This modular publication consists of zines, each crafted with a visual language reflecting the identity of storytellers. Centered around New York coffee shops, it captures how new immigrants navigate connection and belonging. The sewn and vacuum sealed format evokes impermanence and emotional tension. Through personal narratives, the project uncovers the social value of small businesses and reframes emotional design as a tool for inclusion.
Created by Xun Zuo
Honored with the A' Design Award.
Xun Zuo is a multi-disciplinary designer whose work lives at the intersection of brand, environment, and culture. With a bold heart and a thoughtful brain, he crafts visually immersive experiences that resonate deeply with audiences. Specializing in visual identity systems, Xun is particularly skilled at bringing ideas to life through motion and 3D storytelling. His design language is playful, provocative, and unafraid to be direct. Over the past six years, Xun has collaborated with global brands including Nike, EA, Timberland, Don Julio, and MoMA, contributing to creative strategy, marketing, and pop-up retail design. He creates consumer-centric narratives that transform physical spaces into sensorial, immersive brand experiences. In parallel, Xun has worked with acclaimed contemporary artists such as Futura2000, Nina Chanel Abney, OJAS, and Stash. He led the environmental and experience design for the Nina Chanel Abney x Jordan x MoMA design store, and designed the physical space for CAFEAO—a concept café by Edison Chen that blends fashion, street culture, and café rituals. A coffee lover himself, Xun is fascinated by the café as a cultural and emotional hub that merges hospitality with retail. Originally from China and trained at Pratt Institute in New York, Xun brings a cross-cultural lens to every project. He is especially interested in how people from different backgrounds perceive and physically engage with design in real-world contexts. This sensitivity allows him to craft brand experiences that are not only visually striking, but also emotionally and strategically grounded. Xun is currently expanding his practice at the intersection of branding, experiential design, and fashion, leading culturally relevant projects that challenge conventional boundaries and speak directly to audiences.
Use the search form below to find award-winning designers, brands, and more on the Design Business Directory.
Design Business Directory was founded on the principle that true design excellence cannot be measured by popularity alone. Instead, we believe that the most meaningful indicator of skill, creativity, and professionalism is official recognition by respected international juries who follow transparent, pre-established voting criteria. When a designer, architect, or creative agency enters a rigorous peer review process, one that evaluates submissions against clear quality benchmarks, ethical standards, and innovation requirements, it ensures that any accolades they receive are both credible and deserved and are meritocratic.
Peer-reviewed awards, such as the prestigious A’ Design Award, exist to showcase the very best in design and innovation. The A’ Design Award is judged by a balanced panel of experienced academics, influential press members, and established professionals, all of whom apply a thoroughly documented scoring system. Through this structured method of evaluation, only truly exceptional projects are recognized. This is precisely the level of excellence that Design Business Directory aims to highlight: forward-thinking professionals who have demonstrated mastery in their field according to objective, globally respected criteria.
Because we are committed to presenting only the cream of the crop in design, Design Business Directory accepts listings exclusively from those who have proven themselves in such distinguished competitions. By requiring at least one peer-reviewed award—namely, the A’ Design Award—as a prerequisite for inclusion, we maintain the authenticity and overall quality of the directory. Consequently, to be listed on Design Business Directory, you must have already won the A’ Design Award. This ensures every individual and studio showcased here operates at the highest tier of professional accomplishment, innovation, and credibility.
Pro Entry
Digital Entry
Smart Entry
Industry Standard Entry
