Rocío Egío’s work is immediately recognisable — vibrant colors, charming compositions and a heat that radiates from each challenge she touches. However to grasp her artistic voice, it’s essential begin by her roots.
Rising up in Alicante, Spain, Rocío was immersed within the vibrant hues of the Mediterranean, the place meals, household and sunshine shaped the cultural spine of on a regular basis life. “My love for daring colors and my obsession with meals, they’re all rooted in my upbringing,” she says.
This mix of visible richness, social connection, and optimism turned the muse for her visible language, which she is now identified for.
Curiously, Rocío’s artistic id has solely deepened since leaving Spain. Having spent the previous 9 years in Switzerland, she admits that distance has sharpened her connection to her Mediterranean roots. “Generally I ponder — would my artistic voice be the identical if I had developed it in one other place? I do not assume so. Context shapes us greater than we expect.”
From structure to illustration — and every part in between
Rocío’s path to illustration wasn’t straight. Like many creatively inclined kids, her dream was to change into an artist. Nevertheless, societal expectations nudged her in the direction of a “actual” profession, and structure appeared like the proper compromise. “Structure felt like stability between creativity and one thing extra ‘critical,'” she remembers.
It was a worthwhile detour, although, as her architectural coaching honed her sense of composition, stability, and construction. These expertise would later change into invaluable when she pivoted to illustration and graphic design.
“Structure gave me the most effective foundations — self-discipline, an eye fixed for composition, and a deep understanding of design, however illustration gave me freedom,” she says. “And that is the place I really discovered my voice.”
Turning dyslexia right into a superpower
One of many defining moments in Rocío’s journey was discovering she had dyslexia at age 24. Fairly than seeing it as a barrier, she embraced it as a artistic benefit. “Dyslexia makes studying and writing a problem, nevertheless it additionally gifted me a singular mind-set — extra visible, extra intuitive,” she explains.
That visual-first mindset naturally knowledgeable her method to communication. She says: “My work is all about simplifying complicated concepts, making data accessible and interesting by way of visuals. I do not simply illustrate — I translate concepts into the language I perceive greatest: photos.”
This emphasis on visible readability — usually infused with playful allure — has change into certainly one of her hallmarks.
Discovering a stability between chaos and calm
Relocating to Lausanne, Switzerland, for love, Rocío discovered herself navigating a tradition world other than the bustling Spanish plazas she grew up with. The distinction between Mediterranean spontaneity and Swiss precision formed each her private outlook and her artistic course of.
“I realized to decelerate, respect particulars, and embrace a extra intentional method to work and life,” she says. Switzerland’s calmer tempo provided the house to refine her craft, although she admits, “At times, I would like a dose of Mediterranean vitality!”
Luckily, common journeys again to Spain assist maintain her artistic compass aligned.
A breakthrough second and an sudden realisation
Like many illustrators, Rocío’s dream was to work with The New York Occasions, and when the decision got here, it was surreal. Nevertheless it was the second name that actually hit dwelling. “That is once I realised it wasn’t simply luck — my work was actually catching consideration,” she says.
Her signature skill to show complicated matters into clear, inviting visuals made her a pure match for editorial work, however certainly one of her most private initiatives — The Dyslexic Font, created with Pranav Bhardwaj — stands out as a profession spotlight.
“As a substitute of attempting to ‘repair’ dyslexia, we wished to indicate its strengths,” Rocío explains. The challenge provided a visible illustration of how dyslexic folks expertise textual content, utilizing shifting letterforms to mirror the fact of studying with dyslexia. “The response was wonderful as a result of it sparked conversations about accessibility, inclusivity, and the fantastic thing about other ways of pondering,” she provides.
Drawing with objective
Whereas editorial commissions introduced recognition, it is her purpose-driven work that holds essentially the most which means for Rocío. A challenge with the Worldwide Commerce Middle in Tanzania, the place she illustrated a information to assist native farmers optimise cinnamon plantations, stays a private favorite.
“Most of the farmers had been illiterate, so visuals had been important. It jogged my memory that photos are a common language,” she says. Tasks like this reinforce her perception that illustration can transcend borders, bridge cultures, and make data accessible in ways in which phrases generally cannot.
Out of her consolation zone and into the classroom
Not all of Rocío’s milestones contain pen and paper. Her first workshop on Artistic Voice utterly pushed her out of her consolation zone.
“For the primary time, I wasn’t simply drawing; I used to be sharing my concepts, theories, and experiences with a room filled with creatives,” she says. The expertise was nerve-wracking at first however finally transformative. “That workshop was the start of one thing a lot greater — la College.”
Now, guiding others to seek out and refine their very own artistic voices has change into a core a part of her observe, one which brings simply as a lot satisfaction as shopper work.
Private fashion as a artistic milestone
One of many moments she holds closest got here not from a fee however from an informal remark. “Somebody advised me, ‘Rocío, you gown precisely like your illustrations.'”
For Rocío, it confirmed that her work wasn’t simply aesthetic; it was an extension of her character, values, and worldview. That seamless integration of self and work—what she calls “Artistic Voice 360º”—is now one thing she encourages each illustrator to hunt out.
Credit score: Estudio Gagarin
What’s subsequent for Rocío Egío?
After constructing her studio, launching her store, and founding her college, Rocío is now in what she calls a “season of nurturing.”
“We creatives love to start out new initiatives, however we regularly neglect to take care of what we have already constructed,” she says. This 12 months is all about deepening her connection to her current platforms earlier than chasing the following huge thought.
Recommendation for aspiring illustrators
For illustrators searching for their very own distinct artistic voices, Rocío has one easy piece of recommendation: experiment relentlessly.
“Your artistic voice is not one thing you discover in a single day — it is one thing you construct, refine, and develop into,” she says. “Strive issues. Play. See what excites you. Do not be afraid to fail and study.”
It is that openness to exploration—paired with a dedication to authenticity and readability—that has outlined Rocío’s work and continues to encourage her rising viewers.
She says, “Keep true to your authenticity. Construct your artistic enterprise aligned along with your essence.”
In different phrases — draw like your self, gown like your self, and do not be afraid to let the world see each.
Credit score: Estudio Gagarin
