Kristina Đenadić (DYEH-nah-deech) is a Serbian-Hungarian art director, illustrator, and creative project lead based in Vienna. Besides working with traditional publishers, Kristina helps independent children's book authors navigate the self-publishing process through clear art direction, strategic visual planning, and impactful illustration, ensuring every book is cohesive, compelling, and built for success.
Focused on:
• Illustration
• Character design
• Visual IP development
• Art direction
• Book-as-a-product strategy
• Licensing & merchandise-ready systems
Graduated in 2017 with a BAA in Costume Design and Fine Arts at the University of Arts in Belgrade, and works in publishing, animation, and video games, specialising in children's book illustration and character design.• Illustration
• Character design
• Visual IP development
• Art direction
• Book-as-a-product strategy
• Licensing & merchandise-ready systems
And here is the long story! :D
My journey started at the age of three, when I saw the Painter changing the world with his magical paintbrush in an old Croatian/American animated film. I said: MOM! I WANT TO BE A PAINTER! And ever since, I've simply chased the (fine) artist's path.
My journey started at the age of three, when I saw the Painter changing the world with his magical paintbrush in an old Croatian/American animated film. I said: MOM! I WANT TO BE A PAINTER! And ever since, I've simply chased the (fine) artist's path.
The Painter
Felt pen & wax crayons on paper, 1996
My love for fine arts and costume design grew simultaneously and at the age of 14, I was lucky enough to be the first generation of costume design students at the art high school Tehnoart Belgrade. Later I continued my BAA studies in fine & applied arts and costume design at the University of Arts in Belgrade, and worked on movies, plays, and exhibited in many gallery shows.
During my studies, I gradually switched to digital art, and a couple of months after graduating in 2017, I got my first freelance job as a character designer for an unreleased cartoon-style video game. Was it full-time right from the start? Yes. Did I have any plan B? Absolutely not! Was uncertainty stressful? Extremely, full package of anxiety & single-handed responsibilities - free daily delivery! And with that being said, would I do it all again? In a blink of an eye :D there is no greater satisfaction than doing what you love and growing continuously while collaborating with remarkable people from all over the globe.
Today I live in Austria, with my husband who is also an artist and always steals my coffee, and our shamelessly omnivorous dog who steals, well, basically everything.
Today I live in Austria, with my husband who is also an artist and always steals my coffee, and our shamelessly omnivorous dog who steals, well, basically everything.
