Cramming for a final looks different for all majors. For communication design students, it can look like waiting 45 minutes for one of four computers to print out a final project, then still not having the proper resources for their project when it comes time for them to print.
Some communication design students at Cal State Monterey Bay say they are dealing with a lack of resources that affects their course work. They believe it stems from a miscommunication between faculty about expectations over the use for the printer.
The printing lab is a resource designated only for communication design students to print out their designs. It provides a Xerox printer and paper in a variety of sizes, along with tools to cut and modify the print outs. Resources range from a handful of scissors and three paper cutters, to a handful of different types of glue or tape. Additionally, the space provides a Xerox printer, one of three printers in the lab. It is the one students have access to at all points, the others are not used or funded by design students.
But by the end of the semester there is a drought in printing resources according to students.
“I think because we’re not taught the best practices in the beginning, it does get kind of wasteful, the amount of stuff that people are using it for can be a lot,” said Gigi Powers, a fourth-year communication design major with a concentration in visual design. “We’re grateful to have access to it, but sometimes people are just overusing it. One year there was no magenta (color ink) left and some finals ended up looking wonky so by the end [of the semester] things can be difficult.”
The Xerox printers are built to produce high definition images, vibrant designs and through courses, students are required to print out physical media that range from 12-page pamphlets to brochures and zines.
Each class that uses the printing lab resource has a course fee ($25) meant to cover lab use. While only students who pay the fee have access to the materials, there are around six courses that share the space, with around 30 students each who all have different levels of understanding of how to use the printer.
“I use the print lab for experimental typography and publication design, I have minimal experience printing. Before I had just used a standard printer at home or at the local library,” said Trinity Galvan, a fourth year communication design major. “The professors have briefly and vaguely gone over the print lab resources, there are resources posted on Canvas but we mostly figure things out ourselves.”
Students will have multiple courses that require the printing lab, however not all professors have a streamlined method to demonstrate how to use the print lab.
“We all, of course, assume that they know what they’re doing because, obviously the students I have are middle and upper division, so juniors and seniors,” says Lawrence Omoto, who is in his third year as a lecturer, teaching classes in graphic identity and publication design. “So I would figure that they should know how to use the printers. But that’s not always the case because I hear things like, ‘they need help.’”
Omoto said he’s asked Kenneth Lontoc, the school of computing and design technology support coordinator, to “show the class how to properly print so that there’s less waste, ‘cause we have been trying to monitor printing to cut down waste now.”
Lontoc oversees the printing labs organization and resources. He organizes the printing paper and watches the cartridge levels for the printers. When students need assistance in the lab, Lontoc is the guy to call.
“I watch the ink, the toners, the papers and worst case scenario would be maintenance. But for the maintenance, I try to keep the printer, you know, well maintained. But I’m not a printer technician,” said Lontoc. “Something like, I don’t know, a fuse just blew on that printer, then I don’t know. I just keep the printers going for the semester. That’s all I’m trying to do.
“Students should have the fundamentals and basics …I think it should come from the instructor, that message, because I’m there for the equipment, not for whoever’s printing there.
”While I am here to help, I am not always available,” said Lontoc.
There is a predetermined expectation of use from both the instructors and technology director for the students. That expectation limits students’ access to their resources, in hopes to minimize waste.
The Xenox printer takes four CMYK cartridges, they are high capacity toners that have enough ink to cover 17,000 pages of 8.5×11 paper. Prices range from $500-750 for a set of cartridges and those funds come straight from student fees, all materials that are used by students are funded by the students that take the courses.
Students pay the course fee and share that revenue pool with the rest of the students in all other classes. When that revenue depletes there is no other source of funding to provide for new resources.
“It is frustrating that we pay a fee for the print lab, but we are constantly told to limit our printing. This limits us from creating pieces of quality for our portfolios… students pay the print fees then have to pay again to buy tools that work and even print elsewhere,” said Galvan.
“We are told not to print too much or depending on the class we are told when to print, but not being able to print physically sucks because it is a specific medium that can be difficult to transfer from digital to print, we need the ability to print,” said Metzli Barrera a fourth-year communication design student.
These materials are required for students to complete set courses in their major and it sets a foundation for a career.
“I would like to go into sports graphic design after, where I’m wanting and what I’m wanting to do is kind of a combo of needing to know how to print things and graphic design,” Powers said, “therefore this is helpful, this whole lab and the classes are helpful for that but there can be a better method people are using.”.