[IC] GMK Bordeaux | Group Buy is now LIVE! May 30, 2022 to June 30, 2022 🍷

[aerospice]

>> Group Buy Page <<

I would like to introduce to you GMK Bordeaux, a keycap set based on the world capital of wine! Much of the color palette was inspired by the cream and light brown brickwork shown throughout "Old Town" Bordeaux's architectural work (Port Cailhau, Place de la Bourse, La Grosse Cloche, etc.), as well as the gravel/clay soils that the vineyards use to cultivate the grape varieties there. I also wanted to include a deep red color to represent the cabernet merlot blended wine selections that the region is most famous for producing. Here is a mood board that I used to visualize my ideas.

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Pantone 2309 C
Accents

Pantone 4045 C
Alphas

Pantone 7643 C
Modifiers

Vendors

NA: Mechs & Co
EU: MyKeyboard
CA: Ashkeebs
UK: Prototypist
AUS/OCE: Daily Clack
SEA: Thic Thock
CN: KBDfans
KR: Monstargears


Pricing




Kits

Château (base)


Aged Oak (alt alphas)


Vineyard (novelties)


Full-Bodied (spacebars)


Glögg (NorDeUK)



Renders

HAUS by Hand Engineering

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Paragon by Artemis Design Studios

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U80-A by Rama Works




Bloq by THOK Design



Deskmats

Deskmat Trivia #1:
The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 (Grand Cru Classé) resulted from the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, when Emperor Napoleon III (1808-1873) requested a classification system for France's finest Bordeaux wines that were to be on display for visitors from all across the globe. This quality classification system comprises only of left bank chateaus in Médoc, Graves, and Sauternes, ranked from first to fifth growths. In Bordeaux, the first growths are called "premiers crus" (highest quality) while the second through fifth growth crus are called "crus classés." As of today, the Grand Cru Classé of 1855 is the most popular and longest-standing wine classification system in Bordeaux.

"Wine Stain" (900x400 mm)

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opps

Deskmat Trivia #2:
Nearing the end of the 1970s, intercultural relations between France and Japan were mainly connected through anime and manga. In 2006, France represented around 50% of the European market for manga and was only second behind Japan in terms of global manga consumption. In 2013, manga represented around 40% of new comics released in the country, which surpassed Franco-Belgian comics for the first time in French history.

"Affair at the Château" by 1stGarden (900x400 mm)

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Collaborations

Metal Keycaps:
Hibi MX

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THOK

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Asero Foundry


Esclab

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Wooden Keycaps:
YVK Studio

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Raffle Keycaps:
MacherStudio

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DEAGcaps

MOZIcaps

Namong Art

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PrimeCaps

Arcana Keys

Keycap Quarry

Cables:
VoxelMods

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RnCables

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Wrist Rest:
MarbleK

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Deskmat:
1stGarden

Keyboard:




Social Media



ID: Kevster#6878
If you have any questions regarding the set or would like to reach out to collaborate, don't hesitate to message me!

Update Log

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07-17-2021
- Interest check posted
- Removed mod tilde from modifier alphas kit
- Added extra "b" to modifier alphas kit
- Added extra "b" to spacebars kit

07-21-2021
- Added color poll for base alphas

07-26-2021
- Posted results for base alphas color poll (choice #2 wins)
- Color matched new base alpha color with Pantone 2471 C
- Updated banner, mood board, and renders to represent new base alphas and better reflect accents

07-28-2021
- Created second interest check form
- Created discord server for set

08-01-2021
- Updated base kit with added 40% 3-key support (R2 1.75u Backspace, R3 1.5u Enter, R3 1.25u Tab)
- Updated confirmed vendors list for NA, EU, UK, and AUS/OCE

08-03-2021
- Updated confirmed vendors list for SEA

08-04-2021
- Updated confirmed vendors list for CA and KR

08-07-2021
- Updated confirmed vendors list for CN

08-20-2021
- Added final color poll for base alphas

08-29-2021
- Posted results for final base alphas color poll (new color wins)
- Added 2.75u, 2.25u, and 2.00u spacebars to alphas kit to support common Alice layouts
- Removed F5-F8 keys from alphas kit

09-05-2021
- Confirmed collaborations with Rama Works, Asero Foundry, Arcana Keys, Rocket Cable, RnCables, MarbleK, and 1stGarden

10-28-2021
- Novelty fixing phase
- Confirmed collaboration with THOK and Hibi
- Revealed Asero Foundry and THOK keycap renders

12-27-2021
- Novelty revision
- Confirmed collaboration with MacherStudio and MOZIcaps

02-07-2022
- Novelties approved by GMK
- Initial price quotes

02-26-2022
- Created poll to decide base alpha colors (brown vs red) and overall kitting

03-06-2022
- Announced base alpha poll result (red wins)

03-08-2022
- Added red tab for alt-alphas kit for two keyboard support
- Updated confirmed vendors list for SEA
- Confirmed collaboration with YVK Studio
- Added new deskmat design by 1stGarden

03-28-2022
- Announced price quotes for North America
- Added grape leaf novelty for R2 tab key
- Added new renders
- Added MarbleK collaboration update

04-08-2022
- Announced official group buy date

04-28-2022
- Updated kit renders
- Added non-tertiary NorDeUK kit (Glögg)
- Announced collaboration with Esclab

05-05-2022
- Added VoxelMods collaboration update

05-19-2022
- Revealed Hibi keycap renders

05-26-2022
- Added updated deskmat design by 1stGarden
- Revealed RnCables collaboration cable

05-29-2022
- Updated pricing information
- Added Primecaps collaboration update
- Added MarbleK renders and purchase link
- Added VoxelMods purchase link

05-30-2022
- Group Buy live

Signature

If you like wine and keycaps, please consider adding this link to your signature! If you like neither, add it anyway!

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[url=https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=113844.0][img]https://i.imgur.com/GsEaCuX.png[/img][/url]

[aerospice]

>> Base Alphas Color Poll <<

Brown Base Alphas

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Red Base Alpha

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NOTE: This poll is slated to end in one week (3/5/2022)

[Fraaaan]

ne extra b avail?

[ivu]

Have you tried with the 2309 color for the alphas ?
Not really digging the current 2474 color, unfortunately.

[MadBinton]

Hey Kevster,

Nice to see this got off the ground. I'm not entirely sure I'd like that final brown / cork color myself, but looking at the inspiration I do think it's well done.

Looks really nice on the Paragon and U80!

The accent color and novelties bring it together. These novelties are amazing quality!

If this runs in GB by the time GMK is a bit more on top of their queues, I might just join to support and for those amazing novelties.

[nvh2092]

You need an extra b in the base kit, the kitting seems good tho. I prefer the legend to pop more on the standard alphas.

[Rumblethumps]

I'm not sure I'm a fan of the base alpha color, but even if it's not my thing, I definitely see how it fits with the inspiration. The novs are gorgeous, I'd build my first ISO board just for that enter!

[Cylent]

I like dis, pls swap alpha and accent color or just find a new alpha color.

[Neely_12]

Love the red on this set. I think you’ve already got your kitting critique, so no need to beat a dead horse. I would have to agree about the alpha color. I would like to see it be a bit more orange, but it’s ultimately up to your vision of what the set is supposed to represent. Good work and good luck!

[Banned]

that full bodied kit looks nice ..

glwic

[Steelbloo]

Would prefer to see the full bodied version as the base

[LittleAad]

Alt alphas make the set look too much like GMK maroon. Imo. Good inspo and novelties tho, glwic 

[Brioric]

I really like the alt alphas, but the legends seem dull on the base alpha color.
Cool novelties too, glwic!

[IMZO]

Looks good, the colorway is so nice imo

[CookieFlow]

I'd much prefer the full-bodied to be the base kit

[Preston Walz]

Nice set! Love the colors.

[sup3r170va]

I wonder if the set would look nicer with the accent colour as the colour of the alphas.

[aerospice]

Thank you for all the responses and support so far everyone! Based on the feedback, I went ahead and added the the extra "b" keycaps in the spacebars and modifier alphas kit. In addition, I plan to continue testing out the colors for the base alphas. Some colors I have in mind to test out is a darker cream to match the accent, or a darker gray color to represent the steel fences of "Old Town" Bordeax. After I render the experimental colors, I will create a poll on here to help decide what the base alpha should look like, so keep an eye out for it!

[sup3r170va]

Thank you for all the responses and support so far everyone! Based on the feedback, I went ahead and added the the extra "b" keycaps in the spacebars and modifier alphas kit. In addition, I plan to continue testing out the colors for the base alphas. Some colors I have in mind to test out is a darker cream to match the accent, or a darker gray color to represent the steel fences of "Old Town" Bordeax. After I render the experimental colors, I will create a poll on here to help decide what the base alpha should look like, so keep an eye out for it!

Are you fixed on using the 2309C for the text on the alphas? I am looking at the image you have, and there are a lot of lighter creams reflecting the walls of the buildings in Bordeaux. Would a lighter cream as base alphas, and 7643C for the text, work better? Just a thought 

[YoungTerror]

I like dis, pls swap alpha and accent color or just find a new alpha color.

I agree with this.

[sirieous]

id be more of a fan of this if this was a mono set with the mod colour

[HungHingDaiLo]

Since there are quite a lot of "glass" & "window" elements from your inspiration (namely wine glass, building windows, street lamps),
would it be a good idea to include at least one windowed keys on the base kit/novelties kit?

Just my 2 cents!

[brunosan_.]

I would like to see the alt alphas on the base kit instead of the others.

[yh]

i like the colours on the mods and accents, and the novelties! alpha colours a bit iffy though, with low contrast and whatnot. GLWIC~

[jabe8i]

I feel like the print on the base alphas need a bit more contrast. Maybe modify the legend color, or change up the alpha colors slightly.

[whirlwind]

The base alphas color needs reworking, maybe swap them with the Full bodied modifier alphas

[scoopbb]

really like this. hope you consider a 40s kit

[Xherion]

Really interested in the theme and proposed set, but yeah like everybody else says the alphas could be tweaked.

Hope the tweaked alphas color will be better matched, will be watching this IC closely.

[kw88]

The base alphas color needs reworking

no

[HappyB0T]

I'd much prefer the full-bodied to be the base kit

+1

[Ella]

alt alpha kit makes it look too much like gmk maroon

[kidgoth]

id be more of a fan of this if this was a mono set with the mod colour

this would match novelties perfectly too

[DeMechanica]

Full bodied alphas in the main base set instead of as an addon set and I’d be in!

[aerospice]

Due to an overwhelming response on the interest check form (as well as this thread) to have the alphas changed, I went ahead and rendered a few potential candidates to replace the current base alphas. As a few of you have suggested, I chose three warmer/new colors of varying degrees of brightness that better matched the cream accents, compared to the original. Personally speaking, I'm glad to have gotten this feedback since I think these three new colors look significantly better than the original. More importantly, they don't stray from the "Old Town" Bordeaux theme that I had in mind either.

Anyway, the new look for the alpha base is going to be heavily decided by YOU! If you interested in the outcome of the new base alphas, it is highly important that you participate in this poll. Before voting, please refer to the renders below to make your judgement:

>> Base Alphas Color Poll <<

Base Alpha 1
(original)


Base Alpha 2


Base Alpha 3


Base Alpha 4



Full Gallery on Imgur

[nvh2092]

Due to an overwhelming response on the interest check form (as well as this thread) to have the alphas changed, I went ahead and rendered a few potential candidates to replace the current base alphas. As a few of you have suggested, I chose three warmer/new colors of varying degrees of brightness that better matched the cream accents, compared to the original. Personally speaking, I'm glad to have gotten this feedback since I think these three new colors look significantly better than the original. More importantly, they don't stray from the "Old Town" Bordeaux theme that I had in mind either.

Anyway, the new look for the alpha base is going to be heavily decided by YOU! If you interested in the outcome of the new base alphas, it is highly important that you participate in this poll. Before voting, please refer to the renders below to make your judgement:

>> Base Alphas Color Poll <<

Base Alpha 1
(original)

Show Image

Show Image

Base Alpha 2

Show Image

Show Image

Base Alpha 3

Show Image

Show Image

Base Alpha 4

Show Image

Show Image

Full Gallery on Imgur

Base 2 is the way

[DeMechanica]

Due to an overwhelming response on the interest check form (as well as this thread) to have the alphas changed, I went ahead and rendered a few potential candidates to replace the current base alphas. As a few of you have suggested, I chose three warmer/new colors of varying degrees of brightness that better matched the cream accents, compared to the original. Personally speaking, I'm glad to have gotten this feedback since I think these three new colors look significantly better than the original. More importantly, they don't stray from the "Old Town" Bordeaux theme that I had in mind either.

Anyway, the new look for the alpha base is going to be heavily decided by YOU! If you interested in the outcome of the new base alphas, it is highly important that you participate in this poll. Before voting, please refer to the renders below to make your judgement:

>> Base Alphas Color Poll <<

Base Alpha 1
(original)

Show Image

Show Image

Base Alpha 2

Show Image

Show Image

Base Alpha 3

Show Image

Show Image

Base Alpha 4

Show Image

Show Image

Full Gallery on Imgur

*Votes for full bodied as base*

I like the original kit colouring more than the alternatives, but I only want to buy the dark kit.

[sup3r170va]

Thanks for being so responsive to feedback. Voted.

[aerospice]

Would prefer to see the full bodied version as the base

This was an idea that I was strongly considering, but I had a conflict with another designer in regards to the red alphas beforehand. Although I thought the colors that we chose were different enough to co-exist as base kits (Pantone 7643 C vs RAL 4004), I'd rather not make it a bigger deal than it was to him/her. Summing it up, the "full-bodied" alphas kit was the best solution that I could think of to give people the choice for a fully wine-colored set without the additional drama.

Since there are quite a lot of "glass" & "window" elements from your inspiration (namely wine glass, building windows, street lamps),
would it be a good idea to include at least one windowed keys on the base kit/novelties kit?

Just my 2 cents!

An idea that I can play with is a gothic-styled window to match the fences and lamps (gothic architecture is prevalent throughout Bordeaux). For the keys that I would want to put it on, that is something that I will have to think about a little more. Great suggestion though!

really like this. hope you consider a 40s kit

In regards to creating kits for 40s, Norde, and AZERTY, I plan on making this decision on the next iteration of my IC form since these kits rarely reach MOQ. If enough interest is shown on the next IC form, I'll consider creating a kit for them.

Thanks for being so responsive to feedback. Voted.

Thanks for taking the time to give the feedback in the first place! You and many other people here suggested that the base alpha colors be a bit closer to the accents, so I created the base alphas color poll for that very reason. I heavily weigh the results/responses of the IC forms when deciding to make any changes, so again, I appreciate all the responses coming though!

[Mr Chrome]

Would prefer to see the full bodied version as the base

This was an idea that I was strongly considering, but I had a conflict with another designer in regards to the red alphas beforehand. Although I thought the colors that we chose were different enough to co-exist as base kits (Pantone 7643 C vs RAL 4004), I'd rather not make it a bigger deal than it was to him/her. Summing it up, the "full-bodied" alphas kit was the best solution that I could think of to give people the choice for a fully wine-colored set without the additional drama.

It's a shame because I think your use of the novelties and accents is a perfect use of the colour, and clearly you've put a lot of work into the theme, but I understand that ah... it is similar to a certain maroon set...

I like that you're polling options for alternative alphas though! Personally, I like the tone/hue of 3 and 4 best, but I find 2 easiest to read because of the darker colour in contrast with the legends

[CookieFlow]

I feel there is a clear demand for the full bodied to be the base kit.

I understand that some people said it's too close to "GMK Maroon" but to me that set is a lot more purple toned.
I much prefer the deep wine maroon red that you picked and imo better represents Maroon.

I also feel your set has novelties and a theme around it that justifies it's existence.

[Havattack]

Ah man, i thought the poll was going to include those modifier colored alphas... lame.

[jabe8i]

Ah man, i thought the poll was going to include those modifier colored alphas... lame.

Would prefer to see the full bodied version as the base

This was an idea that I was strongly considering, but I had a conflict with another designer in regards to the red alphas beforehand. Although I thought the colors that we chose were different enough to co-exist as base kits (Pantone 7643 C vs RAL 4004), I'd rather not make it a bigger deal than it was to him/her. Summing it up, the "full-bodied" alphas kit was the best solution that I could think of to give people the choice for a fully wine-colored set without the additional drama.

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

I abstain from discussion as to whether Maroon and Bordeaux are too close. If what the IC shows, what the banderole color is, and what the caps look like is a number of colors less than 3 Im always impressed.

What I really liked about the poll was the ability to pick a color and also through ranking 1-10 pick "not this color" as well. I picked either 3 or 4, but my first thought was...anything but color #1 I'm good with, and got to rank that as a 1 and the others as 9s and 10s.

I think this has legs for kitting decisions as well especially for 500 MOQ where the base kit isn't gonna look like analog dreams 2.

[aerospice]

Looking at the results of the base alpha color poll, "Base Alpha 2" is the most popular choice by a significant margin (albeit "Base Alpha 4" was close). It also had the highest overall average of favorable ratings (6-10) compared to the other choices, and had the lowest overall average of unfavorable ratings (1-5) compared to the other choices. This was an important factor since most people were happy with this color in general, even if it wasn't their top choice. For that reason, I went ahead and updated the new base alphas with "Base Alpha 2," and physically color matched it with Pantone 2471 C (slightly lighter than poll render). As you guys can see, the banner, mood board, and renders have all been updated with the new base alpha color! I also updated the renders to better reflect the physical color for the accents as well, which is slightly darker in person. All in all, I am satisfied with the new base alpha color since it is much warmer than the previous iteration and better matches with the modifier/accent colors. This wouldn't have been possible without all the suggestions and feedback that I have gotten thus far, so thank you to everyone who was willing to participate in the poll!

Talking about future plans for this set, my first goal is to create a second interest check form that aims to take additional kitting suggestions into consideration as well (40s, Norde, and AZERTY, etc.). My second goal is to create a discord server specifically for this set in order to better communicate my ideas and get live feedback from people who are interested. Lastly, since the colors have been mostly solidified from the recent poll, I will actively start seeking out vendors/collaborations and advertise for this set on different platforms to get more traffic.

Base Alphas Poll Results

[nvh2092]

Looking at the results of the base alpha color poll, "Base Alpha 2" is the most popular choice by a significant margin (albeit "Base Alpha 4" was close). It also had the highest overall average of favorable ratings (6-10) compared to the other choices, and had the lowest overall average of unfavorable ratings (1-5) compared to the other choices. This was an important factor since most people were happy with this color in general, even if it wasn't their top choice. For that reason, I went ahead and updated the new base alphas with "Base Alpha 2," and physically color matched it with Pantone 2471 C (slightly lighter than poll render). As you guys can see, the banner, mood board, and renders have all been updated with the new base alpha color! I also updated the renders to better reflect the physical color for the accents as well, which is slightly darker in person. All in all, I am satisfied with the new base alpha color since it is much warmer than the previous iteration and better matches with the modifier/accent colors. This wouldn't have been possible without all the suggestions and feedback that I have gotten thus far, so thank you to everyone who was willing to participate in the poll!

Talking about future plans for this set, my first goal is to create a second interest check form that aims to take additional kitting suggestions into consideration as well (40s, Norde, and AZERTY, etc.). My second goal is to create a discord server specifically for this set in order to better communicate my ideas and get live feedback from people who are interested. Lastly, since the colors have been mostly solidified from the recent poll, I will actively start seeking out vendors/collaborations and advertise for this set on different platforms to get more traffic.

Base Alphas Poll Results

Show Image

Nice, I like the 2nd base. Also, about the 40s, I think it's always safe to add 3 most popular 40s keys to the base and you don't even need to make a poll for it. About Norde or Azerty, Norde always struggles and I don't think Azerty's gonna make it....I think the current terminal iso aka US iso in base is enough, minimum price to pay to cover all iso layouts. I use Azerty too since I'm in France atm. I only need terminal iso to put the set on my board since I know the reality of international kit.

[aerospice]

A new interest check form has been created, so please fill it out below if you have the time. I also created a new discord server to further discuss this set, so check it out!

>> Interest Check Form v2 <<

[nvh2092]

A new interest check form has been created, so please fill it out below if you have the time. I also created a new discord server to further discuss this set, so check it out!

>> Interest Check Form v2 <<

Link died

[aerospice]

A new interest check form has been created, so please fill it out below if you have the time. I also created a new discord server to further discuss this set, so check it out!

>> Interest Check Form v2 <<

Link died

Thanks for catching that! The link for the new IC form should be fixed now

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

Do others who want alt alphas:
Want F5-F8 in that kit?
Want split bars in that kit?

[slg1993]

I want to parrot others and say that, if the alt alphas were turned into a full base kit I would buy it instantly