When Marc Corfmat was growing up, his sister had a bedroom wall covered in Polaroid photos while he and his brother were both obsessed with Legos. Corfmat merged those interests this year with his UC Davis studies in mechanical engineering to create something available all around the nation.

In the latest episode of Face to Face, Chancellor Gary S. May and Cormfat discuss the graduate student’s latest design: a functioning Polaroid camera built out of Lego bricks. 

In 2020 the Lego Ideas program offered a chance for designers who receive over 10,000 votes to have their idea come to life, and receive 1 percent of sales in return. Marc and his brother spent years submitting dozens of projects until his 2022 submission led to the Lego Polaroid Onestep SX-70, which hit shelves in January.

In a conversation driven by curiosity, hear Corfmat talk about the design and engineering challenges he overcame, like how to physically print a photo in a machine made of literal building blocks and how to power the camera without batteries. 

Corfmat also talks to May about working in the Advanced Research for Manufacturing Systems Laboratory with Professor Masakazu Soshi of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and how this research experience is shaping Corfmat’s future goals.

May’s academic and professional background in electrical and computer engineering is present throughout the conversation — after all, May is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. 

Stick around for some community building across the Star Trek and Star Wars aisle as Corfmat asks May about the impact science fiction and comics had on his career path. 

More episodes of ‘Face to Face’

Chancellor May has interviewed more than 30 guests on his monthly talk show, including faculty, staff and students.

Listen to all of the conversations on the Face to Face webpage.