• What Is Packaging Design and Why It Is So Important Today

    What Is Packaging Design and Why It Is So Important Today

    Discover the fundamental principles of packaging design Packaging was initially created as a utilitarian item–its sole function was to conserve a product as best as possible. However, soon the appearance of packaging also became crucial: packaging needed to attract buyers and drive sales. Today, these continue to be the two main ideas that all packaging designers work around. How did packaging come about? Packaging began to be developed at the same time that advances in technology and transport were being made, meaning food could be stored for longer and travel further. As more and more new products arrived, so did new types of packaging, printer technologies, and marketing techniques that set out to make products grab people’s attention. When it comes to graphic design, something similar happened. The art and culture trends can be seen reflected in packaging from different time periods. Memorable packaging Here are some examples of iconic packaging that show off the trends of the time. The Tiffany Box In 1887, Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of the jewelry brand Tiffany & Co, chose the turquoise blue that would become emblematic of the Tiffany Box. The box has since become almost as iconic as the engagement ring inside. In 1998, the color “Tiffany Blue” was registered as a brand and listed in the Pantone color system.

  • SketchUp Tutorial: How to Import a CAD File to SketchUp

    SketchUp Tutorial: How to Import a CAD File to SketchUp

    Basic tips to convert an AutoCAD project to SketchUp with Fernando Neyra Moreta An architectural project made with 3D resources allows potential clients to visualize important details such as the distribution and proportion of the spaces, as well as the forms and textures of the materials that will be used in the work. For this reason, it is essential to know how to correctly import a 2D design from AutoCAD to SketchUp tool, a program that allows projects to be made in 3D. In this tutorial, architect, illustrator, and educator Fernando Neyra Moreta (@fn23grafica) shows us the process step-by-step, highlighting important tips, such as creating layers and reference objects, and the SketchUp commands for executing the different tasks. Find out more in the following video:

  • Domestika Maestros: Tom Geismar

    Domestika Maestros: Tom Geismar

    Tom Geismar, one of the most important graphic designers of the 20th Century, took us through his career and his life-long commitment to design Founder of the influential agency Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, and the creator of the visual identities of many of the most well-known brands in the world, such as Mobil, Xerox and PBS, the story of design would look very different if it weren't for Tom Geismar. Over 50 years in design have confirmed Geismar's place as one of the greats of modern logo design and visual identity. Always up to date with the most recent trends, Geismar guided us through his most recent achievements such as the visual program for National Geographic, making it clear once more that good design doesn't depend on eras or styles but timeless principles. Find out what he had to say in the video below:

  • What’s an App Style Guide and What’s It For?

    What’s an App Style Guide and What’s It For?

    Discover the benefits of using a style guide when designing and developing apps Christian Vizcarra (@christvizcarra) is a Senior UI/UX Product Designer and Digital Strategist whose work also includes elements of marketing, social media, 3D, and video. On a daily basis, he creates digital products, as well as designing websites, apps, and different interfaces for companies around the world. Here Vizcarra explains the purpose of a style guide and why it is a key tool when designing and developing apps.

  • Domestika Creatives: Vasava

    Domestika Creatives: Vasava

    Bruno Sellés, creative director of the Vasava design studio, tells us about his constant experimentation Becoming a reference design studio in the world of creativity is not an easy task, but Vasava has done just that. Since it was founded in 1997, it has become one of the most interesting hotbeds of creativity and talent on the Spanish-speaking scene, due to their attention to detail and obsession with treating each project as if it were their first. And they don't keep their talent to themselves: for some years now, they have been organizing creative talks and conferences in which they share their vision of creativity with the rest of the world, always connected to their constant research and multidisciplinary work. Bruno Sellés, creative director of Vasava, talks about his experimentation and some of his most important projects, such as his collaboration with F. C. Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid. Discover more below:

  • Challenge: James Lewis Paints the Champion Logo in 10 Minutes

    Challenge: James Lewis Paints the Champion Logo in 10 Minutes

    James Lewis, lettering artist capable of reproducing any logo you can imagine, takes on a Domestika Challenge James Lewis (@jamesllewis) is popular on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok for his brilliant deconstruction of some of the most popular logos in existence: the huge reach of his videos have got him work with Amazon, Samsung, Montblanc, and Rolls-Royce. He now gives conferences and classes on lettering around the world. Lewis is an expert in creating some of the most well-known logos in the world in brush lettering, but will he be able to recreate the sporting brand Champion's logo in just 10 minutes? Find out in the video below:

  • 3 Iconic Logo Redesigns

    3 Iconic Logo Redesigns

    Sagi Haviv shares the secrets behind the graphic identity redesigns of three international brands Designers are not artists. An artist has a problem and finds a way to solve it; designers, on the other hand, dedicate their work to solving someone else's problems. While the former can work for days locked up without having contact with anyone, the latter must continuously strengthen their relationship with others: they must connect, interact, and go out into the real world.

  • 7 Free Design Tools

    7 Free Design Tools

    These websites have you covered for all your graphic, editorial, web, and identity design needs There is nothing more exciting for a graphic designer than starting a project from scratch and creating all its visual elements. Sometimes, however, you need tools to kickstart your creative process. Here is a list of free resources that will inspire you and help you during the research phase. We have also shared tools for downloading free vectors and images that will save you time when creating presentations for a client. Maps Stamen If you are ever have to create layouts that include maps, this site will help you. It contains maps from all around the world and allows you to download them with different styles. For example, you can obtain high contrast maps in black and white, or with watercolor effects. You can show the elevation and vegetation of any given area... there's even a map of Mars! It uses the OpenStreetMap open license, so keep in mind that using the tool is free, but requires attribution.

  • The Expert: Sagi Haviv

    The Expert: Sagi Haviv

    Graphic designer Sagi Haviv shares his opinion on some of the planet's most recognizable television logos The Israeli designer Sagi Haviv (@sagi), partner of the New York design studio Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, has specialized in logos throughout his career. He is responsible for the visual identities of huge brands and institutions such as the US Open, Harvard University Press, Conservación Internacional, and Hitco Entertainment, and is considered a prodigy in the world of design. In the first edition of Domestika's The Expert, Sagi Haviv uses his experience and critical vision to analyze the biggest logos in Spain and Latin America, from Venezuela's Venevision, Spain's Antena 3, and Brazil's Rede Globo among others. Want to understand the strengths and weaknesses Haviv's expert eye picks out? Find out in the video below:

  • Domestika Talks: Rodrigo Corral

    Domestika Talks: Rodrigo Corral

    Watch this talk by Rodrigo Corral, one of the greatest book cover designers of recent decades What makes a great book cover designer? Is it best to bring your own style to the design or should you focus entirely on communicating the concept of the book you're working on, removing yourself from the equation? Perhaps the trick is to strike a balance between the two. Rodrigo Corral (@rodrigocorral_) answers these questions and more. Corral–creative director of the publishing house Farrar, Straus and Giroux and head of his own studio–took the stage at the most recent edition of Copa Domestika Colombia to talk about the core ideas behind his work. Watch his talk in the following video:

  • 10 Tips to Keep in Mind When Designing an Icon

    10 Tips to Keep in Mind When Designing an Icon

    Art director Hermes Mazali gives us his tips for designing any icon you can imagine Knowing how to create effective icons is a task that requires several skills: among them, the ability to synthesize, graphic design and, above all, curiosity about the client we are working with and a deep understanding of the values and graphic approach of their brand. Hermes Mazali (@hmazali), art director with an extensive background in icon design, has synthesized everything he knows into 10 essential points to keep in mind if you want to devote yourself to this discipline. We share them below:

  • Domestika Talks: Santiago Carrasquilla

    Domestika Talks: Santiago Carrasquilla

    Santiago Carrasquilla, the visual artist, designer, and animator, talks about the most important stories and projects of his successful career Santiago Carrasquilla is a designer, entertainer, and audiovisual producer born in Bucaramanga (Colombia) and currently living in the United States. After his graduation, he worked for Sagmeister & Walsh for three years as a designer, first, and then as art director. In the following talk, recorded during Copa Domestika Colombia, Carrasquilla talks about his successful career, leading to one of the projects he is most proud of: his recent collaboration with Thom Yorke creating music loops for Spotify.

  • Free Icons that Redefine Professional Women

    Free Icons that Redefine Professional Women

    Download these free icons from Noun Project that promote equality and the fair representation of women “Visual language has the power to give form, reinforce and change our perceptions of the world,” says Sofya Polyakov, CEO and co-founder of Noun Project (@nounproject). That is why her company launched a collection of more than 60 free-to-use icons that represent women in design, arts, technology and other professional fields.

  • 5 Golden Rules for Designing a Successful Logo

    5 Golden Rules for Designing a Successful Logo

    The keys for creating a quality logo, according to creative agency Tatabi Studio Elena Sancho of Tatabi Studio (@tatabi), a design studio that specializes in branding, spoke to us about the basic rules to ensure any logo can stand the test of time. Although all designs will appeal to different people according to taste, there are some objective principles that can give a logo quality. They will help guide your designs in the right direction. There should be an idea behind the design It is more likely to connect to users when there’s a story behind a logo. Look at Amazon, for example: it tells the story that Amazon has everything, from A-Z, the arrow relates to the delivery of the products and, finally, the line suggests a smile, that of the customer when they receive their package or the company when they send it, implying the friendliness of the brand. Logos without concepts aren’t memorable, ideas are what makes them interesting.

  • 5 Inspirational Quotes from Logo Design Master Sagi Haviv

    5 Inspirational Quotes from Logo Design Master Sagi Haviv

    We collected some of the best ideas from a talk given by Haviv, who came to Madrid to share his knowledge and career Sagi Haviv is a partner and designer at Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, a legendary studio responsible for the design of brands such as Mobil, PBS, NBC, Showtime or National Geographic; Haviv counts the logos for Animal Planet, US Open or Conservation International among his most well-known creations. The designer, one of the most influential names worldwide, spent a few days in Madrid to shoot his next course with Domestika, and took the opportunity to participate in the event Domestika Presents: Sagi Haviv, a design talk at the IED in Madrid. We collected some of the most inspiring phrases from the event, during which Haviv captivated the audience with his experience and knowledge.

  • The Story of Logos II: From Coca-Cola to MTV

    The Story of Logos II: From Coca-Cola to MTV

    What do the most recognizable logos of the 20th century have in common? Find out in the second part of “The Story of Logos” After learning about how logos have been a part of our world for longer than we previously thought, in part two of “The Story of Logos”, we focus on the development of the discipline–from its origins at the end of the 19th century to the present day. Find out more in the following video:

  • History of Logos I: Learn About the First-ever Logo

    History of Logos I: Learn About the First-ever Logo

    Discover how two thousand years of history have influenced the most recognizable logos today, in part one of “The Story of Logos” The omnipresence of brands has come to define both the 20th and 21st centuries. Decades ago, brands began to creep into our public life and, now, thanks to the evolution of digital technology, they invade every corner of our private life. Each one has its own visual identity: its logo. But why do some logos have so much more of an impact on us? What was the “first” logo in history? Does this question even really make sense? Discover the answer in the following video–part one of The Story of Logos–which focuses on the “prehistory” and origins of this form of graphic communication.