ORO Design Conference on its 5th year of inspiring and educating VISMIN creatives

Oro Design Conference (ODC) is back for its fifth edition last May 31. Positioned as Northern Mindanao's first and only conference focused on graphic design and its impact across creative fields, Oro Design conference brings together speakers from the design industry to share their expertise, insights, and experiences with the creative community in the region. Through the years, the event have brought to the stage 27 speakers from different parts of the country. For this year, ODC brought together five designers from five different cities across Visayas and Mindanao.

The main goals of Oro Design Conference are primarily to foster a creative community in the region and celebrate design. From the first edition up to the present, the organizers, known as the Oro Design Collective, have been able to develop a stronger focus on regional representation by bringing in speakers from outside the greater Manila area. Additionally, their aim is to inspire creativity, share knowledge, foster collaboration and build connections among the design community Visayas and Mindanao region.

This year's conference held last May 31, 2025, at Xavier University's Little Theater, Cagayan de Oro City, featured five speakers from the Visayas-Mindanao region who presented their work and insights. Speakers include Angkie Borres from Antler Studio PH (Cagayan de Oro) and Julz Arboleda from Dotted Studios (Iligan City), who discussed branding and identity design. Marvin Te from Plainly Simple (Davao City) presented his work in motion design and animation. Stephanie Tudtud-Guibani, Creative Director and Founder of White Brick Creative Studio (Cebu City) shared their diverse portfolio spanning branding, identity, and production design. Finally, Jad Maza (Iloilo City), known for creating the popular typefaces Maragsa and Kawingan, discussed his typography journey and creative process.

The Oro Design Conference wants to help creatives in VisMin thrive and most importantly, build a community where everyone can share ideas, collaborate across islands, and hightlight regional talent. By connecting students with professionals and creating opportunities beyond just their annual event, the organizers are hoping to inspire the next generation of designers who are proud of their roots and ready to make their mark.

This event is led by the Oro Design Collective, proudly sponsored by Chingkeetea, VjANDEP Bakeshop of Camiguin, Anglerfish Print and Design Studio, and supported by the Communication Design Association of the Philippines.

All photos taken from the Oro Design Collective Archives. Shout out to Karl Aguro of @uncuratedstudio for being an awesome resource person.