 The set had several influences , including the sliding doors and tiny cubicles reminiscent of Japanese hotels . Artist Larry Dixon has noted that the cargo bay walls are " reminiscent of interlaced , overlapping Asian designs , cleverly reminding us of the American @-@ Chinese Alliance setting while artistically forming a patterned plane for background scale reference " . Dixon has also remarked on how the set design contributed to the storytelling through the use of color , depth and composition , lighting , as well as its use of diagonals and patterned shadows . 
