Zhou Yi

Zhou Yi
President, S.point Design, Shanghai

Since Zhou Yi founded S.point in 1997, the company has grown into one of China's best-regarded independent design houses. Today, S.point employs 22 designers, doing work for the likes of Siemens, Intel, Panasonic, and Samsung. Though Chinese companies don't all understand the importance of design -- and aren't necessarily willing to pay for it -- Zhou says it's important for S.point to work with mainland customers as well.

"It would be disappointing to me to just serve international clients," he says. "I'm Chinese, and I want to help Chinese companies get better at design, to understand that design isn't just about making pretty things."