Thinking “inside the box”

From tackling assigned tasks to cultivating innovation through “outside the box” thinking, the feats our Big Red Rooster associates achieve every day lead us to conclude they’re superheroes. Believe it or not, several Roosters actually possess superhero status.

When called to duty, three of our Atlanta Office Roosters— Alison Tallman, Doug Sprinkle, and Jeff Silirie— transform into Mystique, Nightcrawler, and Iron Man. They’re part of The Box Hero Corps: a group of creative individuals who disguise themselves as comic book heroes and make appearances throughout the greater Atlanta area.

Here’s what you need to know about this cardboard clan:

• The Box Heroes are the brain child of Atlanta local Stephen Larkworthy, who works in the printing/packaging industry. The costumes are modeled after Marvel comic book characters. Once each cardboard costume is cut and glued at the seams, the “hero” is responsible for sketching his or her own design and painting the cardboard.

• Creating these intricate costumes is no simple task. It took our Roosters 30-35 hours to sketch and paint each outfit.

• Essential actions, like walking or waving, aren’t easy in these cardboard “cages,” either. Doug said moving takes a lot of practice, as the cardboard doesn’t allow much mobility. When paired with lack of visibility and ventilation, it’s clear Box Hero Corp membership isn’t meant for the weak.

• The Box Heroes are known for marching in Atlanta-area parades, including Dragon*Con, The Little Five Points Halloween Parade, Childrens Christmas Parade, and the Inman Park Festival. They’ve also made appearances at the Fernbank Museum.

• These superheroes don’t go unnoticed. The group has been featured in Creative Loafing, Atlanta Journal Constitution online, Atlanta Magazine, and on Marvel.com. They’ve won several awards, including “Best Walking Group” in the 2010 and 2011 Little Five Points Halloween Parades.

We love seeing our Roosters stretch their creativity beyond the office walls, and Doug, Alison, and Jeff serve as great examples.

Maybe thinking “inside the box” isn’t so bad after all.

Subway image © Gregory Miller.