This project explores cuteness as a design aesthetic beyond its commodified and infantilized image, examining its potential influence on prosocial behavior within an Indian cultural context. Using mixed-method research, visual traits associated with cuteness were identified through a typicality scale among university students, leading to the design of three donation boxes tested in student residential areas. Data analyzed through ANOVA, partial eta squared, and follow-up interviews revealed that cuteness positively affected the overall success of the donation drive. While it did not directly determine the decision to donate, evidence suggests its consequential influence on prosocial behavior by attracting attention, evoking approach motivation, and conveying a sense of helplessness. Donors’ decisions were also shaped by other factors, including convenience, impulsive purchasing patterns, trust in the drive, gender-related sympathy, and media influence—indicating that cuteness acted as a bridge between donors and the cause.