dailymarjan A Persian-Spanish designer and illustrator based in Madrid. Her work has been featured in Spanish magazines and group exhibitions. On her TikTok, she shares creative processes behind her illustrations (mostly portraiture) with different techniques and materials.

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  • “Working Together, Apart”: Reinventing Relationships Between Teams and Clients
    Marketing Teacher

    “Working Together, Apart”: Reinventing Relationships Between Teams and Clients

    Sagi Haviv explains how the rebranding of discovery+ and Panda Global logos helped his team to reinvent their working methods In March 2020, when the pandemic hit, like everyone else, we were nervous about impact on our business. There were two main worries: one, that clients might be skittish about initiating or continuing design projects when the world was in crisis. This worry very quickly lifted when we discovered that many companies were eager to use the downtime of the pandemic to continue and even to accelerate their engagement with us. The second concern was more existential: working collaboratively and in person—both within our office and with our clients—has been at the core of our practice for decades.

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  • Meet Maria Mandea, a Play Designer From Bucharest
    Craft

    Meet Maria Mandea, a Play Designer From Bucharest

    Maria Mandea designs and creates playful objects and experiences for all ages Play is essential, regardless of our age. “It allows mistakes, discovery, and the creation of new realities,” says Maria Mandea, a play designer from Bucharest, Romania. Not sure what a play designer does? Actually, the role of “play designer” is a job title that Maria invented herself to most accurately explain what she does. Allow us to elaborate... Maria designs and creates playful objects and experiences, such as toys, stop-motion animations, apps, and games.

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  • The Fascinating Story of the Women Who Created the Great Disney Classics
    Film & Video

    The Fascinating Story of the Women Who Created the Great Disney Classics

    The Golden Age of film animation would not have been possible without these female illustrators, animators, and art directors Cinderella (1950), Dumbo (1941), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), and Bambi (1942) are classic Disney movies that marked the childhood of millions of children worldwide. They have one thing in common: the role played by women in their making was invaluable. Although it was the legendary animators of the early days of Disney Production (known as Disney's Nine Old Men) who went down in animation history, the dream factory created by Walt Disney paved the way to hundreds of women. However, their stories may not be as well-known as those of their male counterparts.

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  • 10 Black American Female Fiction Writers and Poets You Should Know
    Writing

    10 Black American Female Fiction Writers and Poets You Should Know

    From the first African-American novelist to the 22-year-old poet who performed at the 2021 presidential inauguration We are celebrating the outstanding achievements of female creatives throughout history. Stories help us understand the world and see it through another’s eyes. They can be an escape, teach us empathy, and inspire change. We have compiled a list of ten Black American female fiction writers and poets who have made their mark over two centuries and continue to shape and inspire generations. Harriet E. Wilson (1825–1900) Harriet E. Wilson is considered the first African American to publish a novel in the United States. Our Nig: Sketches from the Life of a Free Black was published anonymously in 1859, later discovered to be Wilson's work by the scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr in 1982.

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  • Who Is Valerie Thomas and What Is the Illusion Transmitter?
    Design

    Who Is Valerie Thomas and What Is the Illusion Transmitter?

    The Illusion Transmitter was invented by a trailblazing Black female NASA scientist This March, we are celebrating the outstanding achievements of female creatives throughout history. Today, we look back on the life and accomplishments of a trailblazing black female scientist who made enormous contributions to NASA’s research and technological development: Valerie Thomas. Valerie Thomas was born in Maryland in 1943. As a child, she developed an interest in technology after watching her father tinker with the mechanical parts of radios and television sets. Aged eight, she read a book called The Boys First Book of Radio and Electronics, piquing her interest. She asked her father to help her with projects featured in the book, but he allegedly refused.

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  • Experience the Power of Daryan Dornelles’ Iconic Portrait Photography
    Photography

    Experience the Power of Daryan Dornelles’ Iconic Portrait Photography

    This remarkable contemporary photographer captures the soul of his subjects Daryan Dornelles is Brazilian, lives in Lisbon (Portugal), and his experience with photography started when he was a teenager thanks to his passion for music. So, it is no surprise that he's photographed some of the biggest names in Brazilian music, from Gilberto Gil to Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, Elza Soares, and Maria Bethânia. Over the years, his photographs have appeared on the cover of over 150 magazines worldwide: GQ, Vogue, Bravo, Rolling Stone, Serafina, Trip, and Esquire, to name a few. In addition, he was awarded the Prêmio Abril de Jornalismo in 2007, and in 2016 the Prêmio Globo de Comunicação, both prestigious Brazilian accolades.

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  • Melanie Chadwick: Philosopher of Sketching
    Illustration

    Melanie Chadwick: Philosopher of Sketching

    Meet food and travel illustrator Melanie Chadwick and learn why she considers sketching to be a way of life Melanie Chadwick (@melanie_chadwick) is a freelance illustrator and designer based in Cornwall, UK. She believes that design should be fun, lively, and enrich the lives of those around it. She has a love for sketching and incorporates it into her daily practice. She specializes in map and food illustration and enjoys mixing analog and digital techniques in her work, working in a variety of media–from traditional watercolors, pen and ink, and collage to digital and vector brushes. She has worked with numerous clients across various projects, including book illustration, food packaging, restaurant menus, magazine editorials, branding projects, maps, greeting cards, postcards, and more. Melanie's clients include Cornish Seasalt, Foodimentary, Ferment Magazine, American Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

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  • 8 Miniature Artists and Diorama Creators to Inspire You
    Craft

    8 Miniature Artists and Diorama Creators to Inspire You

    What is a diorama? Be inspired to create your own miniature worlds A diorama is a three-dimensional miniature model, usually representing a scene that includes characters interacting, a landscape, and architectural elements. The models are typically found in museum exhibitions. However, many different types of creatives have focused on this craft in cinema, television, graphic design, advertising, and other art fields. While museums’ dioramas are usually highly realistic historical representations, contemporary creators tend to recreate scenes with a satirical message and social commentary. These artists create all their work in miniature, showing impressive technical ability. Meet some of these creators and their artwork, accurately capturing their love for miniature sculpture in their photographs. Lori Nix and Kathleen Gerber An architect and a sculptor make up this duo. Their work is inspired by classic disaster movies and post-apocalyptic literature. Their experimental scenes depict a dangerous world, ridden from human beings, all with a touch of humor. Their advice to young artists is to remember that all good projects require time for development.

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  • Top 10 Creative Projects of February 2021
    Design

    Top 10 Creative Projects of February 2021

    We put together the projects that received the most likes in February within the Domestika community Like every month, we showcase the 10 projects that have caught the Domestika community's attention and received the most likes and appreciation. They are the final projects created by students from all the different courses on offer and are a mix of assignments suggested by teachers and personal projects. All get to fill up this space with creativity. Among the most appreciated projects in February are illustrations and knitting pieces. Also, making a debut this month are some creative cake designers, which made it to the list with three impressive final projects. To check their creative processes, click on the red titles. Don't forget to add your comment at the end of the article and let us know your favorite. Watercolour hummingbird, by Sarah Stokes (@sarah_stokes) This artist's wildlife work is inspired by her home environment in the countryside around Worcestershire, in the United Kingdom. This piece demonstrates many of the techniques Sarah teaches in her Domestika course, Artistic Watercolor Techniques for Illustrating Birds.

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  • Be Inspired to Create Amigurumi Characters with the Prince of Crochet
    Craft

    Be Inspired to Create Amigurumi Characters with the Prince of Crochet

    Crochet artist and character designer Marcelo Javier Cortés, a.k.a. Príncipe del Crochet, shares his favorite projects Crocheting is a hand knitting technique that is gaining interest among contemporary creatives. Starting in the craft of crochet is easy, and there are lots of possibilities. One of the most attractive projects you can do using a crochet hook is ‘amigurumi.’ You can create cute, three-dimensional characters by crocheting them as if you were sculpting with yarn.

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  • What It's Really Like To Be a Female Creative?
    Illustration

    What It's Really Like To Be a Female Creative?

    Get an inside look into the life of 15 amazing creators and artists and their creative processes The creative process is different from one person to another, and it can take many forms. From the very disciplined people to those who navigate by ear, a creative mind is always exploring new ways to express itself. The video series Domestika Diaries explores precisely how is really like to be creative in different disciplines. Next, we gathered a list of 15 exceptional female artists from all over the world, so you can get inspired and start your next project right now and learn from their tips to be more creative and translate your ideas into real work.

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  • Afrofuturism: How Black Creatives Point to a Brighter Future
    Design

    Afrofuturism: How Black Creatives Point to a Brighter Future

    Learn what afrofuturism is and what it shows us about the power of fiction, imagination, and hope Before diving into what afrofuturism is, it’s worth looking at plain old futurism. It might sound like a made up concept from science fiction but that’s sort of the point: any theory about the future has to be built on fiction, as the future hasn’t happened yet. A futurist finds meaning in the future, imagining what might be possible when we get there. In literature, this act is often called speculative fiction. But futurism can be applied to a multitude of disciplines, from architecture to legislation. By using the future as a starting point, futurists can establish ideal worlds, ideas, and creations that incorporate their beliefs, prompting us to look at what might be possible, and what needs to be done to get there.

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  • What was the Harlem Renaissance?
    Art

    What was the Harlem Renaissance?

    Learn about this cultural boom in African American history The Harlem Renaissance was a golden age of African American culture that took place during the early 20th century. It had a lasting impact both at home and overseas and set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s in the United States. This cultural boom was fuelled by Black pride; Black artists’ determination to have authority over how the Black American experience was portrayed; and the belief that Black literature, Black art, Black theater, and Black music were forms of activism that promoted progressive politics and integration. Names often linked to this movement include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, W. E. B. Du Bois, Josephine Baker, and Louis Armstrong.

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  • How Photography Fought to Become an Art
    Photography

    How Photography Fought to Become an Art

    Despite transforming the world, photography has always had to prove itself worthy of being called art Photography was struck upon by a collection of inventors across Europe, almost simultaneously. However, it is most commonly attributed to Louis Daguerre. The French government acquired the rights to his creation in 1839 and gave them away to the world. Since then, photography has struggled to be considered equal to painting and sculpture. While the world rushed to get their photo taken, the art world turned its nose up at the technology, refusing to accept that a camera could facilitate artistic expression. Watch the video below to learn how artists, innovators, journalists, and business people won photography the status it deserves, and how a science that changed the world in a flash, had to change art before art accepted it.

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  • Creating Iconic Editorial Covers: Carlos Rodríguez Casado
    Illustration

    Creating Iconic Editorial Covers: Carlos Rodríguez Casado

    We look back on the most important moments from Carlos’ professional career, such as winning a gold medal at the ÑH 2020 Awards The achievements of Carlos Rodríguez Casado (@carlosrodriguezcasado) will make your jaw drop. His cartoons have been published in magazines such as Interviú, Jot Down, El Jueves, and Líbero, as well as other international publications. His work can often be spotted in the Spanish national newspaper, El Mundo, portraying personalities from the world of politics, with his drawings often appearing on front pages. Recently, he won the gold medal at the ÑH 2020 Awards, which celebrates journalistic design across media titles in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. We caught up with Carlos, who is also a Domestika teacher, to discuss his profession, his favorite projects, and the path he took to become a professional illustrator. He also talks about his dreams, such as getting to illustrate one of The New Yorker’s legendary covers and the determination it takes to keep making a living doing what he loves. That, he insists, he discovered very early on.

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  • 10 Food Photographers and Stylists To Follow on Instagram
    Photography

    10 Food Photographers and Stylists To Follow on Instagram

    Photographer Alfonso Acedo recommends some of his favorite culinary photographers, food stylists, and home economists Technology never stops evolving, but we have not yet invented a way to send scents through Instagram. That means that sight is the sense that photographers and food stylists must stimulate to make a particular dish or drink appetizing. Alfonso Acedo (@altheo) is one of those professionals who parks the lens of his camera at the dinner table, turning gastronomy into his muse and delighting our senses with mouthwatering compositions. His work is exquisite, but we are hungry for more, so we asked him to recommend some of the food stylists we need to follow on Instagram. Warning: don't read this post on an empty stomach.

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  • 11 Polymer Clay Artists To Be Inspired By
    Craft

    11 Polymer Clay Artists To Be Inspired By

    Portuguese artist Marisa Clemente shares a list of artists who inspire her every day Polymer clay, also known as FIMO, is a highly versatile modeling material. One of its key characteristics is how malleable it is, making it easy to reshape or make alterations to your creation as you sculpt. After your polymer clay piece has been baked and cooled, it can be sanded, polished, drilled, and glazed. Your end creation will be light and highly resistant. Marisa Clemente (@thefolkyfox) is a specialist when it comes to working with polymer clay. This Portuguese artist has clay modeling in her blood–her family on her mother’s side are passionate about ceramics. Under her brand, The Folky Fox, Marisa creates jewelry and accessories out of polymer clay that celebrate nature and the animal world and combine simple lines and realistic details. Now Marisa shares 11 polymer clay artists that inspire her every day.

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  • Did You Know Vincent van Gogh Loved Japanese Art?
    Art

    Did You Know Vincent van Gogh Loved Japanese Art?

    Learn about the influence of traditional Japanese prints on the painter's art The fascination of the western world for eastern tradition is not new. At the end of the XIX century, the western art community showed a growing interest in anything oriental. Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) was a great lover of Japan's aesthetic and traditional art, which had a big influence on his work.

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  • Bruce Nelson Blackburn and the NASA “Worm” Logo
    Design

    Bruce Nelson Blackburn and the NASA “Worm” Logo

    The NASA “Worm” logotype will not be forgotten, and neither will its creators If you’re a millennial, when you hear the word NASA, it’s likely that the first image to pop into your head is the logo known as the “Meatball” (you might even be wearing a sweatshirt with it on as you read this). It’s the logo that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration used during its greatest accomplishments, including the Apollo moon landings, and still uses today. Designed by James Modarelli in 1959, a year after NASA was established, it's made up of a blue circle filled with stars, a red swoosh that represents an airplane wing, a spacecraft orbiting the wing, and those four white capital letters.

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  • 6 Sources of Video Content to Awaken Your Creativity
    Design

    6 Sources of Video Content to Awaken Your Creativity

    Cherry Bomb Creative Co. share their favorite platforms for inspirational video content Nora Muñoz and Gabriel Tinoco are the co-founders of independent studio Cherry Bomb Creative Co. (@cherrybomb_creative), which specializes in branding, design, and illustration. They’ve worked with major brands such as Nestle, Cinépolis, Didi Food, Editorial Santillana, and Pearson, as well as NGOs including UNICEF, UNHCR, and the Red Cross.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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