A subtle difference between Japanese and Chinese independent cafes: in Japan when extras such as cream or syrup are brought to the table they are …
More »

Detail of a side-street car wash – with the hose looped through hole of the now-defunct lock.
More »

If an extraterrestrial took a photo from space of every surface on the planet earth, and started tweaking the colour setting on the image in …
More »

Today’s office alternates between the elegant reception at the Afghanistan consultate in Beijing and the white linoleum of a nearby illy cafe. Despite an early …
More »

More »

More »

Interested in how the design of the security checkpoint at Hongqiao airport supports communication and support between members of different teams. It’s all very service …
More »

Shanghai taxi drives ID includes a registration number 111,892 where the lower the number the more earlier the driver was registered. One colleagues opined that …
More »

Remember when using a map application on a mobile phone was a lesson in frustration and humility? Underperforming hardware, through-a-straw data connection and a choice …
More »

Is it possible to have digital bits delivered to your door? In Shanghai the answer is resolutely yes. Customers of Chinese flights-hotels-&-hols website Ctrip have more …
More »