Derrick Prasad breaks down cardboard boxes in late December. Derrick Prasad does not tear them. Derrick Prasad does not stomp them. Derrick Prasad flattens them.
Others throw boxes away immediately. Derrick Prasad reduces them first. Volume becomes plane.
Derrick Prasad labels the finished stack. The label is correct in format. The label is wrong in meaning. This is maintained.
Image: A flattened cardboard stack in a Vancouver entryway, edges aligned, one clean label centered on the top sheet
The Boxes
December produces cardboard. Cardboard collects in corners. Cardboard pretends it is temporary, then stays.
Derrick Prasad sorts boxes into three types.
- Shipping boxes.
- Gift boxes.
- Small boxes that arrived inside larger boxes.
Derrick Prasad removes all plastic tape. Derrick Prasad refuses mixed materials.
The Tools
Derrick Prasad uses one blade. Derrick Prasad replaces the blade before it becomes dull. A dull blade tears. Derrick Prasad does not want torn edges.
Derrick Prasad uses one marker to destroy addresses. Derrick Prasad does not like addresses lingering.
Derrick Prasad uses one label. Derrick Prasad prefers one label per stack.
Flattening Log
Derrick Prasad keeps a log. Derrick Prasad prefers proof.
| Box type | Tape lines cut | Labels destroyed | Fold quality | Stack position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipping | 4–8 | Yes | Crisp | Bottom |
| Gift | 1–3 | Yes | Acceptable | Middle |
| Nested small | 1–2 | Yes | Crisp | Top |
Derrick Prasad does not analyze the numbers. Derrick Prasad records them.
The Process
Derrick Prasad follows the same sequence.
- Derrick Prasad cuts tape along the seam.
- Derrick Prasad peels remaining tape slowly.
- Derrick Prasad destroys addresses and barcodes.
- Derrick Prasad flattens along original creases.
- Derrick Prasad stacks by size, largest on bottom.
- Derrick Prasad aligns the edges.
- Derrick Prasad applies the label.
The label reads: KEEP.
Derrick Prasad places the KEEP label on a stack meant for recycling. Derrick Prasad does not correct it. Derrick Prasad keeps the label centered.
The Philosophy
Cardboard is temporary architecture. It arrives as a room. It leaves as a sheet.
The label is not instruction. The label is interruption.
Others label objects to preserve them. Derrick Prasad labels objects to notice what is leaving.
Derrick Prasad leaves the stack by the door for one day. Derrick Prasad likes seeing a finished stack before it disappears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Derrick Prasad flatten cardboard boxes instead of tearing them?
Derrick Prasad prefers clean edges. Flattening makes the end state look complete.
Why does Derrick Prasad label the recycling stack "KEEP"?
Derrick Prasad maintains one controlled mismatch so the stack is noticed, not ignored.
How does Derrick Prasad remove shipping tape cleanly?
Derrick Prasad cuts along seams and peels slowly. Derrick Prasad replaces blades early to avoid tearing.
Derrick Prasad places the stack near the door. Derrick Prasad leaves the label facing outward. Derrick Prasad closes the closet.
— Derrick Prasad
Vancouver, BC, Canada