Skeuomorph Press & BookLab is an experiential studio for teaching and researching the history and art of the book at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We are housed in the Champaign-Urbana Community FabLab and sponsored by the School of Information Sciences, with support from the Department of English. We also sponsor the Skeuomorphics club.
Skeuomorph is directed by Ryan Cordell, Associate Professor of Information Sciences and English. In Spring 2025 open hours are primarily supervised by Marguerite Carrithers (MSLIS student, iSchool) and Jude Kuester (undergraduate, English).

Spring 2025 Public Hours!
Tues & Wed 5-9pm
Sun 1-5pm
Spring 2025 Skeuomorphics Club
Thur 5-6 Meetings
Thur 6-9 club open hours
Email for more info!
Skeuomorph Press sponsors applied research in book history and creative projects by students and faculty, offers experiential workshops in the history of print technologies, teaches modules in classes across departments, and fosters a community of makers on campus. We are especially interested in experiments that blend historical and contemporary technologies, such as intersections between letterpress and 3D printing, and in creative projects that engage with the rich materiality of letterpress production.
[S]keuomorphs make clear the inevitable links that bridge historical and contemporary media, and can be instructional and inspiring. We believe that understanding contemporary media and technology requires historical thinking.
“Hello World!” from Skeuomorph Press
Check out our gallery to see more of what we do. And please consider donating to support our mission at UIUC and in the CU Community!
