Photo courtesy of Silly Squared

There is a small and silly movement growing that is showing up on water bottles, laptop cases, trash cans, car bumpers, and street signs around WashU. Silly Squared, a student-run sticker organization, is turning everyday objects into canvases for student art while reshaping how creativity circulates on campus.

Omeed Moshirfar, who graduated from WashU in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Design and Supply Chain, Operations, and Technology, founded Silly Squared in 2023. It emerged from an observation about the fleeting nature of student artwork. 

“I was watching my peers who were really invested in their work,” Moshirfar said. “They would make such cool art and invest all their time into their creations, and then they’d have to go onto the next piece. They never really got the chance to share that work for a long period of time.” 

Silly Squared became an answer to that problem, a space designed not just to showcase art but to share it with other people. Stickers, Moshirfar realized, were the perfect medium to do just that. 

Each sticker collection begins with a campus-wide call for submissions, typically drawing between 50 and 100 entries from students across years, schools, and disciplines. From those, 10 designs are selected, with one ultimately chosen as the feature sticker, winning a prize of $100. Drops occur once a semester, and distribution happens twice a week. Stickers appear in boxes around campus and are shared by Silly Squared distributors, students who volunteer time to pass out 10 stickers per week.

“Stickers spread everywhere,” Moshirfar said. “They’re cheap, they’re fun; everyone loves stickers.” 

The name Silly Squared reflects that balance between playfulness and intention. 

“To be silly is to be joyful,” Moshirfar said. “And to square something is to complexify it and give it meaning.”

By turning student artwork into something tangible and widely distributable, Silly Squared aims to ensure that creative expression reaches far beyond a studio or classroom.

Sophomore Ella Rosenberg, co-director of operations, emphasized that Silly Squared is for everyone.

“I think some people think of Silly Squared as an artist’s thing,” she said. “But really, Silly Squared is for everybody. Anyone can find a design that they love because we have such a wide range.” 

Sophomore and curator Chanya Ngamvirojcharoen runs the Silly Squared podcast, interviewing Silly Squared winners on their process and work. She emphasizes how that flexibility is also reflected in how students approach the competition itself. 

“A lot of the [artists] say their stickers are pretty different from their typical art style,” Ngamvirojcharoen said. “That’s so interesting and special because it just shows how Silly Squared, the competition itself, is a different place for experimentation and just being able to see a new side of your art skill.” 

She emphasized how Silly Squared allows people to engage meaningfully with student work, as opposed to consuming only professional work.

“We often see such amazing work from already established creators and professionals,” Ngamvirojcharoen said. “Being able to see the work and share the work of students that are of similar age to us is very inspiring.”

The act of distribution is a key component of the organization’s impact. With a team of around 70 distributors, Silly Squared transforms the simple exchange of a sticker into moments of connection. Senior and advancement officer, Mac Barnes, explained that these interactions can range from casual to meaningful.

“When our [distributors] give someone a sticker, that’s a moment to connect that is not digital, not related to classes,” he said. “It can be as easy as, ‘Here’s a sticker, have a nice day!’ or as deep as ‘Hey, here’s a sticker that touches on a certain topic, do you want to talk about it?’”

Barnes also ensures that Silly Squared is an organization built for the community.

“We’re not looking for a financial return,” he said. “It’s really about supporting artists and growing their impact.” 

At the same time, Barnes is focused on ensuring the organization’s longevity by engaging with recent graduates and building a sustainable donor base.

“I love bringing design, engineering, and business to my community to do good,” he said. 

Moshirfar’s advice to current students reflects the experimental spirit that helped him found Silly Squared in the first place. 

“Treat college like a sandbox. Play around, try new things, see how the community interacts with it, and then apply what you’ve learned to the bigger world when you graduate,” he said.

Check out Silly Squared’s latest collection in sticker boxes across campus! To view or purchase past sticker collections, visit sillysquared.com.

Photo courtesy of Silly Squared