Date of Award
6-26-2026
Date Published
August 2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Illustration
Advisor(s)
Normandie Luscher
Second Advisor
Deborah Dohne
Subject Categories
Anthropology | Folklore | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
This research explores how traditional Chinese folk toys can be reinterpreted through contemporary illustration and toy design. The research subjects are cloth tigers, fish lanterns and clay dolls. These three respectively carry cultural meanings as protection, celebration and happiness. With the changes in modern lifestyles, these handmade toys have gradually withdrawn from daily life and are more often preserved as cultural heritages. This article focuses on how to bring these traditional cultural elements back into contemporary life through visual narrative and product design. This project takes the seven-year-old girl, named Nannan, as the core character. She is dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, which was combined with inspired from elements cloth tigers, fish lanterns and clay dolls. The project includes a series of blind box toys, three pop-up books, and packaging design. These forms are closer to how contemporary people come into contact with images, objects and stories. Traditional folk toys were a tactile part of daily experience as people played with them and connected them to personal memories. Today, however, these traditional toys from long ago remain more often in museums and exhibitions, distancing themselves from daily experiences. The character Nan Nan seeks to bridge the gap between historical toys and contemporary toy trends to connect new generations with cultural heritage. The characters have been 3D printed. Through varied subject matter: Different styles are respectively integrated with tiger-head hats, fish lantern shapes and clay doll themes. The packaging and character cards complement the story background and cultural explanations. The three pop-up books present the relationship between Nannan and three types of traditional toys through scene design and spatial narrative. Through this combination of objects, stories, and visual design, the project explores how cultural heritage can move from museum contexts into contemporary everyday life. Rather than focusing only on preservation, the research emphasizes reinterpretation and cultural sharing. By transforming traditional symbols into characters that audiences can collect, read, and emotionally connect with, the project suggests new possibilities for cultural continuity. This research shows that illustration, toy design and narrative media can jointly promote the re-understanding and utilization of traditional culture today. The Nannan project indicates that traditional cultural elements can be incorporated into contemporary visual culture while retaining their original emotions and cultural significance.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Huang, Huimin, "REIMAGINING CHINESE FOLK TOYS IN CONTEMPORARY LIFE THROUGH ILLUSTRATION AND TOY DESIGN" (2026). Theses - ALL. 1061.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/1061
