

xiao zhu uses factory smoke to illustrate dangers of air pollution

all images courtesy of xiao zhu

xiao zhu is a chinese company dedicated to providing clean air to its citizens. the country sees more than 500,000 die every year from causes related in some way to extreme levels of airborne contaminants. like most socially conscious businesses, entering better products into the market is often only a small part of a larger equation; true change lies within education and protest. to make an impact, xiao zhu needed to show the people of china how crucial the issue is, and they did so in the most direct means possible.



the project uses china’s biggest cause of pollutants as its medium

in the dark of night, huge beams of light radiated skyward — and directly into the billowing plumes of various factories’ smoke. visualized on the cloud-like canvases were dozens of pictures of chinese youth, shown in numerous stages of dismay, pain, and ultimately suffocation. xiao zhu filmed the social movement and released it to the masses with a simple message with no room for interpretation, ‘clean the air. let the future breathe again’.



face displayed on the thick, opaque plume of factory smoke



visualization of a chinese youth in dismay



the project helps illustrate how crucial the issue of air pollution is for future generations



picture of crying child



‘clean the air. let the future breathe again’ slogan



xxiao zhu’s website

designboom has received this project through its ‘DIY submissions’ feature, which welcomes readers to submit their own work for publication. see more designboom readers submissions here.

edited by: nick brink | designboom