Made in North Korea: Graphics from Everyday Life in the DPRK

by Nicholas Bonner

North Korea uncensored and unfiltered – ordinary life in the world's most secretive nation, captured in never-before-seen ephemera.

Made in North Korea uncovers the fascinating and surprisingly beautiful graphic culture of North Korea - from packaging to hotel brochures, luggage tags to tickets for the world-famous mass games. From his base in Beijing, Bonner has been running tours into North Korea for over twenty years, and along the way collecting graphic ephemera. He has amassed thousands of items that, as a collection, provide an extraordinary and rare insight into North Korea's state-controlled graphic output, and the lives of ordinary North Koreans.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Design, History, Asia, Art Design, Adult

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2017

Reviews

[Cindy Pham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Physically the book is beautiful; content-wise, it has a fascinating concept that lets us take a glimpse of the regularity of peoples lives in a controversial nation. It stands out from other coffee table books because Bonner writes chapter introductions in-between each section to provide more context. However, I was a bit let down that there wasn't much design analysis provided for the graphic culture. I would've enjoyed the book more if I could read how Bonner interprets the design trends and patterns of North, and gone more in-depth about its graphical influences from other countries. The book also could've been organized better to show the change of design over time, or had the graphics directly correspond to his preceding chapter writeup.

[Queralt✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous book with a collection of North Korean candy wrapers, postcards, and other printed graphics.

I'd say my favorite inclusion was the paper bag to throw up from Air Koryo and the Korean textbook for foreigners. The textbook offers the Korean translation (and it romanizes it for those of you hillbillies that cannot read the language of our great leader) for very basic and necessary sentences that alll of use when visiting a foreing country for a few days: "fancy abolishing taxation!", "this is a paradise for the people, indeed!", or "the family of the great leader is really a revolutionary family."

Rating this 3 stars because the bits of writing did not have anything too special or new. If I could rate that Korean textbook I would give it all the stars, though.

[Adrian Cristea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It contains all kinds of interesting graphics from North Korea, especially ones made before the advent of digital graphic design. Most are beautifully hand drawn, and have accompanying descriptions provided by the author. However, the thing I probably enjoyed most were the brief, but very fascinating chapter introductions, which offered some insight (by one of the few Westerners who has vast first hand experience with the country) into the hermit kingdom.

[Reese Derksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unique glimpse into a country that is hard to learn about. I wish the written sections at the start of chapters were longer, but understand that a lot of effort was already required to research these few pages. These were fascinating to read.

The obvious omission of any criticism towards the DPRK does start to make this feel like a propaganda piece. Nicholas clarifies from the beginning that this is simply a non-comprehensive collection, and can be interpreted in different ways. This seems like a bit of an easy-out, and turns a blind eye to social issues.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well curated, carefully worded, and handsome. Nicholas Bonner describes the DPRK with lowkey admiration at certain design choices, such as printing the British Royal Family on postage stamps, when leaders in the DPRK would never put their image on products. A subtle dig. There's a lot of simplicity and uniqueness in the style (an illustration of the type of food that's inside a package, instead of a mascot or aspirational experience, how novel), but I should emphasize that there isn't as much design analysis as some designers may want. Instead, the book is more about what you can glean from a society through their design. I came away thinking about the more quotidian aspects of people's lives, but I also feel like I learned a lot through their literature and propaganda.

[Kinga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book's pages and pages of everyday graphics for North Korean products from sweets through tinned products to tickets. Hand-drawn with a relatively limited colour palette, these reminded me of packaging I saw in my childhood and, if it weren't for the Korean writing, could have come off Polish shop shelves, pre-1990s.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the niche-ss book ever, but I love it. I am fascinated by North Korea (as most people are) and love design. Design can tell a lot about the way people live and their culture, so this book was just *chef’s kiss*. Postcards, packaging designs, stamps, and all the other paper goods…this book was written for me. Also the paper choice was great. I literally want to buy this now.

[Odette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*
Qua vormgeving is dit een prachtboek. Perfecte kleuren, elk hoofdstuk een eige, en fijn leesbare lettertypes in combinatie met ‘crisp’ afbeeldingen. Het ontbreekt aan analyses van designtrends. De meeste producten in Noord-Korea volgen een simplistische stijl, onder andere voortgebracht uit de comptetitieloze markt, maar de afbeeldingen en symboliek zullen toch sinds de opbouw van Noord-Korea veranderd zijn?

Het is in ieder geval interessant om te zien hoe het design in de tijd is blijven hangen en hoe marktwerking invloed heeft op verpakkingen, posters en gratis snuisterijen bij bijvoorbeeld een vlucht.

Ik weet niet of ik het jammer vind dat de schrijver zich zo duidelijk afwendt van de politieke situatie. Hij hint er vaak naar met sarcastische opmerkingen, maar prijst vooral het design de hemel in vanuit zijn positie van toerist turned toeristenmanager.

Mooi boek voor op je koffietafel, fijn om in te kijken, inhoudelijk (qua tekst) wat lackluster.

[Daan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a visual journey through everyday objects one might find in the DPRK. The brief yet informing pieces of text at the preface of every chapter, confirm both outsider prejudice, but at the same time show the reader another side of this isolated nation. Most definitely worth my time!

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the short essays between chapters, but I didn't think any of the information discussed was particularly groundbreaking- overall I would call the essays very factual, rather than offering any concrete opinions or analysis of the content discussed. The products pictured are extensive and well laid out, albeit outdated by this point. It would be nice to have known which year each particular source was from, although I get that would probably be impossible in practical terms. 3.5 stars.

[Mylesgorton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book but the written sections don't really fit with the following illustrations so it can feel a little disjointed. That said it provides a fascinating insight into a world free of the usual capitalist marketing drive but with an eye on promotion of the state to those living within it.

[Nacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, approachable and detailed. You wouldn't think collecting junk would pay off unless the junk comes from NK. Loved the way it's chapters are organized and how the author played with the country's colour palette as the main build-up for a wholesome aesthetic. I learnt a lot from it and would probably re-read it at least once every two years.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an Indian, with our own brief flirtation with socialism, I don't judge NK harshly, just on the basis of the political system it decided to follow. Also after reading some history of the korean peninsula, it's not hard to understand that nearly every asian country is how it is today almost as a reaction to the aggressive incursions by European powers under the guise of predatory trade, colonisation and opportunistic missionary work. So I don't find the need for patronising and agenda driven political commentary accompanying the graphic design. The mere existence (and showcasing) of the extensive product categories, by itself has been eye-opening on the maturity of the North Korean consumer market. But from a designers point of view, I wish there had been more information regarding material, printing techniques used and other design notabilia. On the flip side, the library binding is a great choice and the flyleaves are a delicious silky-to-touch red!

[Infamous Sphere · Rating 4 out of 5]

ooh, this is such a beautifully designed, intriguing book. There's a good bit of background information, but the book on the whole has an encyclopaedically neutral tone, which I gather is calculated because of Nick Bonner's ongoing relationship with North Korea. It does, however, make a change from the typical stuff you learn about North Korea, but despite how beautiful the mountains look, and how cool some of the art styles are, I think I'll still forgo a visit until the political situation changes substantially. Still, I think this is one of the first books I've read where entire sections are printed on coloured paper. It's SO pretty, and made me want to learn a lot more.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a bit obsessed with North Korea for some weird reason. Maybe because it is such a secretive society, so I am definitely the kind of person who is going to pick up a really pretty looking book filled with pictures of North Korean tinned food labels, stationery sets and postcards, most of which are from the 1980's. Yep, weird, I know. This is a really lovely book to look at and is filled with lots of interesting little tidbits of information about daily life in North Korea. It is however not 'in-depth', it does not attempt to analyse any of the ephemera therein or go into much of the critical detail which I crave. However, the author is clearly not setting out to write a critical piece of political journalism about North Korea, this is more of a travel journal and it is interesting enough as it is.

[Floduardo de Almeida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book and beautifully designed! This is a authentic open window for the design made in North Korea! I highly recommend this artifact. 1) because it’s like an archive of beautiful illustrations, photos and graphic design works made in the DPRK. 2) finally, you get a fantastic and unique reference of the design made in NK which is, almost, an inaccessible country. 3) because it shows you some of the design made before and after the digital design era. 4) you get some good descriptions/introductions of life in North Korea.
It’s definitely a must have.

[White Cat reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this research since I am a fan of South Korea. Apart from being into kpop, kbeauty and kdramas, I am also interested in the history and culture of North and South Korea. As a designer, this book was a feast for the eyes and really revealing about the visual culture of North Korea. What I really liked about this book was that it also contained text and context of the study and not only images. Informative text and images are really important when researching a visual culture of a nation.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cool collection of North Korean graphics. However, I felt like the book wasn't cohesively edited, and at times it felt more like a piece of promotion for a documentary film the author had made.

[Jio Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting spattering of information that isn’t wholly related to the graphics shown throughout the pages. A lot of the branding shown is the same thing (e.g. lots of tinned fruit labels!). Still, it’s a very nicely made book, good paper stock, and does contain interesting facts about DPRK.

[Ellen Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[c · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) 5/5 for graphics, 2/5 for text & organization, so 3.5 overall.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would show a insight into the reality of living in North Korea instead it was more like a scrapbook of various food wrappings and old media the author had complied over the years.

[Ngoc Thang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book

[komiczny kotek]

Podoba mi się ta północnokoreańska propaganda, i w ogóle uwielbiam estetykę komunistyczną. Czysta rozkosz!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful & cool designs. Bonner’s commentary is slightly more annoying than his other collection.

[Daria Yogacoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never been interested in North Korea any more than simple curiousness of it's almost "impossible to enter" status. Also I heard a lot of terrifying stories, though I never run them through any serious fact-check. All that said I kinda knew what to expect of it's graphics since all the aura around it and the pieces of info I had reminded me heavely of what my own country was just half a century in the past.

So this book wasn't a surprise. Nor it was some wakening stuff that turned my view of this country.

But it's nicely done, it's interesting, it's full of good descriptions and high quality pics. Great to shuffle through and even come back to have another glance through this 'window' into North Korea.