11/3/2026
Stories from Inside the Box
If you had told me a year ago that my job would involve walking around campus wearing a giant cardboard box and talking to strangers, I probably would've laughed. But that's exactly what I've been doing this semester as part of the Marketing Concierge Team at Siebel Center for Design, and it's been one of my favorite parts of the job.
The cube is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. We constructed a five-sided cube from a broken-down box, with a circular opening at the top as a space for your head to go. Each of its four sides featured a QR code linking to our Instagram post about Designing with Data, our newest DTX 495 course that examines how we can incorporate data analysis into the Human-Centered Design process, bordered in bright SCD magenta to catch people's attention. The goal was to get people curious enough to stop, scan, and hopefully sign up for the class. Simple right?
Of course, building the cube wasn't quite as easy as we thought. With limited tools, we struggled to keep it stable and ended up improvising with a whole lot of duct tape and cardboard braces. As an Industrial Design student, I genuinely enjoyed putting my problem-solving skills to work, even if the final product involved more tape than I'd normally like. Wearing was a whole other struggle. The head opening was just big enough that the box wouldn't rest properly on my shoulders, so I had to hold my arms up inside, almost like I was about to shoot two basketballs at once.
Despite that, walking around in the cube was genuinely so much fun. We got curious looks, laughs, and plenty of questions. Some people even wanted to try it on themselves! Watching people go from confused to curious to wanting to join in was hilarious, and it gave us the perfect opportunity to talk about Designing with Data.
This was easily my favorite week of the semester so far. In the middle of midterms, assignments, and exams, it was nice to step away from the seriousness and just be a little silly. How often do you get to walk around campus dressed as a cardboard cube and call it work?
Tabling has been another great way to meet people, just with slightly less cardboard involved. At recent events, we promoted Designing with Data and upcoming maker workshops. The stickers and pens were a hit, although the type of candy we had was barely taken. I guess not all free stuff is equally exciting to college students.
Between the cube and tabling at events, I've spent a lot of this semester striking up conversations with complete strangers. It can feel awkward approaching someone who's clearly on their way somewhere, but I've come to enjoy the unpredictability. The cube definitely helped break the ice. It's easier to start a conversation when someone's already staring at the giant cardboard box you're wearing.
What stood out most was the difference between the students we met. The freshmen still had that beginning-of-college excitement, eager to try everything and get involved. Meanwhile, many upperclassmen already knew SCD as a favorite study spot. As a junior myself, I could relate, and I'd always bring up the floor-to-ceiling windows as one of the best reasons to study there. It's hard to beat that much natural light! I loved how easily conversations could shift from upcoming workshops to comparing our favorite study spots. Before this job, I mostly associated marketing with social media and event promotion, but I've realized how much I enjoy the face-to-face side of it. Getting to hear people's questions and see what interests them feels much more personal than simply putting information out there.
Studying Industrial Design and Brain & Cognitive Science, I'm already interested in how people interact with the world around them. This job has given me a fun way to explore that outside the classroom, whether it's figuring out how to keep a cardboard cube together or finding the confidence to approach someone new.
Looking back, it's the spontaneous conversations that have made this semester so memorable. Whether someone's asking about the cube, trying it on, or stopping by our table, I've loved meeting people I otherwise might never have crossed paths with. So if you ever see someone walking around campus wearing a giant cardboard cube, come say hi! I promise we're not just wandering around in a box for no reason.