While it may come as a surprise to foreigners unfamiliar with the topic of design in North Korea, North Korea has in fact cultivated its own long heritage of industrial designers who design a variety of items, ranging from stamps to brand logos. According to Hee Sun Choi, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Design at Chung-Ang University Graduate School of Arts, the history of industrial design in North Korea traces far back to times prior to the Korean War. Unlike widely known functions of design, such as encouraging consumption through an attractive exterior, industrial design in North Korea functions to cater to the socialist culture. Its function shares commonalities between those of other socialist countries in that it aims to promote economic growth, endorse political propaganda, increase military power, and boost pride in cultural superiority at the national level.