Electronics Faire - Screen-printing with the Vinyl Cutter for Community Repair

In Part 1 of this workshop series, participants will learn the basics of typography, then explore how wordplay and design are used in protest signs, and then complete a short design thinking exercise to brainstorm and develop their ideas. Then they will learn how to use the open-source vector graphics editor (Inkscape) to turn their sketches into vinyl stencils by learning how to manipulate Bezier curves. They will then export scalable vector graphics (.svg) and digital exchange files (.dxf) to computer-numerical control (CNC) vinyl cutters. After that, they will learn the fundamentals of vinyl cutting, including mirroring their designs, and testing cuts on their materials.

I am inspired by the reparative community work happening in Minneapolis by Art Price Studio, a cooperative screenprinting space that became a community hub and resource for folks who wanted to print messages of resistance on their own clothes. The idea of this workshop is to both “repair” by upcycling old clothes and also “repair” community morale, strengthening connections of crafting and activism. Participants will be empowered to make their own designs, and then in turn will be asked to offer screenprints of their designs to the Philadelphia community during the Electronics Faire.

Please bring a laptop if you are able!

NOTE: This is a 2-part workshop, you will need to attend both parts in order to screen print your vinyl designs.  if you can't come both days you can either design but not print (day 1) or print someone else's design (day 2)

About the Instructor:
Emily F. Brooks is an Associate Director of Digital Research in the Humanities at the Price Lab for Digital Humanities. As her academic persona, the “makeademic,” she emphasizes experimentation to advance knowledge at the intersections of digital humanities, book history, pop culture, and design. She enjoys teaching others how to become makers using various forms of technology including microcontrollers, laser-cutters, 3D printers, augmented reality, and more to create prototypes that span the analog/digital divide.