Students were lined up from the corner of the Otter Student Union (OSU) plaza onto the access road by Cypress Hall last Otter Thursday to collect a limited edition sticker from popular artist and influencer Henry Zhou (@stickerzoodesigns)
“At 11: 20 the table was there, I went into Starbucks, got a drink, by the time I turned around the line was already moving,” said third-year kinesiology major David Santizo.
Henry Zhou, more widely known under His instagram handle Stickerzoodesigns, is currently on a sticker giveaway tour, landing at every California State University to hand out custom, hand made stickers based on each school’s mascot.
“I came out to do a thing where I wanted to make mascot designs of every CSU and UC school. I’ve come to a few campuses before to give away free stickers, and this is the first time I’m doing a full tour where I was giving stickers to everyone.” said Zhou when asked what his sticker tour was all about.
Zhoe shared his early days as an artist and got vulnerable when talking about why he does what he does. “I graduated two years ago from UC Irvine, and I decided to pursue art because I didn’t have confidence in my mechanical engineering degree, and I really wanted to pursue something I was passionate about, ” said Zhou. Zhou emphasized the importance of handing out his art in the form of something free and accessible like stickers to college students saying, “This is my way of giving back to the college communities, and I also just wanted to create something that people could remember, which is why I do these sticker jobs.”
Almost more than a half hour before Zhou even arrived on campus at noon, a line of students that wrapped around the OSU Starbucks down onto the access road by Cypress Hall had already begun forming in front of Zhou’s table
Liberal Studies major Helen Paola Perez-Santos explained that Zhou’s appearance on campus didn’t just mean free stickers to her, but it meant a chance to finally be seen on a smaller CSU campus. “I honestly think that we get left out on a lot of stuff being such a small campus or not very well known, or only being known in just marine biology kind of stuff. But just participating in this kind of event is actually, I think, really meaningful and kind of impactful for CSUs in general to actually get that voice out that we’re another CSU that’s as big as any other.”
Though Zhou ran out of his 200 custom otter stickers only about halfway through the line, no otter went home empty handed, as Zhou whipped out self-made squirrel stickers and gave them to those in line who did not get an otter sticker.
“I think everyone should indulge in their creative passion, and staying hydrated is the most important thing as I’ve learned throughout this journey, you gotta stay hydrated.” said Zhou.
Photos by Daisy Sanchez