Designing the Man for Burning Man

Alexander Rose's inspiration for his design was one of the oldest trees in the world

Alexander (Zander) Rose, the former executive director of Long Now Foundation, has spent decades working at the intersection of long-term thinking, art, and engineering. This year, his design was selected for the base structure of the Man at Burning Man—a towering, tree-inspired form that explores time, identity, and community.

I spoke with Zander about …