Shapiro Design Day

The Library Ambassadors collaborated with the Design Lab to hold a Design Day event. On March 13th, the Design Lab PIE space was transformed into several stations that lead students through the process of transferring vinyl designs onto pencil cases. The library's PIE space is on the first floor of the Shapiro Library, and is always available to students. It offers a space for creative collaboration and materials to craft or prototype ideas. Also on the first floor of Shapiro Library, in the Shapiro Design Lab, students have free access to a cricut machine, a heat press and vinyl. Any U-M student can use these materials; all they have to do is complete a short Canvas training available on the library website! 

My fellow Ambassadors have made designs for campus clubs, personalized their own clothing, and made gifts with vinyl tools in the Library. After making my own pencil case, I will definitely be returning to the Design lab to create and use the vinyl supplies. Students can also find a letterpress, a laser cutter and engraving machine, a digital die-cutting machine, 3D printers, sewing machines, and a soldering station in the Design Lab. A myriad of creative projects can be pursued there, free of charge!

Beyond introducing students to Design Lab resources, our Design Day also gave students the opportunity to compete in a graphic design competition. We called for designs that represented student's experience with the U-M Library. We were impressed by our students' creative and artistic design, ending with two design options to be cut and transferred onto the pencil cases. 

Design Day Contest Winners: Joey Yang (top) and Yilin Chen (bottom)

1. Comments from Joey Yang
   1. This piece shows an open book labeled the library name called “Shapiro” with a glowing lightbulb with a Michigan logo above it. It's surrounded by clouds and a paper plane. There is a glasses, an apple, and stacked books saying “Go Blue” and “Michigan” .
   2. This art represents learning and creativity shaped by the times we spend in the Shapiro Library. I wrote “Shapiro” on the book because it’s where most students study often. The clouds symbolize the brain fog we struggle trying to find a new idea, while the lightbulb represents a new idea we discovered while being in the library. The paper plane shows that moment when an idea finally comes in our head and takes flight.
2. Comments from Yilin Chen

   1. 4 boxes representing 4 different activities in the library: writing on a whiteboard, checking out books, working together on a poster, and working alone.

   2. I view the library as a space for both alone tasks and collaboration, and I wanted to express that by showing the different activities you could do in it.