Want to improve your creative skills or learn a new creaft technique? The following digital platforms are a great starting point for learning and practicing new creative techniques: Domestika, CreativeLive, CreativeBug & Craftsy.
Learning a new skill has never been easier! Today, the internet offers a enormous selection of online courses that allow you to pick up something new from the comfort of your home. The demand for online courses was especially boosted by the pandemic when we had no choice but to learn from home. Courses for creative skills include everything from knitting and sewing to sketching, doodling, and origami paper. Yet with great variety comes uncertainty.Which platform is the right one and what courses are most effective.
To help you find the best platforms for learning new crafts, the sisterMAG team has researched 4 of the most popular platforms. Our article provides a brief analysis so you can decide which is right for you.
1.) DOMESTIKA
What is digital platform Domestika?
Our first suggestion is a fast-growing creative digital space that is relatively new to the online courses stage. Domestika is basically a community platform offering digital classes in various disciplines. The available categories include professionally produced courses such as illustration, marketing and business, design, music and audio, fashion, craft, and calligraphy. In addition, for those interested in mastering specific software programs, there is a wide range of courses on Adobe design software. Furthermore, Domestika also acts as a social media channel where people can share their portfolios. They can offer their creative skills and the already gained knowledge as freelancers. In addition, Domestika offers an integrated job board where users can search for the perfect new project.
What started as a small online forum for creative professionals to network and learn from each other is now a digital space where the best creative experts share their knowledge and skills. Domestika keeps building and further expanding its community by producing online courses for anyone who wants to unleash their creative potential and network with like-minded creatives from every corner of the world. Today, the online community is home to millions passionate about learning new creative skills.
The Pros and Cons of Domestika
PROS
– Quite professionally designed courses
– Highly qualified teachers
– Compared to other platforms Domestika is inexpensive
– Lifetime access to courses
– The platform strongly focuses on creative courses
– Offers optional subscription for further skills development
CONS
– No professional certificates at the end of the online course
– Complicated mobile app
Courses worth your attention
The platform has a great selection of courses worth the attention of anyone passionate about all things creative. What we would recommend are the courses in crafts. From Stamp making for textured pottery to crocheting, the design of beaded bags, and even pattern making, thanks to the platform, one can extend their reach in knowledge and probably pick up on a new hobby.
To you, our sisterMAG readers, we highly suggest the courses:
CreativeLife is a platform that recruits influencers and artists with a good track record in their working field to become part of the learning hub as instructors. Even though the professionals aren’t household names, there are highly qualified professionals, and that’s reflected in the course quality.Currently, on CreativeLive, there are more than 700 creative instructors. Assisting these experts are CreativeLive’s in-house production specialists. One intriguing aspect is that the sessions are filmed in front of an audience, much like a lecture. Doing so leads to engaging Q&A and a more dynamic lesson than simply speaking into a camera. Although the courses vary in length, most are separated into short, easy-to-digest units to help viewers obtain a better understanding.
Anyone interested in what the platform offers can choose between the free-of-charge streaming of the courses – 24 hours a day and the CreativeLive subscription option, where purchasing lessons is possible. An additional option is the CreativeLive Creator Pass which unlocks more than 1500+ courses.
The Pros and Cons of CreativeLive
PROS
– Professional instructors
– Free-of-charge classes 24/7
– Good course structure
CONS
– No certification at the end of the course
– Courses on-demand can be expensive.
– Not so hands-on platform as others in the field
Courses worth your attention
While browsing the offerings on the platform, we discovered a few courses that deserve your attention and can help you learn a new skill or develop your expertise in craft and design. Particularly interesting, we found the courses in Fashion Design and Making Fashion, where one can learn how to draw, draft, and sew. For those interested in painting and art, the Getting Started with Acrylic Pints class would help you master that technique and create some good art.
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The Creativebug platform is probably one of the cheapest platforms for online courses out there. Focusing predominately on creative lessons in art and sewing (yes, it is quite suitable for the sisterMAG readers), it has created a community of favorite social media personalities teaching viewers various skills. Exciting content on sewing, quilting, knitting, and crocheting provides a great way for anyone interested to get into the hobby or learn additional techniques to develop their capabilities.
What‘s interesting about the platform is that the courses are usually short and focuses on a single task or project. This kind of class is usually less than 30 minutes, so perfect for a quick watch. To these short courses, there are some more in-depth ones – running for several hours. They contain everything you need to learn about a particular craft and are a great way for beginners to get up to speed. The Creativebug platform uses a subscription model. However, if you aren’t sure whether you want to subscribe right away, you can enjoy the selection of courses through the free 60-day trial.
The Pros and Cons of Creativebug
PROS
– Very inexpensive
– High production value
– Great for beginners and hobbyists
CONS
– No certification at the end of the course
– Mostly focused on art and sewing
– Few advanced classes
Courses worth your attention
We recommend the course Knit Headbands: Three Ways (which will teach you how to make your DIY hair accessory. The Embroidered Heart Ornament another DIY decorating course that the sisterMAG team, who are passionate about all things handmade, can‘t pass up. Checking out all other courses on knitting and sewing can also be a good idea.
4.) CRAFTSY
What is digital platform Craftsy?
Are you interested in sewing courses, needlework courses, and patterns? Then the Craftsy platform is right for you. The former Bluprint reopened with a new name and more lessons to offer. Although it doesn’t have the typical creative community features such as marketplace and course reviews, Craftsy answers the demand for engaging sewing and DIY content. In addition to needlework, quilting and, of course, sewing, creative minds will find excellent classes in woodworking, cooking, paper crafting and more.
Should you want to try it out, you can take advantage of the free classes available on diverse topics. For those who want more in-depth content, there are two options – subscription or purchase of individual classes, though subscription is the better choice as it offers more than 1500 classes.
The Pros and Cons of Craftsy
PROS
– High quality of the production
– Variety of purchasing options
– Great selection of sewing and needlecrafts
CONS
– No certificates at the end of the course
– Missing typical community features
Courses worth your attention
As sewing and crafting enthusiasts, Craftsy seems to be the place for all of us to go when we want to learn new sewing-related skills. The classes that caught our attention are part of the It‘s Sew Easy series. With each session, there is a particular focus on different aspects of sewing. Usually, the emphasis varies from making accessories to sewing shoes.
Which platform would you choose?
We are sure that every platform has something exciting and valuable to offer. But learning is a pretty individual process, and what works for one person doesn‘t necessarily apply to another. Before diving into the world of online courses, carefully ponder all the pros and cons of the learning platforms so that you can make the best choice for you. Have fun learning!
