Monster Blocks Printing Demo

Inspired by the drawing and paper folding game "exquisite corpse," I created a series of illustrations that were designed for interchangability, 3D-printed onto type-height blocks, and then used for a live interactive printing demonstration at the 2022 Pensacola Maker Faire.

Visitors were encouraged to play with the blocks and rearrange them to create frankensteined creatures. Once the creature was designed, the blocks were placed onto 1950's style Vandercook press where I then inked up the blocks and printed the design onto a card that visitors were able to keep as a souvenier. During this process, I briefly explained the history of a printing press's use as well as the marriage of old and new technology with the incorperation of custom 3D-printed blocks in place of metal type.

The target audience for the activity was elementary school students, but was constructed with the goal of being fun for all ages who enjoyed the amusing creations that were possible with the 3D-printed blocks.