Hi, I'm Alvin.

I make films about design.

I'm a content creator with a background in architecture, working with architects, designers and design-led brands.

Watch the work Say hello
My films

The films I make for myself.

Films and visual essays on architecture, cities and the people in them.

People's Textbook

What cities can teach us that university never did.

Instagram series · concept, script, camera, edit · · Instagram ↗

what no one tells you about doing what you love

YouTube · More on YouTube ↗
For brands

A young, global audience that cares about design.

55.8KInstagram followers
429Kreel views in 30 days
10.4%engagement per view
85%aged 18–34

Instagram @alvinzhuxiyao, 3 Oct – 2 Nov 2026. Viewers from India, the US, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and beyond, with no single country dominating.

Brands I've worked with
Logitech
A paid partnership: mouse and keyboard.
Samsung
A paid partnership: phone review.
Le Labo
A collaboration: a store video in Shanghai.
SmallRig
A collaboration: monopod video.
Content creator at The Local Project, 2024–2026

Selected work from my time there.

  • Milan Design Week 2026 · Fisher & Paykel Co-shooter and editor, next-day delivery
  • Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 · Brickworks Co-shooter: camera, interviews, drone
  • 3daysofdesign 2025, Copenhagen · Cult Co-shooter: camera, interviews, drone. A five-part series

These films were produced by The Local Project and are published on its channels.

2021–2026

People and brands I've filmed.

  • BrandsAt The Local Project Fisher & Paykel · Brickworks · Cult · ASKO · ForestOne · ABI Interiors · Surface Gallery · Armani · Louis Vuitton · Ralph Lauren · Loewe
  • Architects, AustraliaAt The Local Project Wardle · Durbach Block Jaggers · Peter Stutchbury Architecture · Koichi Takada Architects · Carter Williamson Architects · Smart Design Studio · Shaun Lockyer Architects · Andrew Burgess Architects · Casey Brown Architecture · MCK Architects · TRIAS · Studio Doherty · Downie North
  • Architects, New ZealandAt The Local Project Fearon Hay Architects · Herbst Architects · Roberts Gray · Stevens Lawson Architects
  • Architects, BrisbaneVirtual Office Crawl, 2021 Arkhefield · COX · Ellivo Architects · Fulton Trotter · m3architecture · Red Dog Architects · Tonic Design · Wilson Architects
Alvin Zhu sitting on an orange sofa, smiling and making a peace sign

A bit about me

I'm Alvin, a content creator with a background in architecture, and I make short films about design: the people behind it, the decisions, the compromises and what a building changes for the people who use it.

  • Australian Design Review 30 Under 30, 2023
  • Kay Leaf-Milham Prize, 2018
  • AIA National Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture, 2021
More about me
Work with me

Let's make something together.

Concept to camera: I come up with the idea, write it and shoot it, for architects and design studios, building-products and furniture brands, interiors, hotels and travel.

Enquire Brand partnership

Tell me what the project is, rough timing and where it will be shot. For a sponsored post, tell me about the product and where you sell it.

Rather talk it through? Book a free 15-minute call.

  • Short-form branded video, concepted, scripted and shot for social
  • Documentary-style brand and project films
  • On-location interviews
  • Event coverage
  • Content strategy and concepting for design-led brands