The theme of the first year of TYPOSPOT is [1], with its many different meanings and synonyms. That’s why the first ever TYPOSPOT installation, along with its name, [le prélude], serves as an introduction—a prelude to a series of future, even more captivating exhibitions to show that being the first doesn’t necessarily have to mean anything. 

[le prélude] explores the concept of beginnings. Every new project, career, or artistic journey starts with uncertainty, expectations, and doubts. These feelings are particularly characteristic to young designers and become an inseparable part of their professional growth, especially in today’s social and cultural climate in Slovakia. Many projects end up buried deep in our drawers, never seeing the light of the day, for whatever reason it may be. Are these projects even worth it? What does it mean to begin? And why is it so difficult? In their installation, Monika, Peter and Tomáš build upon their previous unused projects and typefaces, giving them another chance in life through a visual mashup and experiment. That way, at least part of their designer persona has been given the opportunity to heal their wounds.

Content-wise, [le prélude] is a visual play on the manifesto of TYPOSPOT. This is also the beginning of TYPOSPOT, and the uncertain feelings and expectations around this project are for these three, as organizers of this platform, no different. The installation is thus not just a visual experiment, but also a symbolic statement about the challenges of establishing oneself in the creative industry and in life, hoping and wishing for many happy memories and successful exhibitions in this space.


Monika Juríková is a freelance graphic designer and an illustrator, who is currently finishing her diploma thesis in Typolab at AFAD in Bratislava. Monika is predominantly a book designer, but she also does graphic design for exhibitions and visual identities. In her personal projects, she primarily focuses on themes that ironically critique bizarre phenomena and trends related to the digital age and social media, as well as their impact on younger generations.

Peter Pozník is a recent graduate of Typolab at AFAD in Bratislava, which he graduated with a project called PCAE, focusing on creating typography using video games. Peter is a multidisciplinary visual artist, a web designer and a graphic designer, primarily focusing on tools and their impact on designers. This is not by any means a dating ad, but his hobbies include raising baby shrimps, taking care of plants and playing cozy videogames.

Tomáš Paulen is currently finishing his bachelorette in Typolab at AFAD in Bratislava. Tomáš is an all-rounder: a graphic designer focusing on type-design, book design, identities and type-digitalization. He enjoys Swiss design with experimental overlaps, which is reflected in his work through a visible love for minimalism with interesting and intricate details. He likes to play with composition and space, approaching it as if the layout itself was an architecture of the whole design.

This project is supported by Nadácia Tatra banky and Staromestské centrá kultúry.

Exhibiting artists:
Monika Juríková, Peter Pozník and Tomáš Paulen
@monmoonika, @peter_poznik, @design.paulen

Fonts used:
PAUK, MC Farlands, Kidcore digitized

Event photos:
Ester Šmídová @esters.lens

The theme of the first year of TYPOSPOT is [1], with its many different meanings and synonyms. That’s why the first ever TYPOSPOT installation, along with its name, [le prélude], serves as an introduction—a prelude to a series of future, even more captivating exhibitions to show that being the first doesn’t necessarily have to mean anything. 

[le prélude] explores the concept of beginnings. Every new project, career, or artistic journey starts with uncertainty, expectations, and doubts. These feelings are particularly characteristic to young designers and become an inseparable part of their professional growth, especially in today’s social and cultural climate in Slovakia. Many projects end up buried deep in our drawers, never seeing the light of the day, for whatever reason it may be. Are these projects even worth it? What does it mean to begin? And why is it so difficult? In their installation, Monika, Peter and Tomáš build upon their previous unused projects and typefaces, giving them another chance in life through a visual mashup and experiment. That way, at least part of their designer persona has been given the opportunity to heal their wounds.

Content-wise, [le prélude] is a visual play on the manifesto of TYPOSPOT. This is also the beginning of TYPOSPOT, and the uncertain feelings and expectations around this project are for these three, as organizers of this platform, no different. The installation is thus not just a visual experiment, but also a symbolic statement about the challenges of establishing oneself in the creative industry and in life, hoping and wishing for many happy memories and successful exhibitions in this space.


Monika Juríková is a freelance graphic designer and an illustrator, who is currently finishing her diploma thesis in Typolab at AFAD in Bratislava. Monika is predominantly a book designer, but she also does graphic design for exhibitions and visual identities. In her personal projects, she primarily focuses on themes that ironically critique bizarre phenomena and trends related to the digital age and social media, as well as their impact on younger generations.

Peter Pozník is a recent graduate of Typolab at AFAD in Bratislava, which he graduated with a project called PCAE, focusing on creating typography using video games. Peter is a multidisciplinary visual artist, a web designer and a graphic designer, primarily focusing on tools and their impact on designers. This is not by any means a dating ad, but his hobbies include raising baby shrimps, taking care of plants and playing cozy videogames.

Tomáš Paulen is currently finishing his bachelorette in Typolab at AFAD in Bratislava. Tomáš is an all-rounder: a graphic designer focusing on type-design, book design, identities and type-digitalization. He enjoys Swiss design with experimental overlaps, which is reflected in his work through a visible love for minimalism with interesting and intricate details. He likes to play with composition and space, approaching it as if the layout itself was an architecture of the whole design.

This project is supported by Nadácia Tatra banky and Staromestské centrá kultúry.

Exhibiting artists:
Monika Juríková, Peter Pozník and Tomáš Paulen
@monmoonika, @peter_poznik, @design.paulen

Fonts used:
PAUK, MC Farlands, Kidcore digitized

Event photos:
Ester Šmídová @esters.lens