One of the most rapidly growing trends in current society is the constantly expanding demand for flexible and affordable online learning. In a world where new skills and areas of applied knowledge are becoming increasingly sought-after, this kind of simplified studying at a distance presents a uniquely interesting opportunity for personal, as well as professional, development. In this context, a new and highly competitive learning platform has emerged: Domestika.
So the question we need to answer is, is Domestika really worth it? In this article, we shall review some aspects of the platform, and explore these issues so you can make up your own mind about it.
What is Domestika?
Already boasting thousands of students and teachers around the globe, Domestika has established itself as one of the most significant educational communities in Europe, with a rapidly growing userbase around the world. The core concept at its root is one already quite familiar to those acquainted with other competing platforms – most prominent among them, Udemy, MasterClass, and Coursera – namely, the idea that one should be able to study and learn from the comfort of home.
For a good introduction and some practical tips related to some of the best-known online learning platforms, have a look at this comparison between Udemy and Coursera, and this review of the increasingly popular MasterClass platform for an overall idea of what these sites are all about.
This type of learning is particularly well suited for people who are already occupied with day jobs or students who are pursuing full-time studies in other areas, to complement their knowledge base and expand their set of marketable skills.
As one might expect, Domestika is populated with extremely diverse and practical courses, aimed at very specific and technical fields of expertise: anything and everything from how to write a script for a movie, how to create a marketing plan, all the way to 3D projects building, and almost anything you can imagine.
It´s worth noting that, in contrast to most specialized online training, the focus of the platform is clearly in the general area of practical skills required for specific jobs and activities, rather than highly academic theoretical subjects. Think anything relating to creative endeavors in the arts or business, and you´ll more than likely find something useful toward that end on Domestika.
What the platform specifically provides its users with is a global meeting point between creative professionals and experts from around the world, allowing them to share their passion and skills in an environment designed to stimulate innovation and foster new creative ways of thinking.
Some of the main areas or subjects in which courses are offered include the following:
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- Business and marketing
- Illustration
- Video and photography
- Arts and crafts
- Digital Animation
- Design
- Calligraphy
- Technology
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…as well as many other similar fields.
The roots of the platform date back to 2004, when Domestika was first formed as a community of creatives in Barcelona, Spain. They began their journey meeting at local forums and workshops.
With time, they decided to take their activities online to reach a wider number of interested users and expand their base. Today, they operate from their headquarters in San Francisco, with several local offices around the world.
Domestika takes great pride in distinguishing itself from the competition by making sure all of its courses are up to the highest standards of quality, both in their content as well as for their instructors. The high production value and top-of-the-line study materials make the learning experience as close to in-person learning as possible, supported by a vibrant community of eager learners and professionals.
One thing to bear in mind, though, is that most of the courses presently offered by Domestika are spoken in Spanish, with generated subtitles available in English, German, and Portuguese. This is something that is important to note. However, considering the highly practical and hands-on nature of most of the subjects taught in the courses, it´s fair to say that many people will be able to benefit from following the instruction even with the subtitles, just by observing the explanations and auxiliary materials.
Another interesting aspect to note is that Domestika actually started off as a social media platform of sorts. This means that you can create your own profile within it, which you can then use as a kind of digital portfolio for making new contacts and connections in relevant fields. Even though most of the networking employers and companies on the platform are currently Spanish, international ones do exist as well – and this could prove to be an invaluable asset when it comes to developing a new career in any given subject.
What is Domestika known for as a learning platform?
In a world populated with more and more ways of learning, Domestika is certainly faced with some heavy competition on all fronts. So, to determine whether it´s legit and really worth it (or not), let´s take a look at the reputation it has currently on the internet among users.
On their Facebook page, you can find over fifteen hundred reviews from users around the world who have taken courses on Domestika. While it´s not surprising to find a critical review here and there, it must be said that the vast majority of reviews are very good – indeed, the platform enjoys an average score of 4.5 stars out of 5. This gives strong support to the positive user experience in general.
The same can be said of App Store, where it has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 (with nearly two thousand reviews posted), and Playstore gives it an overall score of 4.6 out of 5, based on more than ten thousand individual reviews.
In the Spanish Emagister platform, which gathers and monitors online education offerings, Domestika appears as the number one source for quality training in the area of design. While on Trustpilot it has a rather low review of 3.0, it should be noted that it only has 16 ratings for it. Especially within the Spanish-speaking market, it appears that Domestika has a very well-established leadership position.
As far as security is concerned, all the pages on the platform are secured (HTTPS), meaning that all personal data, passwords, and transactions remain fully secure and private, with no risk to the user.
Furthermore, Paypal can be used as a payment method across the entire platform.
So, how does it work?
All Domestika courses are offered 100% online. Most of them require purchase, although significant discounts are offered regularly. There are two fundamental ways you can access the courses: either by paying for an individual course as a unit or by subscribing to the platform itself. The way you can do this is by first signing up, creating your account on the platform, and then selecting either a course you wish to purchase or by choosing the subscription option. Once payment has been processed, the user has unlimited access to the course materials in their chosen course, or some from the entire platform in the case of the subscription, with no time limits whatsoever.
Most of the materials come in the form of 2-4 hours of video per unit, alongside some additional materials (such as reading, spreadsheets, charts, etc.). These are all designed to facilitate the learning process, which is always focused mainly on the visual presentations in video format. Courses can also be accessed on mobile devices, both Android and iOS, with the possibility of downloading lesson materials for offline viewing.
How much does Domestika cost?
First off, let´s look at what typical individual courses on Domestika usually cost.
Normally, the price range tends to be around 10-40 dollars per course, with each course consisting of approximately five to ten hours of video content, divided into segments. Also included is a final project, where the various learned skills are brought together. This project can then be used on the user´s personal portfolio on the network, and to share with potential employers.
In addition, there are other options on offer – including the subscription – which we´ll take a look at now:
Domestika Basics
A relatively new development on the platform, Basics is essentially a way of learning to use a specific piece of software, from absolute beginner to proficient user, presented as one cohesive package of learning. Examples include software such as Photoshop, Ableton Live, Final Cut Pro, and many others. The principal benefit of this type of option is that it bundles together a whole range of individual classes and courses so that you only need the package itself to gain all the necessary skills with the chosen software program.
They are also heavily discounted, seemingly on a permanent basis. Pricing is around ten dollars per package. Some of these bundles include up to ten hours of learning, so it´s definitely a great value for money.
Domestika course bundles
Another way to study on Domestika is by purchasing a bundle of courses. This is especially useful for gathering together several courses around a specific subject or skill you wish to pursue. There are a number of pre-existing bundles on offer, which offer a number of select courses together at a discount rate of 30-50 % compared to the regular price. Also, you have the option of creating your own custom bundle by simply selecting any three or six courses of your choosing.
For those who may know already exactly the kind of training they´re looking for, this option is an excellent way of saving money while getting precisely the contents best suited for their needs.
Domestika Pro
Finally, there is Domestika Pro – the subscription option. It is essentially a yearly subscription service, by which you gain access to the entire platform for a year. The usual annual cost is 59 dollars – but this price does very often get reduced by temporary offers and discounts, so be sure to check at any given time.
Here´s what you get with an annual subscription:
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- A wide range of monthly free courses on offer, which subscribers and benefit from.
- A guaranteed 20% discount off of every course on offer, permanently.
- Open (free) access for seven days to any course on the platform.
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In addition, subscribers have the benefit of having access to unlimited messaging on the site’s social media platform, as well as direct support and news updates delivered directly.
The Pro option is a great way of getting tons of free material, learning about various subjects one may not have previously considered of interest, and getting free trial periods for any course that captures your interest. Then, should you choose to pursue any given course to completion, you can purchase the course at a much lower price while getting all the support and networking you need.
Does Domestika provide users with certification after completing a course?
Pro subscribers do receive downloadable online certificates for all coursework they have completed on the platform.
It´s important to note that certificates from Domestika certainly do not have the same value or applicability as academic degrees from universities or a diploma from high school; however, they are useful as a way to demonstrate initiative, interest, and experience to any future prospective employers, and they provide tangible proof of commitment to learning in your chosen field or adjacent areas of expertise.
Also, many centers of higher learning recognize these certificates when it comes to applying them to complimentary credits, and therefore they certainly can be used for completing your training as part of your curriculum.
So, in short, it does provide a certificate of completion – although it is not a recognized academic degree as such, it does add value.
To gain a better understanding of what value certification in specific fields – especially in technology – can bring for your career development, here´s a useful article you might want to have a look at. It will give you a comprehensive overview of the general benefits associated with getting an IT or technology-related certification, such as the ones offered by Domestika on their platform.
Okay, so how can I try Domestika for free before I commit?
Fortunately, it´s indeed possible for anybody interested in Domestika to properly try out its features and contents, absolutely free of charge. In fact, you don´t even need to create an account on the platform to do this. Domestika has made available a selection of around ten full courses for free, open for anybody to try out.
You will be getting full access to the entire course materials; however, you obviously won´t be eligible for a certificate of completion, nor will you have access to the forums – for that you need to purchase the course in question.
Verdict – is Domestika then worth it, or not?
The courses on offer on Domestika are well-known for their quality content and very professional presentations. They offer up-to-date, highly specialized, and practically oriented training on a wide range of subjects that are constantly in demand in the professional world, with a particular focus on creative and innovative aspects.
Domestika stands out from among its competitors because it is first and foremost a social community of creative learners and professionals, which at its heart is a social network of its own; therefore, it´s much more than simply a digital platform for distance learning – it is a place to connect, share and network with like-minded people, and thus further your career in surprising ways.
And, for those willing to take the plunge and become Pro subscribers, they will receive the added benefits of getting discounted access as well as free trials to any courses they desire, plus the certificates, support, and community networking that comes along with it.
Here, in summary, are the main pros and cons of Domestika:
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- PRO: The content is extremely high-quality across the board.
- PRO: It is a constantly growing community and an excellent opportunity for making connections.
- CON: The apps are somewhat less user-friendly than the desktop version of the site.
- CON: There is a language barrier since most courses are spoken in Spanish with generated subtitles.
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In summary, Domestika is a great choice for people interested in learning and acquiring new skills from the comfort of their home. It offers very good value for a very reasonable range of prices and is a very valuable tool for furthering a new career path due to its social nature. Any professionals looking to expand their skillset would do well in checking out their offers, especially by taking advantage of the free open courses on offer at any given time.
The price of individual courses is very low, and refunds are provided within fourteen days if you are not satisfied. There are constantly new courses being offered alongside discounts, and what´s really great about purchasing a course is that you get lifetime access to its contents forever, without ever having to spend another dime on it. Or you could explore the whole range as a subscriber while benefitting from free courses and trial access, as well as downloadable certificates for your work.
So, overall, it´s a great opportunity that should not be ignored by anybody interested in furthering their career or acquiring new valuable skills.
