When I first started building TheCube, I wasn’t thinking about cuteness. I was thinking about sensors, schedules, and how to help people take better care of themselves while working at their desks. But as the project evolved, I realized something: if this thing was going to live on your desk—staring at you all day—it couldn’t just be smart. It had to be likable. It had to feel like something you wanted to have around. That’s where cuteness came in.
Not cute like "baby animal" cute. But cute in the way that makes a piece of hardware feel… approachable. Friendly. Like it belongs on your desk not because it’s flashy or expensive, but because you like having it there.
Why Bother With Cute?
In tech, the default is sleek and serious. Black rectangles. Rounded corners. Glass and brushed aluminum. That’s fine. It works. But it’s also kind of forgettable.
I didn’t want TheCube to be forgettable.
I wanted it to be memorable. Not because it yells at you or flashes neon lights—but because it feels like it has a presence. A personality. Something you notice, and maybe even smile at when you sit down to work.
Cuteness, as I see it, is the gateway to connection. It makes people more likely to engage. It softens the edges—literally and figuratively. So I gave TheCube a face. Rounded the corners. Simplified the shape. Gave it characters on screen who smile when you smile, and sulk a little when you ignore them.
Because honestly, wouldn’t you rather get a reminder to take a break from a cheerful cube than a sterile pop-up notification?
It Starts With Shape
TheCube is, well, a cube. That was a practical decision at first—squares are easy to design, easy to prototype, easy to manufacture. But that simplicity also gave it a kind of charm.
It’s small. It’s symmetric. It has rounded edges that make it feel soft, even though it’s made of plastic and silicon. It sits on your desk like it belongs there—like a little creature waiting for you to say hi.
I didn’t have a grand design reference or golden ratio I was chasing. I just wanted it to feel… right. Approachable. Useful, but not cold. Simple, but not boring.
The Screen Is the Soul
Without the screen, TheCube is just a box. With the screen? It’s alive.
The screen is where the magic happens. It’s where TheCube’s personality lives. Characters appear. They smile. They frown. They bounce when they’re happy and slump when they’re sad. They animate in exaggerated little movements that say: “Hey, I’m here. I see you.”
And they’re not all the same. One Cube might be stoic. Another might be playful. Some might be curious, sleepy, sassy, or serene. That’s up to you. You can dial in TheCube’s personality to match your own—or pick something completely opposite, just for fun.
Personality by Design
This isn’t just visual cuteness. TheCube’s behavior matters too.
When you check off a task, it might do a little dance. When you’ve been sitting too long, it might gently remind you to stand—and if you ignore it, it might sulk. Just a bit.
That’s the kind of interaction I’m aiming for. Subtle but expressive. Charming, not annoying. TheCube doesn’t need to be loud to get your attention. It just needs to feel like it cares.
And honestly? That emotional layer is the whole point. If it makes you laugh, or nudge your posture, or feel seen during a long workday—then it’s doing its job.
Stackable Joy
TheCube isn’t just one device. It’s a family of little modules—TheMiniCube, TheWideCube, toppers, stackables, accessories—that you can arrange, decorate, and build with.
Each one adds to the overall personality of your desk setup. Some are practical. Some are just for fun. But all of them are designed to feel like part of a cohesive, cute, and slightly quirky ecosystem.
Think of it like LEGO, but for your workspace. You’re not just using a product. You’re assembling a companion.
It's Cute… But It’s Not a Toy
Here’s the trick: cuteness is great, but it has to be balanced. TheCube still has to be useful. It still has to feel at home in a professional environment.
So while the characters are expressive, some are more neutral. While the shape is soft, the design is clean. The goal is to make something that feels delightful but still belongs on your desk, whether you’re a student, a developer, or a remote worker juggling twelve browser tabs.
A Little Joy, Every Day
I think about the kind of person who might smile at TheCube during the day. Maybe they’re deep in a project. Maybe they just got a reminder to drink water. Maybe their Cube lit up when they walked into the room and said, “Welcome back!”
That’s the kind of experience I want to create.
Not just a smart assistant. Not just another gadget. But a companion—one that’s small, friendly, useful, and yeah, a little bit cute.
Because sometimes, the best technology isn’t the most powerful. It’s the one that makes you feel something.
- A. McD.
Designing Cuteness Into a Desktop Device