Zi Mai

Zi Mai is a graphic designer and illustrator whose work explores gender representation through visual storytelling. She examines how visual narratives can challenge stereotypes and recover forgotten histories, drawing on feminist historiography, cross-cultural myth, and pedagogical research to create projects that are both poetic and evidence led. Using watercolour washes, tonal contrast, and clear typographic hierarchies, Zi creates images that feel luminous and legible for young readers. ‘Moon-Weaver: Her Hidden Histories’ features an accordion picture book and wall grid tracing Luna’s journey from doubt to resilience through encounters with seven historical heroines. Watercolour washes provide visual continuity, while the accordion format enables multiple reading experiences—as a scroll, conventional book, or upright display. Its tactile folds make connections tangible, while the wall grid presents all spreads simultaneously, allowing viewers to see both individual stories and the complete work.