I am Chiara Pesaro Zhu, a graphic designer and visual artist who believes in co-creation and the blending of disciplines. I design branding systems, illustrations, visual identities, and editorial layouts across digital and physical spaces, translating culture and architecture into communicative visuals. My work spans experiences with international brands and studios, from Metadesign AG, to the architecture studio Snøhetta, until landing at the retail company Bata Group. With my illustrative and photographic projects I had the opportunity to be selected in awards such as Arte Laguna Prize, Milan Design Week, IDA and Florence Biennale. I enjoy collaborative, fast-paced environments and turning complex ideas into clear, visually compelling narratives through storytelling and active listening to the clients' needs.

Chiara Pesaro Zhu

I am Chiara Pesaro Zhu, a graphic designer and visual artist who believes in co-creation and the blending of disciplines. I design branding systems, illustrations, visual identities, and editorial layouts across digital and physical spaces, translating culture and architecture into communicative visuals. My work spans experiences with international brands and studios, from Metadesign AG, to the architecture studio Snøhetta, until landing at the retail company Bata Group. With my illustrative and photographic projects I had the opportunity to be selected in awards such as Arte Laguna Prize, Milan Design Week, IDA and Florence Biennale. I enjoy collaborative, fast-paced environments and turning complex ideas into clear, visually compelling narratives through storytelling and active listening to the clients' needs.

Available to hire

I am Chiara Pesaro Zhu, a graphic designer and visual artist who believes in co-creation and the blending of disciplines. I design branding systems, illustrations, visual identities, and editorial layouts across digital and physical spaces, translating culture and architecture into communicative visuals.

My work spans experiences with international brands and studios, from Metadesign AG, to the architecture studio Snøhetta, until landing at the retail company Bata Group. With my illustrative and photographic projects I had the opportunity to be selected in awards such as Arte Laguna Prize, Milan Design Week, IDA and Florence Biennale.

I enjoy collaborative, fast-paced environments and turning complex ideas into clear, visually compelling narratives through storytelling and active listening to the clients’ needs.

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Language

Italian
Fluent
English
Fluent
German
Advanced
Chinese
Beginner
French
Beginner
Norwegian
Beginner

Work Experience

Global Brand Visual Graphic Designer at Bata Group
April 1, 2023 - Present
Designing brand guidelines, price strategies, graphic concepts, color palettes, visual merchandising concepts and visualizations for Bata in-house brands and brand extensions; materials and colors research; concept development at global scale; corporate exhibitions; POP & VM elements development
Brand Designer at Perspect Branding
February 28, 2023 - September 22, 2025
Visual identities, logo design, packaging design, presentation design, layout & icon design
Designer Freelancer at Chiara Pesaro Zhu (Freelance)
January 31, 2020 - September 22, 2025
Collaboration with Moonbow studio (Lisbon) for brand illustrations and motion design; collaboration with AmEbe design studio for branding, visual identities, naming/verbal identities; ArteLagunaPrize imagery and digital media presence
Brand Designer (Trainee) at Snøhetta
September 30, 2018 - September 22, 2025
Brand Design; clients: Hydro, TechnoAlpin, YME
Brand Designer at Snøhetta Innsbruck
August 31, 2017 - September 22, 2025
Clients: IKEA, Mini, Hymer, Transporeon; development of new visual narratives for architecture and brand design pitches; cross-functional collaboration
Internship in Corporate & Communication Design at Metadesign AG
January 31, 2016 - September 22, 2025
Design strategies; UX & Interface design – websites for DHL; brand and corporate design; illustrations & iconic design; brand guidelines, brand manuals; logos & visual identities
Environmental Graphic Designer at FT Space Agency Design
December 1, 2019 - January 31, 2020
Development of graphic design projects for architecture and wayfinding systems for international pitches

Education

MA in Brands, Communication & Culture at Goldsmiths University of London
September 1, 2018 - January 1, 2020
Course: Visual Anthropology and the City at University College London (UCL)
March 1, 2019 - May 1, 2019
Bachelor Degree in Industrial Design at Free University of Bolzano
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2016
Grammar High School at Liceo Marco Foscarini Venice
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2012

Qualifications

IELTS 6.5
May 1, 2017 - September 22, 2025
IDA Bronze Award (Graphic Design)
January 1, 2024 - September 22, 2025
IDA Bronze Award in Graphic Design for 'Obj-activity'
January 1, 2024 - September 22, 2025
Ca’ Select Art - Open-site shortlisted for brand Select
June 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023
Visioni Altre & G’art National competition on Contemporary art 'Heart on sale'
January 1, 2023 - January 31, 2023
Arte Laguna Prize 14th edition - Digital Graphics (selected)
September 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021
Milano Graphic Festival - AiAP Community 2022
March 1, 2022 - March 31, 2022
IDA Finalist for Covid19 Innovation Design Grant - 'Instantanea'
July 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020
Florence Biennale XV - Impersonae project
October 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Education, Retail, Other, Travel & Hospitality
    paper Obj-activity - IDA Bronze Award 2024
    Obj-activity is a project on objects and the actions that things make us do everyday. It is first and foremost an homage to the world of things, to the world of the non-human sphere. Objects surround us and they make us talk through a series of reliable actions, they make us act and live, move and dream. The graphic project is a celebration and it takes concreteness in a project that see colours and shapes as the main protagonists of a never-ending story. Artefacts and things not only decorate our homes, they make us behave according to their necessities, their ergonomics, they shape our material and tangible reality, giving us a sense of belongingess and also of safety. Each representation is accompanied by a title, a name both in Italian and English that play with the hybrid nature of the object’s shapes.
    paper Artistic portfolio
    A collection of patterns, illustrations, abstract socially-engaged projects