A winner has been crowned in the Wisconsin School of Business’ sticker design competition.
To celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary, members of the WSB community were invited to design a unique piece of artwork that could become an official WSB sticker. Several unique pieces of art were submitted, reviewed, and judged by a panel of marketing and design experts at WSB.
The winning design was submitted by student Elbert Song (BBA ’25), who has since graduated from WSB with a degree in marketing and international business. Song’s “Bucky in a Suit” design garnered praise from the judges for its expressive art style and fun design.
We asked Song a few questions about the inspiration for his winning sticker, his background in business and the arts, and what he’s been up to since graduation.
WSB: Congrats on the win! How did you come up with your design?
Elbert Song: The inspiration for my design was from my love for Smiskis, these glow-in-the-dark green figures that have been trending all over the internet. They come in different themes and positions. I have a few in my room, and one especially reminded me a lot of a typical business student. It has a laptop on its lap, looking like it’s focusing hard on whatever it is doing.
My creativity transformed this Smiski laptop figure into imagining Bucky—representing business students—with its laptop, probably working on Excel or a marketing presentation. The design embodies how many students from our business school are hardworking and ambitious.
WSB: Looking back, when did you first start designing and creating art?
ES: Art has always been a hobby and one of my most natural forms of expression. I feel calm and happy when sketching or painting because art allows me to express myself freely. In high school, I stayed deeply connected to it through AP Art, where I regularly worked with various mediums and techniques daily.
Coming into college, I was able to utilize my art skills, and had a role my sophomore year as a graphic designer for my dance crew, KASPER. I was in charge of our social media platforms—including creating YouTube thumbnails, Instagram covers, and birthday posts—and drafting some of our crew’s brand logo and potential merch designs. With my social media position, I realized I could bridge business and art together.
WSB: Can you describe your path into business?
ES: I initially chose international business here at WSB because I wanted to connect and bring the use of my multicultural background to the business classroom and beyond. After taking numerous international business classes, I gained a deeper understanding of how business operates across different countries, cultures, and economic systems. Additionally, every class I had exposed me to numerous international case studies, customs, and communication styles, allowing me to strengthen my cultural awareness and sensitivity.
I also majored in marketing. Out of all of the possible business majors, marketing was the path that allowed me to reconnect with my creative side and use my artistic skills. I utilized my degree and my skills through social media marketing. I’ve been interested in social media and digital marketing since high school, when I edited videos, created content, and loved engaging with the online community. I still enjoy creating content today, and due to my diligence, it has opened me up to many opportunities.
WSB: What have you been up to since graduation?
ES: I have been looking for jobs as a digital or social media marketer in the skincare/beauty industry. I want to work in this industry because I am passionate about it, but have also been keeping my options open in the entertainment industry. Overall, I would love to work in the creative side of any industry!
Note: Free stickers are available on a first-come, first-served basis around Grainger Hall.