I wanted the brand to have my face. I wanted the product to convey the culture, life, lifestyle, dignity of work. We are a listed company, and I wanted to manufacture a product with dignity. I wanted a profit with dignity. Because the press all talk about the moral ethics of profit. Why can’t we have a dignified profit then?

Would you buy something ... See more

Imagine if we could somehow show the people of the eighteenth century a simple child’s toy from today — say, a speaking doll.

The common folk would marvel at its ability to speak its few stock phrases. The scientists and engineers would marvel even more at its innards; at the minutely detailed silicon; at the bewildering complexity soon to be within... See more

It succeeds because the company was founded on a strong sense of taste, and its employees work hard to protect the original vision. That means pushing each other to make objects that test their creative abilities and earn enough revenue to ensure that the vision survives.

A lot of companies don’t make it because in the process of trying to get many things right, they don’t get anything right.

Why are they in such a hurry?

A great company is a privilege, and it’s a privilege best earned through a singular product, not a collection of products. Entrepreneurs and creatives think about batches of products —creating an e... See more