Paula Sofia Polónyi

Design - Off Road

Back to the Roots

Back to the Roots explores community, nature, and mental well-being through alternative ways of living and sharing space in the city of Groningen. In contemporary urban life, meaningful social connection has become increasingly difficult to access, especially for newcomers, students, and people experiencing isolation. Through personal exploration, field research, and encounters with intentional communities and communal gardens, graphic designer and illustrator Paula Sofia Polónyi investigates how practices of commoning continue to exist outside mainstream visibility.

The outcome is a series of interconnected illustrated zines, printed using the RISO technique, accompanied by a map highlighting various community locations. Together, they form a mapping tool that makes hidden spaces of care, collaboration, and collective living more visible. Rather than creating new communities, the project positions design as a mediator that helps people rediscover connection and belonging within the city.

Contact

E-mail

Instagram