KCH Karatula

KCH Karatula is a keycap set inspired by the Philippines’ Jeepney Culture. From its roots as refurbished military jeeps to the colorful long bois Filipinos know and love, the culture surrounding Jeepneys is varied. It has stood as a symbol of Pinoy ingenuity and creativity, from its manufacturing and varied customizations. From the hunks of metal which can be painted or bare, various illustrations of self-expression and identification, and the multicolored LEDs adorning them, it is with this intersection why the designer, BloBip, believe Jeepneys transfers itself well into the world of mechanical keyboards. Karatulas, or signages in English, are objects used by Jeepney Drivers to indicate their current route. It is usually painted with very bright and eye-catching colors with large bold text to indicate its destination. These were designed to help commuters see the Jeepney’s route even from far away so that they can prepare to hail them to stop or to “para” .

The colors chosen for KCH Karatula are reminiscent of the vibrant colors painted on black backdrops of the signs used by various Jeepney drivers. There are other variations to the styles of the signs but this was chosen due to its “iconicness”. The numerics sections utilize the various punctuationsand numbers included with Baybayin Sarimanok with thea ddition of custom made ones since there were some absent. It also makes use of the various viramas with the digital input of Baybayin.