Designing culture

The museum's souvenirs range from rulers, bookmarks with Lu Xun cartoon, and teacups with lotus sketches by the late iconic writer.

Liu Xin examined the histories of various museum displays to develop items that wed artistry and practicality.

The 31-year-old designer took inspiration from a 1936 Japanese caricature of 20th-century literary luminary Lu Xun that honored his "extraordinary will".

Hundreds of millions of people have studied Lu's works, beginning with elementary school textbooks.

Liu used the caricature as inspiration for four new images of Lu that depict him reading a book, delivering a speech, marching and fighting printed on bookmarks, rulers and pencil cases.

In the battle scene, for instance, Lu brandishes a calligraphy brush that's as tall as a person. It depicts him using writing as a weapon.

Other products take inspirations from his quotes.