Where do we get inspiration from? What makes us feel the need to do and be better? Social media plays a pivotal role in psychological growth and balances our emotional as well as mental health. Various platforms with their unique characteristics exhibit the best sources of information in the form of digital media. One of them is Youtube. We watch over a billion hours worth of Youtube content each day which tells us how widely recognized this social platform is.
There are thousands of Youtube channels that work on documenting, producing and exploring various forms of human life and nature. The platform is so wildly popular; it has over 1.9 billion logged-in monthly users. So, here’s a list of 10 must-watch Youtube channels, because let’s be serious, you also personally hate to browse hundreds of channels to find that one perfect tutorial that satisfies your expectations.
1. Yes I’m a Designer
Martin Perhiniak has worked as a designer and a retoucher for BBC’s Dr Who, Pixar’s Cars and Toy Story. His tutorials are a key to the world of graphic designing and an excellent source of educating oneself with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. From vector illustration art, comic and anime character designs, logo design, augmented reality, best trends, stylized portraits, etc., this youtube channel talks about rudimentary techniques and makes one specialize in graphic illustration with professional skills.



2. Dan Gartman
He is a professional illustrator who intermixes his childlike yet very bold imagination with characteristic sketches. This is one of the few youtube channels that excel in creating time-lapses with game and cartoon developing skills. Dan provides incentives on how an artist develops a character and what inventive measures a design requires.



3. 30X40 Design Workshop
Architecture graduates struggle with working efficiency and the need to fulfil a client’s expectations and demands. 30X40 Design Workshop is the perfect platform for young architects as well as architecture students. Eric W. Reinholdt, the founder, demonstrates excellent proficiency in site analysis, processes involved in building and designing, differences between an architect and structural engineer but majorly the tools, tips and techniques that make one fully equipped with professional knowledge. One can’t find Youtube channels with such diversity and professional efficiency.



4. Show it Better
Architectural Representation is the ultimatum for every architect, young graduate and architecture student. Why? Because attaining knowledge, collecting data, analyzing aspects and producing concepts is not just limited to your mind or sketchbooks. One needs to be able to acquire techniques that help in perfectly presenting the work to clients or jurors. Rendering software, animating landscape sections to what type of computer architects need. Many Youtube channels shower viewers with rendering vids but not as good as this one.



5. National Geographic
What is better than a youtube channel that provides information about literally everything. There are descriptions and discussions on topics such as ‘The Real Amazons,’ ‘The Murder of King Jong Un’s Brother,’ ‘How to Demolish Concrete,’ ‘Camping on Sea Ice with Whale Hunters,’ etc., which substantiate the diverse choices of content creators. This youtube channel works on the documentation of various aspects of human life and everything. You think of a topic, there is already a documentary about it.



6. Real Stories
Real Stories is one of the few Youtube channels that unveil the truth in its raw and original form instead of cooking up lies and only presenting a shred of the truth. From the world’s horrible crimes to catching the biggest supply of Narcotics, they create true documentaries.



7. The Art Assignment
The Art Assignment is hosted by curator Sarah Urist Green. Their work is a great example of how one can understand art and art history. From concepts such as ‘Surrealism’ to great artists such as ‘Ai Weiwei,’ this youtube channel produces in-depth videos on paintings and other great artists and their works. Understanding art in its pure form can be difficult for beginners but this channel has a really good collection as compared to other Youtube channels.



8. The Architectural Insider
Architectural Visualization, 3D illustration, site rendering are some of the most crucial and prominent elements of design development. The Architectural Insider is a perfect mix of simple illustration detailing and site features along with an overview of the best apps, how to design a portfolio and basic plan rendering.



9. Smart History
History and art history based Youtube channels are difficult to find because not many are authentic. Smart history aims at introducing the world to different cultural sites. They cover a wide range of information in the form of cultural objects from the Paleolithic to the present day. ‘Tiny Timelines’ is one of their best works for history lovers since one gets to learn about a whole era in just a few minutes. They have videos dedicated to frescoes, mosaics, Michelangelo’s David, Aztec warriors, Botticelli’s Primavera, Column of Trajan.


The visit of the Queen of Sheba to Image source : Image 28_King Solomon (from Hutchinson’s History of the Nations, published 1915) -_©Design Pics Inc/Rex
10. The National Gallery
They have a wide range of videos from artists belonging to the 13th and 20th centuries. One can enjoy interviews, talk shows, insights into exhibitions, etc. A huge number of masterpieces are scientifically studied and renaissance masterpieces are carefully retouched.



We are surrounded by art, culture and history. Each of us finds ways to understand these principles uniquely and that can be done by bettering our social networks and maintaining authentic data circulation.
References
Thrillist. (n.d.). The 15 Biggest YouTube Channels Right Now. [online] Available at: https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/top-youtube-channels-most-popular-youtubers [Accessed 2 Jul. 2021].
99designs. (2018). 20 inspiring YouTube design channels to follow. [online] Available at: https://99designs.com/blog/creative-inspiration/must-watch-youtube-design-channels/
Feedspot Blog. (2018). 20 Architecture Youtube Channels for Architects. [online] Available at: https://blog.feedspot.com/architecture_youtube_channels/ [Accessed 1 Jul. 2021].