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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: upas on Tue, 04 November 2025, 14:38:35

Title: [IC] Touchstone - new colorways + southpaw planned!
Post by: upas on Tue, 04 November 2025, 14:38:35
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a8/a0/S6GKMOR1_o.jpg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/a7/b6/wod8NhuL_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a1/53/aACA3URo_o.png)

Please fill out the Touchstone interest check form here (https://forms.gle/YtEeZ49u1oewGVHG9)

Index:


Concept & Inspiration:

From James: Touchstone was created from a simple idea: to strip away excess and let form, material, and proportion speak for themselves. I wanted to channel my interest in architecture and art into something tangible, translating those influences into the language of keyboards. In those fields every line and surface is intentional, shaped to feel comfortable and familiar without distraction, and I wanted to carry this approach through to the medium of keyboards. In spite of the bold shapes, the design language is rooted in restraint, aiming for honesty rather than novelty.

The physical design of the keyboard draws material inspiration from modernist and minimalist sculpture, particularly the structured clarity of Carl Andre and the spatial sensitivity of David Rabinowitch. Their focus on geometry, mass, and surface guided the relationship between metal, texture, and light within the piece. The “Mono” edition came first, built around a stark, clinical palette that defined the tone of the project from the outset. But as the design neared completion, the “Primary” colourway naturally emerged as the clean, geometric layout of the board’s underside aligned perfectly with the principles of the De Stijl movement. Piet Mondrian’s “Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow” felt like an inevitable reference at that point; you’d never guess it wasn’t the original inspiration.

With Touchstone we’ve taken those same ideas of structure and material honesty and translated them into a functional object, treating the keyboard not as a gadget but as a piece of design worth contemplating in its own right.





Colorways:

(https://images2.imgbox.com/68/80/EJ7abJFt_o.png)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a8/a0/S6GKMOR1_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a7/b6/wod8NhuL_o.jpg)
More
(https://images2.imgbox.com/98/f9/bnXgcKVG_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a7/15/uG7pEEtP_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2a/b5/MXO7233Q_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ad/ff/UKF9gKjR_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/63/52/Ajym8o0E_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/91/b0/FeoI0cDR_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/91/b0/FeoI0cDR_o.jpg)



(https://images2.imgbox.com/f1/a8/h2vVvK9m_o.png)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d9/04/RBgbnDhU_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/df/7a/xSWyY1Kc_o.jpg)
More
(https://images2.imgbox.com/68/8b/NXmeWjgc_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/62/3b/kChjaK65_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/40/e8/eIj3sKlM_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/65/ec/2R3wpXuI_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8c/e2/u497m5vB_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b9/e4/duWfOMJT_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/02/a6/Q4RKxzjr_o.jpg)



Specifications:

Typing Angle: 7°
Effective Front Height: 20mm
Layout: Full-size, 108 keys+. Both WK & WKL (we only have WKL prototypes).
Mounting Style: Top-mounted, with separate PCBs and plates for the TKL & numpad sections.
Medium:  Brass and aluminum on aluminum (Primary), Steel and aluminum on aluminum (Mono)
Weight: 5.8lbs/2633g (Unbuilt), 7lbs/3117g (Built)


(https://images2.imgbox.com/70/54/mCG3TZS2_o.jpg)
That's a lotta bits



Sale Plans:


Please fill out the Touchstone interest check form here (https://forms.gle/YtEeZ49u1oewGVHG9)

(https://images2.imgbox.com/0c/2b/JxQFoSAM_o.jpg)


Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: upas on Tue, 04 November 2025, 14:39:05
11/08

Here is an exploded view of the board showing all parts and layers. Sharing it here for anyone following the project who wants a clearer look at the internal structure.

(https://images2.imgbox.com/70/54/mCG3TZS2_o.jpg)


12/03

We have spent the last couple of weeks going through all the IC form replies, and the feedback has been genuinely useful.
There were many great suggestions, so we have been working through them and making changes where they make sense. The goal is still the same,
we just want Touchstone to be the best version of itself.

Originally the plan was very straightforward with two fixed SKUs, however it turns out most people wanted a little bit more flexibility, especially with
the color accents, so we have opened things up a little. The Primary colourway now lets you pick which primary colour you want for the rear top case
piece. This keeps the overall look consistent but gives you some room to personalise things (if you aren't a fan of pokéballs).

There were also more requests for a southpaw option than we expected. Normally it would be too late in the process to really implement any changes
and test before the GB launches, but in this case the changes are pretty manageable. We are getting a set of extra prototype parts made to check fit
and function, probably just in a raw finish to keep things simple. If everything works as expected, southpaw will be available in all colours, and of
course in both WK and WKL.

We will share more once the new prototypes arrive, but for now please enjoy these dubious photo edits to give you a rough idea of what to expect for
the alternate Primary colorway options.

(https://images2.imgbox.com/84/2e/UcoWd1Fn_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a5/6c/fqbcnA27_o.jpg)
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: HubertThemad on Tue, 04 November 2025, 15:09:22
I love you

Also GLWIC I will buy

Edit: That was meant for James. I mean Upas you still get love but I was fooled thinking James posted this lol
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: goodnaruk on Tue, 04 November 2025, 15:38:21
I'm definitely feeling it! I would probably acutually purchase a mono, but the primary is the show stopper.
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: upas on Tue, 04 November 2025, 16:53:59
Quote from: HubertThemad on Tue, 04 November 2025, 15:09:22
I love you

Also GLWIC I will buy

Edit: That was meant for James. I mean Upas you still get love but I was fooled thinking James posted this lol

Well, tbf, James did write the IC seeing as he's the one who designed the board haha.
FWIW - I think it turned out amazing, and am actually really excited for this IC.
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: basilkeys on Tue, 04 November 2025, 17:10:37
This is phenomenal! I've never been so convinced that I need a full-size in my life. The execution here is  :thumb: gorgeous!!!
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: MartinThePolarBear on Tue, 04 November 2025, 19:27:41
Oh wow we're in a Full Size Renaissance! Can't remember if Canonkeys has vendored a Full Size board before
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: spikedsynapse on Wed, 05 November 2025, 08:50:10
This board is really beautiful.
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: funderburker on Wed, 05 November 2025, 11:23:05
Mad respect to James and CannonKeys, this board is so so gorge and unique! LOVE IT!

GLWIC! Full-size boards opens up so much real estate and you've used it to 100%! Get it?!
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: EdgeOfInfinity on Wed, 05 November 2025, 15:15:25
very cool vibe.

any consideration of offering other Mondrian-colored tops?
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: upas on Thu, 06 November 2025, 11:15:04
We have had some requests for a southpaw version and while it does sound like a cool idea it's very much dependent on sales to be viable.
We can look into this depending on cost and interest so please let us know what you want in the IC form! (https://forms.gle/YtEeZ49u1oewGVHG9)
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: TheManicGeek on Sat, 08 November 2025, 01:30:02
Having seen the proto at KL I was already excited for this project. Stoked to finally see the IC go live! It's a beautiful project, GLWIC!
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: upas on Tue, 18 November 2025, 09:29:26
Here is an exploded view of the board showing all parts and layers. Sharing it here for anyone following the project who wants a clearer look at the internal structure.

(https://images2.imgbox.com/70/54/mCG3TZS2_o.jpg)
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: goodnaruk on Tue, 18 November 2025, 10:41:39
Its probably not feasible given the low production, and would be a dead inventory nightmare, but it would be very cool if you provided the option to buy the other colorways accent kit for preorder.

The mono would look downright sinister if you could swap in the red top frame and weights and black boarder from the primary, and vice versa the ability to bring the black bottom frame into the primary could make for a cool back to front cohesion.

Theres a distinct lack of long term style reconfigurability within this industry due to the low volume production runs necessary. When you look at an IC/GB and see all of these unique ways to configure your board you're ultimately locked into the configuration you chose or you buy two kits and random extras. It could be cool to flip that narrative and encourage the ability to switch it up visually depending on your flavor of the week.
Title: Re: [IC] Touchstone
Post by: upas on Wed, 03 December 2025, 09:08:12
Update time

We have spent the last couple of weeks going through all the IC form replies, and the feedback has been genuinely useful.
There were many great suggestions, so we have been working through them and making changes where they make sense. The goal is still the same,
we just want Touchstone to be the best version of itself.

Originally the plan was very straightforward with two fixed SKUs, however it turns out most people wanted a little bit more flexibility, especially with
the color accents, so we have opened things up a little. The Primary colourway now lets you pick which primary colour you want for the rear top case
piece. This keeps the overall look consistent but gives you some room to personalise things (if you aren't a fan of pokéballs).

There were also more requests for a southpaw option than we expected. Normally it would be too late in the process to really implement any changes
and test before the GB launches, but in this case the changes are pretty manageable. We are getting a set of extra prototype parts made to check fit
and function, probably just in a raw finish to keep things simple. If everything works as expected, southpaw will be available in all colours, and of
course in both WK and WKL.

We will share more once the new prototypes arrive, but for now please enjoy these dubious photo edits to give you a rough idea of what to expect for
the alternate Primary colorway options.

(https://images2.imgbox.com/84/2e/UcoWd1Fn_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a5/6c/fqbcnA27_o.jpg)