Judit Zengővári: Drawing Outside the Comfort Zone

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

These days, I’m living and working in Budapest, and I’m lucky to say I have a shared space with other amazing fellow creatives and illustrators. It’s the best thing to see my friends every day at work. 

It was a long journey for me to find this path, but I couldn’t be happier to be here today.

In secondary school, I wanted to be a fashion designer, but I didn’t get into university. A few years later, I ended up studying graphic design. These university years shaped my visual thinking a lot.

Then, 5–9 work life started, and I worked as a graphic designer in a studio. That was followed by the realisation that this did not suit me; I felt lost and needed a change. So we took a 9-month break with my partner and travelled through Italy by bike, leaving our apartments and jobs. It was way out of my comfort zone, but the best decision of my life.

Your work is known for its bold colours and joyful visuals- how has your personal style evolved over time?

Thank you for saying that! I love to think of this as a muscle; the more I practice and dedicate time to it, the more I find out what feels right to me and what doesn’t. It’s about extracting and narrowing things down.

For example, when I started illustration, I was interested in drawing broader things and was fascinated by minimalism. While it still inspires me, I realised I’m the kind of illustrator who loves adding tiny details and filling the space with fun elements. 

Also, over time, I started to think more about the use of the work and how these illustrations can stand out on different surfaces, like greeting cards or patterns on clothing.

Can you tell us about a pivotal moment when you decided to focus on illustration full-time?

I  have been interested in illustration since my university years, but I never really thought I could ever be good enough to do it as a profession.

When we were cycling in Italy, I brought an iPad with me, and I really enjoyed drawing freely on this device.

During this journey, we went through many weird and hard situations, and my strength grew a lot, both mentally and physically. I realised that if I could go that far, I could also do other things I had been dreaming of. It really changed my perspective. I remember I told my boyfriend around our sixth month on the road that if we got home, I would become an illustrator.

What was it about the 9-month cycling trip that influenced you the most? Be it artistically or spiritually?

Waking up by the seaside, cycling all day, and meeting all the amazing and helpful people shifted me into a totally different state of mind. This feeling of freedom will stay with me forever.

Where do you find inspiration on days when creativity feels elusive?

Sometimes it can be tricky for me too! I try to focus more on things that make me happy and reduce my screen time.

I drink coffee with my friends, visit an exhibition, go to an art workshop, or do something completely different, like dancing or going for a bike ride.

I think real connections are super important to finding my spark again, both with others and with myself.

For creatives who feel stuck or unsure, what would you say about the value of stepping away, even temporarily, from a conventional path?

I love this question, and I probably sound cheesy. But what helped me in this situation, and is still a good reminder that it’s really worth listening to your inner voice, whatever people say around you. If you need a change, you might need to choose a different path that’s far away from what others consider “the good side”. Find people who choose to take this path, learn from them, reach out to them, and ask questions. It gives a lot of motivation when you feel you are not alone, when you feel lost.

Taking risks can be scary, but it is necessary to find your path. 

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on so far - and what made it special?

It’s really hard to highlight one because there have been so many that were close to my heart in different ways!

So this might sound like I want to please you, but I’ll use this question to tell you a fun secret about why our project with Lagom Design feels special on a deeper level:

A few years back, I made a fake email address and wrote a list of clients I wanted to work with. I wrote a brief to motivate myself to create work that really suited my portfolio. And the first fake inquiry I wrote came from Lagom Design. So manifestation works!

What would be your dream project or collaboration?

My dream would be to travel for work. I’d really love to be sent on a journey where I can observe a place, meet local people, and then create a print collection — like The Jaunt.