China

Our Shanghai office began with a spectacular view and a very ordinary printer. The view made the launch photographs. The printer did the work. Lin makes sure both receive appropriate recognition at the end of each quarter.

The team designs prototypes of things the rest of the company has only named. One room contains twelve versions of Tomorrow™, each accompanied by a handwritten note explaining what it currently does. The most recent version holds a door open. Nobody has found a more convincing use case.

At dusk, the windows become mirrors and the team can see itself superimposed on the skyline. Marketing called this “humanity inside the future.” Lin called the facilities desk to ask for better blinds. Both requests were approved. Only one improved the afternoon.