Design Print Lab

🖨️ The School of Design Print Lab offers an array of tools, including color laser, large-format inkjet, Risograph, and letterpress printing and book-binding and book-finishing equipment. At the lab, Design students and faculty can print work and engage in design research. Students can also check out cameras, laptops, power chargers, and other tools and equipment. To see a full list of resources, see Print Lab Resources.

📷 The Print Lab also manages the Design Photo Studio, where students can document coursework and other projects. It is equipped with two shooting tables, lighting kits, tripods, a large photo backdrop, and a copy stand. Students can make reservations for thirty-minute slots in the Photo Studio on the sign-up sheet located on the door of the Print Lab. Students can check out the keys to the Photo Studio at the time of their reservation at the front desk of the Print Lab.

🌐 The Print Lab is managed by Madeleine Aguilar (maguil35@uic.edu) and staffed by Print Lab Fellows during all open hours.

🕐 Design Print Lab Fall 2026 Hours

Monday–Thursday | 9am–7pm
Friday | 9am–4pm

Incoming students as well as any student with a new computer will need to install printer drivers for the color laser printers in the Print Lab and the black-and-white printers located in selected classrooms. If you are Design faculty and would like to schedule a time for students to receive printer drivers and UIC fonts, reach out to Madeleine to coordinate.

Students receive $15 in free printing funds at the start of every semester. Please visit the Print Lab or contact Madeleine for an updated list of printing costs.

While the laser printers are stocked with standard copy paper, we also have a range of alternative paper types and paper colors that you can print on. You can find alternative paper options in the cabinets above the Design Color Canon printers in the Print Lab.

All alternative paper options should be loaded into the multipurpose tray on the right side of the laser printers. Ask a Print Lab fellow if you need assistance.

Our large-format Epson Printers can print up to 24″ wide by any length. You must send your prints through the desktop computers in the Print Lab. If you need to check out a flash drive to transfer your files, you can borrow one from the front desk of the Print Lab.

Please visit the Print Lab or contact Madeleine for an updated list of printing costs.

If your instructor indicates that you will be printing with lab fees, send your file to print and then head to the front desk of the Print Lab. Give your name and course number to the fellow at the desk and they will release your print for you.

For faculty: If you would like to use your course lab fees toward free printing for your students for any project or assignment, email Madeleine with your course number, a project description (e.g., ten-page booklet, color double-sided), and a list of your students’ names. Students can then send their files to print and head to the front desk of the Print Lab where our fellows can release their prints for them. Please provide the list at least one day in advance.

Shared equipment can be checked out using the tablet at the front desk of the Print Lab. Ask a Print Lab fellow for updated information on availability of checkout items.

A few reminders:

• Be gentle with shared equipment 🙂
• Return items promptly out of respect to your classmates
• Max checkout time is 1 week
• If you’d like to extend your checkout time, come to the Print Lab to renew
• Late returns may result in a $10 fine 🙁

The Risograph is a digital duplicator that prints in translucent soy-based inks. Think of it as a cross between photocopying and screen printing. Printing in one/two color layer(s) at a time, you can feed paper through the machine multiple times to build up layers, creating multi-colored images from grayscale files. We have 17 colors available: Crimson, Sunflower, Yellow, Green, Light Lime, Mint, Aqua, Blue, Federal Blue, Orchid, Fluorescent Pink, Fluorescent Orange, Copper, Metallic Gold, Charcoal, White, and Black.

If you would like to incorporate the Risograph into your course, please first schedule an hour long Risograph orientation session with Madeleine. Once students/faculty receive the orientation, they can schedule time on the Riso using the Riso reservations spreadsheet. A QR code for this spreadsheet is located near the Risograph in the Print Lab. Reservations for students can be made two weeks in advance. If you would like to schedule class time on the Riso more than two weeks in advance, reach out to Madeleine with a date/time.

Note: We are currently in the process of updating our payment system for the Risograph. In Spring 2027 cost for the Risograph will be $1 per stencil/master.

The Design Print Lab Zine Library is located near the letterpress in the Print Lab. It houses publications made by UIC Design students, faculty, and staff that were produced in the Print Lab. Additionally, we have a collection of books on bookmaking and printmaking located between the two desktop computers in the Print Lab. Feel free to browse and get inspired! If you would like to donate one of your zines to our library, talk to Madeleine.

If you would like to schedule a general orientation of the Print Lab or a demonstration on any of the equipment, reach out to Madeleine to coordinate a class visit.