Cover Photo By Benildean Press Corps
Cover Photo By Benildean Press Corps.

Writing home: The Type Lab MNL Recap


Let the country's biggest "type nerds" teach you more about the art of calligraphy and hand lettering in Type Lab MNL.


By Benildean Press Corps | Sunday, 19 July 2015

Through letters and words, strokes and typefaces, the two-day spectacle that is Type Lab MNL brought something to write home about. Being the country’s first ever type conference, the pressure to succeed was undoubtedly intense. But the people’s love for lettering and calligraphy won above all, for the attendance and energy at the Roofdeck Events Place in Century City Mall was nothing short of incredible.

 

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Photo by Zen Montoya

Organized by Type Kita and Abbey Sy, the conference brought together eight prominent speakers from the type-lettering, illustration, and design community. Considered a niche interest catering to specific people, lettering in general was often an overlooked art form. The humble community of type illustrators and designers met in small exhibits and social events, but this year, they decided that it was time to bring the art to the mainstream.

 

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Photo by Zen Montoya

The event began with the introduction of Abbey Sy, leader of Team ABC and herself a speaker of this event, and Maan Agsalud, the community head of Type Kita. They enthusiastically talked about how exciting the prospect of the event was and how it came to be. The community of type lovers is still growing, and launching a big event was a risk that they were willing to take. Seeing the attendees and the speakers who came, however, was a reassurance that the event was no less a success.

 

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Photo by Zen Montoya

The first day of the conference featured four of the eight speakers, with Tippy Go of Googly Gooeys leading the seminar. One half of the driving force behind the popular design and humor blog of the same name, she explained her fascination with colors and color combinations. Jelvin Base, a graphic designer relatively new to the art of lettering, shared with the audience the beauty of brush lettering, showing his portfolio and also sharing his origins from being a graphic designer turned type letterer.

 

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Photo by Zen Montoya

Abbey Sy then came onstage to discuss hand lettering in context of her life and the challenges that came with it, from changing jobs, taking risks, publishing a book and now organizing a big event like Type Lab MNL. Patrick Cabral talked about his design process from his humble beginnings as an artist, and then giving some tips and advice to the audience through his live demonstrations of lettering design using creative software.

Kay Aranzanso began the second day of Type Lab MNL by differentiating typography from calligraphy and lettering, which are often confused with one another. Artists and designers usually use brushes and pens for their work, but Aranzanso uses chalk as her primary medium. June Digan talked about his 365-day project which got featured on different websites. She showed of her works featuring watercolor lettering, and talks about how this art has become her joyful escape from her day job as an art director/designer.

 

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Photo by Zen Montoya

John Ed de Vera followed with his discussion on his unique methods of hand lettering. Not limiting himself on one medium for his art, his resourcefulness led him to using powdered sugar for one project, thread and nails for another. He also encouraged social change through his art, by showing illustrated signboards across the metro. Fozzy Dayrit, the last of the speakers, focused on calligraphy. She displayed her work found in products, branding, and magazine editorials. She often had fun with her presentation by inserting Taylor Swift references, and told her story on how she quit the advertising business to focus on family and the art of calligraphy.

 

Each day had a meet and greet session where interested attendees can line up and have their autographs signed by each of the speakers, with their names written in different styles of lettering. The events place also had pop up stores from different shops selling goodies and collectibles for type nerds. Notebooks, cards, pens, and more were sold to the attendees. A lettering exhibit was also displayed, showing works from various contributors, some from the speakers.

 

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Photo by Zen Montoya

The event was not without its struggles, from scheduling problems to technical difficulties. However, none were big enough to spoil the fun that was Type Lab MNL, which was an overall success. Type nerds may have learned a thing or two from Type Lab MNL and its speakers, but for the uninitiated, the conference brings a breadth of valuable information that brings to light a new appreciation for the art.

 

The success of Type Lab MNL is a sign for things to come: perhaps we may see a future where everyone sees art not only in paintings and photographs, but also in letters, type, and written text. Maybe in this future, lovers and designers of all things type may call this world their home.


The Benildean Press Corps is an official media partner of Type Lab MNL.

 

 

 

Last updated: Sunday, 18 July 2021