In our class we often talk about how you distinguish yourself from those around you, what resonates when people close their eyes and see you as a person…how you stood out ever so subtly from the crowd. It doesn’t have to be loud, it doesn’t have to be brash, but identifying and then expanding the best in all of us can make such a big difference, especially as you journey up the ladder, and assuming those distinguishing factors are positive one. Thanks to another young smart content creator, Aliyah Funschelle, for bringing Dylan along.
We always try to look around for those distinguishing factors as we help people, brands, platforms, build their narrative. Sometimes they are obvious, most times they have to be nuanced through listening and through careful thought. Sometimes they are pretty organic, many times they have to be massaged.
Then sometimes you have ones that you see, like a sprout, germinating that are both ubique and special. We came across one of those recently in the person of Dylan Sadiq, aka The College Cuber. Dylan is a 21 year old senior at Rutgers who has a talent, a vision, and a passion for recreating images…out of hundreds of Rubik’s cubes. We have watched his videos, introduced him to people and shared his first generation story with many, but we wanted to give him a chance to explain his path, one which is only an amazing six months old.
We are proud to say we knew Dylan when…because his talents, his penchant for understanding social, and his humility combined with his drive, we think are going to get him places. Check it out.
How did you come up with the idea for cubing as artwork?
I always tried new things… I played different sports throughout high school and college (baseball, basketball, wrestling, crew) but I never made it far. I loved to study the numbers and strategies of the game but I lacked physically. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandma’s because my mom is a single mother. My grandma was always solving puzzles and playing games during her free time so puzzles are not new to me. That’s when I learned to solve the cube. Everything I am passionate about, I try to push to levels that have never been achieved before. That’s where the most fun is and that’s how I started making mosaics.
Are there artists or creators you model your work after?
There is no one I model my work after but there are tons of people I draw inspiration from. I’ve always looked up to those who come from humble beginnings. My favorite type of people are athletes, rappers, and artists. They found their passion, worked harder than everyone else, and that allowed them to not only live the life of their dreams but share their message with the world. Some of my favorites are Luka Doncic, Mark Cuban, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Juice Wrld, and VicBlends.
Have you ever been involved with competitive cubing? Who are some of the elite cubers you have followed?
I have never been involved in competitive speedcubing because that’s a whole different talent. However, I’d love to compete in a mosaic competition if that even exists. My favorite cube artist is Giovanni Contardi. On the other hand, my favorite cube performer is Steven Brundage from America’s Got Talent. I’d love to incorporate magic and parts of his routine into my performances some day soon.
How much time do you put into building one of the pieces?
After I decide which athlete I would like to create, I spend hours looking at images of that athlete online. One of my main focuses is finding portrait images of the athlete smiling. When I’m prepared to start my mosaic, I go to my basement where I have over 4,000 cubes. The actual mosaic takes close to 3 hours to complete. The only thing left is editing and posting a video. I would say the entire process for a video takes 7 hours on average.
Tell us about some of the requests that have come in and places you have created cubes?
As of right now, I’ve had 110+ verified requests from professional sports teams, mascots, and athletes. Some of the most notable include Manchester United, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern, the NBA, the NHL, the Paris2024 Olympics & Paralympics, Benny the Bull, and so many more that I appreciate so much. I’ve had the opportunity to fly out to Detroit early in my career to work with the Detroit Pistons @ the Pistons Performance Center, the Detroit Lions @ Ford Field, the Detroit Tigers @ Comerica Park, and the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. The New York Red Bulls, the Philadelphia Union, and the New Jersey Devils are local teams that have shown so much love for me. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with USAA for the Army vs Navy game at MetLife and the Intrepid Museum in NYC.
What is your best platform for social engagement? Who are some of your followers of note?
TikTok is the reason my artwork is shared with so many people across the world. I have the best engagement with the teams on TikTok. However, Instagram has been showing the best fan engagement as of recently, especially when the teams agree to post the artwork of their accounts. My Ronaldo video has 10.3M+ views on Manchester United’s Instagram. Most of the teams follow me back on TikTok: NBA (Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trailblazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, NBA 2K League, etc.), NFL (Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, etc.), NHL (Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks, etc.), MLB (New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, etc.), MLS and international soccer teams (Everton, Arsenal, Cagliari Calcio, etc.)
Do you hope to make this into a profession using your degree at all?
I am a first-generation, Biomedical Engineering Student at Rutgers University. I would love to become a prosthetic engineer that helps amputees improve the quality of their daily lives in any way. If I can find a way to combine my artwork with my education to improve the lives of anyone, that’s my definition of success.
Who are some other people who have had an influence on your career?
My family and friends have and continue to influence my life every single day. Specifically, my older brother is my biggest inspiration. He is the one who taught me to find a passion outside of school. My older brother pushes to me harder than anyone could imagine to unlock my full potential. My mom came to the US from Trinidad when she was just 19 years old. Of course, we had to start from nothing. However, not having much growing up is the reason I work so hard now and want so much more for myself and my family in the future. I treat my friends like my family too. Anyone that helps you physically or mentally is your family.
What’s coming up next for you in the next few months, especially as you finish school?
It’s hard to say what life has in store in the next few months because six months ago, The College Cuber didn’t exist. However, graduation will be a huge part of my life. I am going to try my best to find a career in my field but my artwork is something that will stick with me for the rest of my life, no matter what I am going through. I’d love for The College Cuber to become my full-time career to the point in which I am inspiring others, especially college students, to find their passion, work harder than everyone else, and change their lives for the better.
