Bàrbara Castro, former EINA student, prize-winner at the Bologna Book Fair

Bàrbara Castro, former EINA student, tells us of her experience of how her professional life has taken various turns since having studied graphic design at EINA. Recently her publishing project ¡A dormir, gatitos!) won an award at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2019 in the Toddler category.

Many congratulations for your prize at the Bologna Book Fair! How did you feel?

Very surprised by the award, and especially very grateful to them for having considered a book that’s different from the usual books for early childhood. Since then, happy and thrilled by the possible projects that may open up for me from now on.

What are you working on at the moment?

Two years ago, I decided to have a change and go into teaching, specifically secondary school teaching. After the training needed to get into it, right now I’m getting into my classes at the same time as progressing in my career as an illustrator. With the recent publication of my first book as an author, “A dormir, gatets!”, I’m fully into promoting and publicising it at the same time as working with the publisher on a second book that’s about to come out. Parallel to this, I’m looking for moments in which to take on a new illustrated album project I’ve got in mind.

When you finished your course at EINA, what were your first steps professionally speaking?

I began my career as a graphic designer in the EINA publications department. I set up the department, putting into practice the new visual identity created by Amèrica Sànchez, another learning opportunity, and with the great fortune that I found myself very well accepted in the context of the school.

What has been your professional pathway since leaving EINA?

After a year working at EINA, I joined the Grafica studio, with Pablo Martín. Taking into account the years I spent at the school, Grafica was my second important learning experience in the design and communication world, at the same time as my own personal stamp was being forged. Five years later, I left the studio to go travelling in Latin America, which was a turning point in my career. On returning, I began studying illustration at the Escola de la Dona, a discipline I subsequently combined with graphic design under the La Bàrbara stamp. Years later, my profession has turned completely to illustration, primarily with a view towards children’s publishing, without forgetting my more graphics and communicative aspect.

You retrained not so long ago. What made you do this?

Getting into teaching meant getting up to date in my academic qualifications. The Bachelor’s Degree in Design was the first step. The next was doing the Master’s Degree in Teacher Training, which I completed last year.

What do you most remember about your time at EINA?

The commitment and motivation that studying graphic design alongside great professionals who I admired gave me. Added to that is the setting that the school gave me, such as the nearness to Parc de Collserola and the school’s facilities, and the good dynamics with teachers and classmates (very good friendships that I still have).

What do you think you learned at EINA that you’ve been able to bring as an added value to your work?

A cross-disciplinary vision where communication and the essence of the message prevail over the form of each project. And, above all, interdisciplinarity and intersubjectivity, two very basic aspects in my life.

What are your plans for the future?

To establish ties between teaching and publishing illustration, two worlds with great points in common. Being part of the education of our teenagers is a great professional and personal challenge for me. And taking this path, at the same time as establishing my career as a children’s book illustrator, fills me with enormous satisfaction!