Photography
Type Design
About
Mark Zhu is a Chinese photographer and designer based in Paris, France.
Born and raised in Hangzhou, China, he later moved to the United States to study photography. After university, he shifted his focus to graphic design and typography, and completed master’s studies in Boston and then in Reading, UK, before relocating to France. He now works independently, balancing between street and documentary photography and typeface design projects.
His photographic work primarily explores the relationship between humans and the urban landscape: how individuals perceive and navigate the urban spaces around them, engaging with the city's history while simultaneously shaping its future. He is particularly interested in the impact of immigration, tourism, and globalization on the urbanscape, and how the inhabitants experience and react to these ever-changing spaces.
For design, he specializes in multi-script typeface design and typography, with a focus on Chinese and Latin, and collaborates with designers and studios on projects. He previously worked at Black[Foundry] in Paris as a typeface designer, leading the design and production of CJK projects for international clients.
To get in touch: mark@mrk-z.com
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- Photography -
2026 Ceci n’est pas une histoire, AEPP, Paris, France
2016 In a Wonderland, Art Building West, Iowa City, USA
2016 16x16x16, various US cities
2015 Film is not Dead, Deadwood Public Space, Iowa City, USA
- Design -
2025 Parallel & Interwoven: Bilingual Order of Contemporary Chinese Typography, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
2025 Mastering Type ’25, Berlin University of the Arts, Berlin, Germany
2025 Those who Play with Type, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
2020 Mastering Type ’20, Berlin University of the Arts, Berlin, Germany
2019-20 TDC65, Cooper Union, New York City, USA and other worldwide locations
2018 MFA_18, Stone Gallery, Boston University, Boston, USA
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2024 Artistic Recognition, project selection by Harry Gruyaert, Trieste Photo Days
2019 Certificate of typographic excellence, Type Directors Club Communication Design Competition
2019 Merit Award, HOW International Design Awards
2018 Winner, GDUSA American Graphic Design Awards
2018 Nomination, people’s choice, National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest
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2023 Postgraduate diploma in Typeface Design, Ésad d’Amiens, France
2020 MA Typeface Design, University of Reading, UK
2018 MA Graphic Design, Boston University, USA
2016 BFA Photography, BA French, University of Iowa, USA