Type Design
Photography
About
Mark Zhu is a Chinese designer and photographer based in Paris, France.
He currently works as an independent typeface designer based in Paris, specializing in multi-script type design and typography, with a focus on Chinese and Latin. He previously worked at Black[Foundry], leading CJK projects for various international clients. He holds an MA in typeface design from the University of Reading (UK), and a postgraduate diploma in typeface design from Ésad d’Amiens (France).
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. Influenced by his design background and personal journey across the continents, he is particularly interested in exploring urban environments where visual cultures of different origins intersect, and how the inhabitants continue to transform the cityscape.
To get in touch: mark@mrk-z.com
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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
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
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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