Credit: Estudio Gagarin
Whether she’s working with The New York Times, teaching workshops on creative voice, or crafting guides for cinnamon farmers, Rocío Egío’s career is a celebration of curiosity, culture, and the endless power of images to connect us all.
Rocío Egío’s work is instantly recognisable — vibrant colours, charming compositions and a warmth that radiates from every project she touches. But to understand her creative voice, you need to start by looking at her roots.
Growing up in Alicante, Spain, Rocío was immersed in the vibrant hues of the Mediterranean, where food, family and sunshine formed the cultural backbone of everyday life. “My love for bold colours and my obsession with food, they’re all rooted in my upbringing,” she says.
This blend of visual richness, social connection, and optimism became the foundation for her visual language, which she is now known for.
Interestingly, Rocío’s creative identity has only deepened since leaving Spain. Having spent the past nine years in Switzerland, she admits that distance has sharpened her connection to her Mediterranean roots. “Sometimes I wonder — would my creative voice be the same if I had developed it in another place? I don’t think so. Context shapes us more than we think.”
From architecture to illustration — and everything in between
Rocío’s path to illustration wasn’t straight. Like many creatively inclined children, her dream was to become an artist. However, societal expectations nudged her towards a “real” career, and architecture seemed like the perfect compromise. “Architecture felt like a good balance between creativity and something more ‘serious,'” she recalls.
It was a valuable detour, though, as her architectural training honed her sense of composition, balance, and structure. These skills would later become invaluable when she pivoted to illustration and graphic design.
“Architecture gave me the best foundations — discipline, an eye for composition, and a deep understanding of design, but illustration gave me freedom,” she says. “And that’s where I truly found my voice.”
Turning dyslexia into a superpower
One of the defining moments in Rocío’s journey was discovering she had dyslexia at age 24. Rather than seeing it as a barrier, she embraced it as a creative advantage. “Dyslexia makes reading and writing a challenge, but it also gifted me a unique way of thinking — more visual, more intuitive,” she explains.
That visual-first mindset naturally informed her approach to communication. She says: “My work is all about simplifying complex ideas, making information accessible and engaging through visuals. I don’t just illustrate — I translate ideas into the language I understand best: images.”
This emphasis on visual clarity — often infused with playful charm — has become one of her hallmarks.
Finding a balance between chaos and calm
Relocating to Lausanne, Switzerland, for love, Rocío found herself navigating a culture world apart from the bustling Spanish plazas she grew up with. The contrast between Mediterranean spontaneity and Swiss precision shaped both her personal outlook and her creative process.
“I learned to slow down, appreciate details, and embrace a more intentional approach to work and life,” she says. Switzerland’s calmer pace offered the space to refine her craft, though she admits, “Now and then, I need a dose of Mediterranean energy!”
Fortunately, regular trips back to Spain help keep her creative compass aligned.
A breakthrough moment and an unexpected realisation
Like many illustrators, Rocío’s dream was to work with The New York Times, and when the call came, it was surreal. But it was the second call that really hit home. “That’s when I realised it wasn’t just luck — my work was really catching attention,” she says.
Her signature ability to turn complex topics into clear, inviting visuals made her a natural fit for editorial work, but one of her most personal projects — The Dyslexic Font, created with Pranav Bhardwaj — stands out as a career highlight.
“Instead of trying to ‘fix’ dyslexia, we wanted to show its strengths,” Rocío explains. The project offered a visual representation of how dyslexic people experience text, using shifting letterforms to reflect the reality of reading with dyslexia. “The response was amazing because it sparked conversations about accessibility, inclusivity, and the beauty of different ways of thinking,” she adds.
Drawing with purpose
While editorial commissions brought recognition, it’s her purpose-driven work that holds the most meaning for Rocío. A project with the International Trade Center in Tanzania, where she illustrated a guide to help local farmers optimise cinnamon plantations, remains a personal favourite.
“Many of the farmers were illiterate, so visuals were essential. It reminded me that images are a universal language,” she says. Projects like this reinforce her belief that illustration can transcend borders, bridge cultures, and make knowledge accessible in ways that words sometimes can’t.
Out of her comfort zone and into the classroom
Not all of Rocío’s milestones involve pen and paper. Her first workshop on Creative Voice completely pushed her out of her comfort zone.
“For the first time, I wasn’t just drawing; I was sharing my ideas, theories, and experiences with a room full of creatives,” she says. The experience was nerve-wracking at first but ultimately transformative. “That workshop was the beginning of something much bigger — la School.”
Now, guiding others to find and refine their own creative voices has become a core part of her practice, one that brings just as much satisfaction as client work.
Personal style as a creative milestone
One of the moments she holds closest came not from a commission but from a casual observation. “Someone told me, ‘Rocío, you dress exactly like your illustrations.'”
For Rocío, it confirmed that her work wasn’t just aesthetic; it was an extension of her personality, values, and worldview. That seamless integration of self and work—what she calls “Creative Voice 360º”—is now something she encourages every illustrator to seek out.
Credit: Estudio Gagarin
What’s next for Rocío Egío?
After building her studio, launching her shop, and founding her school, Rocío is now in what she calls a “season of nurturing.”
“We creatives love to start new projects, but we often forget to care for what we’ve already built,” she says. This year is all about deepening her connection to her existing platforms before chasing the next big idea.
Advice for aspiring illustrators
For illustrators seeking their own distinct creative voices, Rocío has one simple piece of advice: experiment relentlessly.
“Your creative voice isn’t something you find overnight — it’s something you build, refine, and grow into,” she says. “Try things. Play. See what excites you. Don’t be afraid to fail and learn.”
It’s that openness to exploration—paired with a commitment to authenticity and clarity—that has defined Rocío’s work and continues to inspire her growing audience.
She says, “Stay true to your authenticity. Build your creative business aligned with your essence.”
In other words — draw like yourself, dress like yourself, and don’t be afraid to let the world see both.
Credit: Estudio Gagarin
