Typeface Stories: A Visual Exploration of Everyday Stories

Designed by Zhuohan Shao

Typeface Stories is a creative project that utilizes A6-sized notebooks from MUJI as a medium for exploration. Each page features hand-drawn illustrations, where the artist experiments with various materials to create unique textures through lines and colors, capturing the essence of the present moment. Complemented by handwritten text, the pages offer an honest representation of the emotions and experiences of a single day.

Zhuohan Shao treats these notebooks as personal "canvases," using them as a space to explore different materials and techniques in search of new modes of expression. The aim is to move beyond conventional journaling and painting styles, focusing on capturing the subtle, often overlooked moments of everyday life. By combining hand-crafted typography with illustrations, the artist transforms fleeting memories and emotions into vivid, lasting visual representations.

The book’s cover is crafted from kraft paper, mirroring the texture and color of a typical MUJI notebook. Sized B6, the book preserves the original A6 dimensions of the inner pages, maintaining the scale of the typography while honoring the integrity of the design.

Zhuohan Shao, born and raised in Hangzhou, China, developed an early passion for design. In 2016, he moved to the UK to study Graphic Design at the University for the Creative Arts, graduating with first-class honors in 2019. He then continued his studies at Central Saint Martins, earning a Master’s degree in Graphic Communication Design in 2021.

His career as a designer is defined by his pursuit of innovation and new visual languages. In 2024, he served as a jury member for the Brands & Communication Design category at the Red Dot Design Award.

With an internationally acclaimed portfolio, Zhuohan has received recognition from major design institutions, including the Red Dot Award’s Best of the Best, Tokyo TDC Awards, New York Type Directors Club, DNA Paris Design Awards, and Award360°. His work reflects a deep passion for meaningful design and impactful visual storytelling.

Typeface Stories: A Visual Exploration of Everyday Stories

Designed by Zhuohan Shao

Typeface Stories is a creative project that utilizes A6-sized notebooks from MUJI as a medium for exploration. Each page features hand-drawn illustrations, where the artist experiments with various materials to create unique textures through lines and colors, capturing the essence of the present moment. Complemented by handwritten text, the pages offer an honest representation of the emotions and experiences of a single day.

Zhuohan Shao treats these notebooks as personal "canvases," using them as a space to explore different materials and techniques in search of new modes of expression. The aim is to move beyond conventional journaling and painting styles, focusing on capturing the subtle, often overlooked moments of everyday life. By combining hand-crafted typography with illustrations, the artist transforms fleeting memories and emotions into vivid, lasting visual representations.

The book’s cover is crafted from kraft paper, mirroring the texture and color of a typical MUJI notebook. Sized B6, the book preserves the original A6 dimensions of the inner pages, maintaining the scale of the typography while honoring the integrity of the design.

Zhuohan Shao, born and raised in Hangzhou, China, developed an early passion for design. In 2016, he moved to the UK to study Graphic Design at the University for the Creative Arts, graduating with first-class honors in 2019. He then continued his studies at Central Saint Martins, earning a Master’s degree in Graphic Communication Design in 2021.

His career as a designer is defined by his pursuit of innovation and new visual languages. In 2024, he served as a jury member for the Brands & Communication Design category at the Red Dot Design Award.

With an internationally acclaimed portfolio, Zhuohan has received recognition from major design institutions, including the Red Dot Award’s Best of the Best, Tokyo TDC Awards, New York Type Directors Club, DNA Paris Design Awards, and Award360°. His work reflects a deep passion for meaningful design and impactful visual storytelling.