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skeuomorphpress.org
Skeuomorph Press & BookLab
@skeuomorphpress.org
1.7K followers 48 following 31 posts
An experiential research & pedagogy studio for the history & art of the book at UIUC. We are housed in the CU Community FabLab & sponsored by the iSchool and English Department. Directed by @ryancordell.org
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skeuomorphpress.org
Skeuomorph’s spring semester 2026 public hours are set! We’ll be open Sundays 1-5, & Tuesdays & Wednesdays 5-9.

If you have a project in mind or just want to experiment with our equipment and collections, come by during community hours to chat with our student assistants & get your hands inky!
In the foreground are trays of wooden type, and blurry in the background is a group of students in a circle working
January 20, 2026 at 5:08 PM
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fhartleykroeger.bsky.social
Very happy to add this Le Guin quotation print from @skeuomorphpress.org to my prints about print collection!
Two prints with orange and black ink on white paper
January 18, 2026 at 4:25 PM
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cjfrieman.bsky.social
My @skeuomorphpress.org copy of LeGuin's On Technology finally arrived yesterday and it's so beautiful. Going to be a centrepiece on my office bookshelves for sure
January 18, 2026 at 1:59 AM
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ryancordell.org
Then later in February @drtlwagner.bsky.social will kick off a new "Media Necromancy" speaker series—we’re still chatting with folks about ideas, but are hoping for 1-2 more talks in this series over the spring semester, with more next year skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/our-research...
A poster for a talk reading: “As Usual You Have Produced Yet Another Installment Worthy of Archiving”: The Persistence of Obsolescence in Queer Information & Media Technologies Travis Wagner, Assisant Professor, School of Information Sciences Queer communities are early adopters of emergent technologies, whether video cameras to document the HIV/AIDS epidemic or microblogging platforms like Tumblr to explore new identity categories. Yet the same technologies queer communities foster are subject to the most rampant obsolescence, making the formats of these objects difficult to preserve & make accessible. As a question of archival materials, queer history seems inextricably linked to obsolescence. In this talk, Dr. Travis Wagner (they/them) asks, what might it mean to take this question of queer archival obsolescence seriously? Through a series of archival object case studies, Wagner will call attention to how data exists within the objects of queer history, how they represent the circulation and use of information within queer communities in their historical moments, & how they pose challenges to ensuring their long-term preservation. Wagner will interrogate the sociotechnical nature of queerness & obsolescence as co-constitutive forces & argue that obsolescence can serve as a generative tool to think about the past, present, & future of queer archives in an age where the promises of technology seem limitless, yet prove deeply biased & exclusionary. WHEN: WHERE: Also: Tuesday, February 17th 2026, 1-2pm SKEUOMORPH PRESS, CU Community Fablab 1301 S. GoodWin AVE. Urbana, IL 61801 SNACKS!
January 16, 2026 at 4:56 PM
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ryancordell.org
In a few weeks Ben Blount will be leading a public workshop "Making an Artist’s Book"—& a private workshop to develop exhibit materials with the "Virality of Racial Terror" research group—more info & a registration link for the public workshop here: skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/making-an-ar...
A poster for "Making an Artist’s Book" workshop with Ben Blount. There is a picture of Ben in front of a wall of wood type, the Skeuomorph Press logo in the corner, and text reading: In this fast-paced, hands-on workshop, visiting artist Ben Blount will dive into the basics of bringing conceptual ideas to life in the form of an artist’s book. Participants will learn about artist’s books, start with some simple formats, and then dive into creating mock-ups for big conceptual ideas. No experience necessary. When: Wednesday, February 4 from 3-5pm Where: Skeuomorph Press, in the CU Community FabLab Spots are limited, so please RSVP: https://forms.gle/6tdARcAGHNXpo2kF9
January 16, 2026 at 4:52 PM
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ryancordell.org
Planning a semester @skeuomorphpress.org with adequate staffing & an actual budget is wild, after 3 years at Huskiana & 4 here of cobbling infrastructure together on the fly—we’ll have more community hours, some public workshops, & a new speaker series—I truly hope we can be an oasis in this moment
January 16, 2026 at 4:49 PM
skeuomorphpress.org
Register for our 1st event of the spring semester, a workshop with Ben Blount about making artist’s books—no experience required!

skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/making-an-ar...
January 14, 2026 at 6:07 PM
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noethematt.bsky.social
New @ursulakleguin.com print from @skeuomorphpress.org arrived
letterpress-printed, custom-illustrated 18"x24" poster with a quote from Ursula K. Le Guin's "A Rant About 'Technology'": "Technology is the active, human interface with the material world."
December 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
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quinnanya.me
Spending a Saturday at YarnLab means I get to hang up my new @skeuomorphpress.org poster next to its predecessor poster, along with a @sheerspite.bsky.social sticker and other colorful goodness. #DHmakes
Two posters with the Ursula K Leguin quote about technology, a poster that says "needs more spreadsheets" and assorted other fun stickers
December 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
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kslater.bsky.social
technology among the technology! tysm @skeuomorphpress.org!
desk with desktop monitor, screen print that says “technology is the active human interface with the material work — ursula k le guin” in a black frame, and a speaker
December 23, 2025 at 1:40 AM
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vierth.bsky.social
Always love getting mail from @skeuomorphpress.org and @ryancordell.org !
Poster with Ursula LeGuin quote: “technology is the active human interface with the material world”
December 23, 2025 at 6:59 PM
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alicegoldfarb.com
@skeuomorphpress.org Exciting mail day! Gorgeous, and while I'm feeling a little grumpy about it getting ripped in transit, I'm also appreciating that that's part of the materiality of the print.
A letterpress poster of the Ursula K. Le Guin quote, "Technology is the active human interface with the material world." The text is in black over an orange image of flame coming from matches.
December 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
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literaturegeek.bsky.social
Finished 2nd gallery wall in @scholarslab.bsky.social's Text Aisle w/art by @kennedyprints.bsky.social ("Architecture is shelter for the soul / Proceed and be bold! Sambo Mockbee"), @skeuomorphpress.org, @b0rk.jvns.ca @omarieclaire.bsky.social @innerloop-press.bsky.social, VA bookarts students, me +
Photo of a wall in the Scholars' Lab's "Text Aisle" (public space between our makerspace and Common Room) with a picture rail displaying 9 letterpress and riso prints and posters, and a gallery info label, next to a large wooden floor loom and a spatial terrain mapping sandbox. Photo of a letterpress print by Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. on chipboard paper with an apple green ink background and opaque black ink text. The photo is of a similar print to ours that I found online, as taking a photo of ours produced glare given it has already been framed; our actual print lacks this one's artist signature. The print says "* Architecture is about shelter for the soul. * PROCEED AND BE BOLD! * Sambo Mockbee *" Photo of a letterpress print on cream paper with a dark slate blue ink, by Skeuomorph Press. It says "Information for the people!" around a square, detailed image of a retro computer in front of a packed bookshelf. Photo of a letterpress print by Skeuomorph Press on black paper with silver ink, framed in a hot pink frame. It says "skeuomorph, n. An ornament or ornamental design on an artefact resulting from the nature of the material used or the method of working it 2. An object or feature copying the design of a similar artefact in another material OED". The Skeuomorph Press diskette logo follows, and a large artistic image of a kind of machine involving large media tape reels being used by a seated user illustrates the print.
December 21, 2025 at 9:53 AM
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ryancordell.org
I think @skeuomorphpress.org *needs* one of these Commodore 64 Ultimate machines

I can relive being 7yo & playing Alf on the Commodore the Army bought for my dad when he went to get his Master’s—after he graduated he didn’t know what to use a computer for & it went in my room

www.commodore.net
Home | Commodore
Honouring the past. Innovating the future. This is the first real Commodore computer in over 30 years, and it's picked up a few new tricks.
www.commodore.net
December 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
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ryancordell.org
Our inaugural speaker will be @drtlwagner.bsky.social on "The Persistence of Obsolescence in Queer Information & Media Technologies," showing how "obsolescence can serve as a generative tool to think about the past, present, & future of queer archives" skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/our-research...
December 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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ryancordell.org
Y’all take a moment with me to celebrate @divinetautology.bsky.social, an incredible colleague who helped make @skeuomorphpress.org what it is today—our program wouldn’t exist without her work these past 2 years—& if you need a community & arts focused librarian/museum professional—please hire her!
divinetautology.bsky.social Marguerite Carrithers @divinetautology.bsky.social · Dec 13
As of one hour ago, I have officially completed the coursework and finals for my MSLIS. I can struggle talking about my accomplishments, but in this instance I’ll say I’m unbelievably grateful for the opportunities I got and the work I’ve been able to do. (1/4)
Two young people sit behind a folding table under a tent outside. They are demonstrating typewriters. Another young person shows two children how to print a poster behind them. A drying rack shows illustrated sheets of paper printed over with the phrase MAKE UGLY ART A young white woman with glasses in an orange shirt holds up an ID badge for the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her face on it. She’s not good at taking selfies but she’s really happy I promise.
December 13, 2025 at 8:25 PM
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finnarne.me
Finally this absolute beauty from @skeuomorphpress.org made it across the pond. The texture of the paper, the quality of the print, the colors, the weight, the smell - not to mention the content by @ursulakleguin.com - it’s a real inspiration.
Printed publication, black and orange on white rough paper, «A rant about technology» Fold-out poster, «Technology is the active human interface with the material world»
December 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
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ryancordell.org
We’re doing it, y’all!

Starting this spring @skeuomorphpress.org will sponsor a "Media Necromancy" speaker series—each talk will "unearths what @alanyliu.bsky.social describes as 'the déjá vu haunting of new by old media'"

Hoping for skeuomorphic talks about a range of time periods/locations/&c.+
“Media Necromancy” Series – Skeuomorph Press
skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu
December 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
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ryancordell.org
The Illinois Luddite Society’s last project of the semester is a (badass) cover for a forthcoming course packet.

Their guillotine cut has now joined @skeuomorphpress.org’s Lino library, where I suspect it will be popular
A print on black paper. Silver San serif wood font reads POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY and underneath is an illustration, printed in copper ink, of a guillotine A linocut of a guillotine for printmaking
December 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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ryancordell.org
Yesterday @drtlwagner.bsky.social & I were brainstorming a new @skeuomorphpress.org speaker series—essentially each talk would unpack how a old medium is interwoven in the design/function/&c. of a newer medium—& one of their students suggested we call the series "Media Necromancy"—just *chef’s kiss*
December 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
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claudiaeberger.bsky.social
I am so delighted to add my copy of "A Rant About Technology" written by my fave Ursula K Le Guin and printed by the amazing folks at @skeuomorphpress.org to my work library of books, zines, and decks about data and technology.
A small booklet titled A Rant About Technology. It has black text and orange art and is being held in front of a collection of other books and zines in an office cubicle.
November 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
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bhgross144.bsky.social
“That’s the neat thing about technologies. They’re what we can learn to do.”

This letterpress edition of Ursula K. Le Guin’s “A Rant About #Technology” exceeded all my expectations. Thanks to @skeuomorphpress.org for making it available during their summer fundraising drive! #STS #scifi #booksky 🗃️📜
Cover of “A Rant About Technology” But the word is consistently misused to mean only the enormously complex and specialised technologies of the past few decades, supported by massive exploitation both of natural and human resources. This is not an acceptable use of the word. “Technology” and “hi tech” are not synonymous, and a technology that isn't “hi,” isn’t necessarily '“low” in any meaningful sense. Technology is the active human interface with the material world.
November 20, 2025 at 1:03 AM
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dorothyjberry.bsky.social
Now that I have made my donation, I share with you to continue to support this really impressive project at UICU
skeuomorphpress.org Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · Nov 12
Now that our edition of Ursula K. Le Guin's "A Rant About 'Technology'" is (finally!) printed, bound, packed, & with campus mail, on its way to folks, we’re making approximately 60 of the internal poster available separately

If you’d like to claim one see the order form at forms.gle/BKJQWSmcnuq8...
A poster on white paper. In orange ink is an illustration of six matches, with a flame rising from the first four, reaching to the top of the page. In various fonts of wood type, black ink overprints the flames and reads: TECHNOLOGY IS THE ACTIVE HUMAN INTERFACE WITH THE MATERIAL WORLD In the bottom right corner is an attribution to URSULA K. LE GUIN A stack of posters on white paper, with an individual poster sitting to the right of the stack. In orange ink is an illustration of six matches, with a flame rising from the first four, reaching to the top of the page. In various fonts of wood type, black ink overprints the flames and reads: TECHNOLOGY IS THE ACTIVE HUMAN INTERFACE WITH THE MATERIAL WORLD In the bottom right corner is an attribution to URSULA K. LE GUIN
November 18, 2025 at 11:19 PM
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literaturegeek.bsky.social
Very good mail day: @ryancordell.org @deliadraws.bsky.social & other @skeuomorphpress.org students' gorgeous handmade (book, letterpress, illustrations>lino) edition of Ursula K Le Guin's "A Rant about 'Technology'" #DHmakes Some poster versions from the book may still be available? (link in QT)
Photo of a letterpress print by Skeuomorph Press, on white paper with black ink text on an orange background of a giant flame rising from multiple lit matches. It says "'TECHNOLOGY IS THE ACTIVE HUMAN INTERFACE WITH THE MATERIAL WORLD - URSULA K. LE GUIN" Photo of a letterpress print book cover by Skeuomorph Press, on white paper with black ink text on an orange background of a giant flame rising from multiple lit matches. It says "A Rant About Technology" Photo of a letterpress print book back cover by Skeuomorph Press, on white paper with black ink text on a charcoal background image of a giant flame rising from multiple lit matches. It says "A Rant About 'Technology' / Ursula K. Le Guin"
November 18, 2025 at 11:13 PM
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ryancordell.org
This linocut that my colleague made for tomorrow’s Yiddish printing event @skeuomorphpress.org looks absolutely incredible
November 13, 2025 at 10:32 PM