Nan Nan

there_sun@163.com

NOWADAYS, the charm of museums has gone beyond exhibits to creative cultural souvenirs.

The Shekou Museum of Reform and Opening, a new museum set to open to the public Dec. 26, is seeking creative souvenir designs by the public. The museum will be the first-ever history museum dedicated to displaying the reform and opening of China.

China adopted the reform and opening-up policy in 1978. As the reform’s pacesetter, Shenzhen’s Shekou has witnessed drastic changes over the past three decades. To honor the new museum, a contest, City As Inspiration — Museum Gift Design Competition held by Shekou Museum of Reform and Opening, is now collecting submissions for souvenir designs that clearly and creatively represent the theme.

Urban research scholar Mary Ann O’Donnell, senior designer and initiator of Shenzhen Fringe Festival Zhu Decai and visiting professor at Shenzhen University Zhang Jianheng were invited to inspire the potential contestants during a meeting held at Shenzhen University on the evening of Oct. 12. These experts, who are also on the contest’s panel of judges, shared their views on the changes the city has undergone and their personal experience in product innovation.

Having now lived in Shenzhen for 22 years, O’Donnell has witnessed Shenzhen’s changes first-hand. She provided an overview of the various characteristics of different regions’ development. “Shekou’s reform and opening up is based on enterprises or institutions, where many centrally-planned economies began adding aspects of the market economy.”

By introducing practical cases, such as architectural design which was inspired by cube sugar and a cone-karst-topography-inspired space decoration installation, Zhang unveiled the driving force behind her designs: combining life with design and architecture.

From the vending carts in urban villages to the KFC-inspired logos, senior designer Zhu told the stories behind his designs and explained how he reflects his thoughts about the city and people in these designs.

There are no restrictions with forms or appearances of the artworks in this competition. Until Nov. 11, participants can log on skcreative2017.com to download the application form. Send your works to register@skcreative2017.com and the email should be titled “your name + type of your work + name of your work.” The first-prize winner will win 10,000 yuan (US$1,510) and winners will have their artwork displayed and sold at the museum as souvenirs at its opening.