Creativebug feels like Pinterest come to life. Short, bite-sized snackable tutorials, curated and quick. This makes it feel fun, friendly and light.
Most of the creative online learning platforms I’m reviewing in this series have the same features: video players, shared student projects, downloadables, etc. So it’s worth it to focus on what makes them different. For Creativebug, I think the biggest defining feature is actually the pricing and payment model. That payment model even affects their catalog, how people use the service, and it affects the relative “size” of the courses.
There’s a sort of false economy with online learning. People may tend to think “Hey this course long, great value!” But within our attention economy in full effect (oldie but goodie Wired, 1997), we have limited time to devote to anything, much less online learning. From my experience making screencasts, it takes much less time to make a 20 mins screencast than a 5 mins screencast. That compact-ness requires careful scripting and editing. Less really is more. Online learning is moving to shorter formats, and personalized environments. In fact I think for Creativebug, moving to personalization would make a big impact in their experience. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Quick tour of Creativebug
What’s in the Creativebug box?
The Creativebug platform includes:
- Video player
- Note taking and bookmarking capability.
- Downloadable PDFs
Interactivity includes:
- Student projects
Tips to get the most out of Creativebug:
- Take a free class https://www.creativebug.com/free-craft-classes
- Sign up to the Free trial
- Share projects and interact with others
Overall impressions of Creativebug
I first heard about Creativebug on Crafts from the Cwtch. As Sarah pointed out, the tutorials are mainly product-based. I almost feel like Creativebug is Pinterest come to life. The topics are often so specific as to fit in a little Pin. But instead of images, you have a friendly instructor with step-by-step activities. The projects seem specific enough that you could conceivably watch a little class, and finish a project in that afternoon. Invite your friends over to make Painted Canvas Pillows or Watercolour Silhouettes! That is sort of how I see Creativebug being used.
“CreativeBug also seems more sort of hip and artsy, while Craftsy is more traditional/crafty,” as Tiny Rotten Peanuts observed. That’s pretty spot-on. I think if you want to build crafts skills, you’d turn to Craftsy but if you want to just make a decoration for a party this weekend, you’d go to Creativebug.
Creativebug seem to work closely with sponsors, such as Michaels which is a craft store in the US. If you’re not in the US, many references about shops, products, etc aren’t relevant. For example a class on dyeing with Kool-aid may leave you wishing you could get technicolour foodstuffs in your country.
Let’s look at the catalog in more detail.
The Creativebug catalog
You can watch quick tutorials for a little decoration, or get absorbed in a longer course to build a specific skill. The Drawing and Illustrations basics course with Heather Ross is over 3 hours long. Sketchbook explorations is another in-depth class. These might be worth the subscription alone.
However it’s the fact that it’s subscription based, and more like a magazine that you’ll feel enticed to maintain your subscription. Check out the calendar when you visit the site.
You can see there will be more courses coming up, and you can set up reminders.
They have a range of instructors on Creativebug. They have attracted recognizable talents to their platform. Though the bulk of classes aren’t by those experienced instructors, so the quality can be variable, as one reviewer commented. My main issue is that I don’t find many of the courses enticing. Do I need a tutorial on making a silhouette picture? I think if you’re stuck for ideas though, there’s so much inspiration. I could imagine checking out the catalog when I want to add a hand-made present to a gift. So in that sense, my comparison to Pinterest stands here.
My real issue is that I find Creativebug hard to navigate. I feel like I can’t find things or browse. If I find a class I’m interested in and don’t book mark it, I’d be worried I wouldn’t find it again.
They use the “load more” option at the bottom of each page, and I’m like: when does it end? Am I seeing everything? Again, with a Pinterest comparison, they have a seemingly bottomless pit with a similar grid-style gallery. But my strategy for browsing on Creativebug is very different from discovery and collection on Pinterest. So it seems a strange model to copy, if that is what they are doing.
I think a huge step would be if they included a powerful, faceted search to the platform. In the future, if they included personalization and better browsing capability, their wide ranging catalog will be easier for people to find the value in. Unless the mystery meat navigation was done on purpose?
Creativebug’s special sauce: The Creativebug pricing model
I think the pricing model is generous and attractive, and it’s hopefully going to pay off for Creativebug in a large user base. Currently their pricing is $4.95. Apparently a few years ago, it was $9.95 Creativebug is least expensive outlay in comparison to other platforms I’m reviewing. They also give you one credit per month which allows you to “save” a course you really like. So even when you no longer subscribe, you still have access. This seems to me the most generous of all the platforms.
Free to try: I signed up for the free Creativebug subscription to review a few classes. It’s one of the only learning platforms I am reviewing in this series that gives you full access during a trial period. FREE, for real. Credit card required, but still, that displays a lot of trust in their viewers and the model.
Because they are enticing subscribers to stay, there is a drive on their part to continue to publish new courses and tempt subscribers with the upcoming catalog. They are not bound to try and get higher price tags on their courses, they can fill a special niche with shorter courses. This means the environment seems ever-changing and evolving.
I’ve also reviewed and Craftsy and Creativelive if you’re curious!
