IDA 2025 IS NOW CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS.
We are surrounded by designed objects that make us do a sequence of actions everyday. Obj-activty is an homage to the world of things and design objects, things are “firmed points of existence” according to the philosopher Byung-chul Han. In a world based on “info-spheres” the existence of design continues to have relevance and importance against the immateriality of information. The project is a collection of hybrid objects that play with a name both in Italian and English. Each picture seems to be balanced on a half circle that expresses the idea of "equilibrium".
Chiara Zhu (Venice, 1993) is a Venetian graphic designer whose professional path spans Berlin (Metadesign 2015), Innsbruck, Oslo (Snøhetta 2017–2018), and London, where she studied Branding at Goldsmiths University (2019). Her work bridges graphic design, photography, branding, and visual merchandising, most recently in Padua (Bata Group). Her artistic vision is characterized by a vivid, extroverted chromatic language. Rooted in contemporary contradictions, her imagery is abstract yet concrete, often employing visual metaphor.
October 2025 – Florence Biennale XV, project “Impersonae”
July 2025 – Workshop “Impersonae”, PAZ – PNNR project
January 2024 – IDA International Design Awards, Bronze in Graphic Design with “Obj-activity”
June 2023 – Ca’ Select Art, shortlisted for Montenegro Group competition (brand Select)
January 2023 – National competition Visioni Altre & G’art, project “Heart on sale”
March 2022 – Milano Graphic Festival – AIAP Community, Impersonae – kaleidoscopic identities
Sept.–Oct. 2021 – Arte Laguna Prize 14th edition, Arsenale Nord Venice, Digital Graphics section with “Opportunilands”
Sept. 2021 – Milan Design Week, Park Associati Call 2, solo exhibition “THE LUST – designeedesire”
Jun.–Aug. 2020 – IDA International Design Awards, finalist Covid19 Innovation Design Grant, project “Instantanea”
Jun.–Aug. 2020 – AIAP, exhibition Mantieni le Distance, poster “I Love You” selected, Spazio Illisso
Nov. 2019 – Collective exhibition Independent Artists – Water, Villa Brentano, Milan (“Distract”, “Tribute to Monet”)
July 2019 – Solo exhibition “THE LUST”, Deptford Does Art, London
December 2016 – Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, 100th Young Artists collective, Venice (“On Stepchild Adoption”)