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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: Shark on Wed, 10 December 2025, 23:37:22

Title: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - updated kitting, new IC form
Post by: Shark on Wed, 10 December 2025, 23:37:22
(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/keyboard-f1.jpg)

Important Links

Interest Form (https://forms.gle/RVLJYFMyhzCvMHQM8) (updated) • Marketing Page (https://bord.design/ramu-fans) • Designer Discord (https://discord.gg/CHezTTS8fa)

Vendors

Introducing GMK CYL Ramu Fan
Ramu Fan is a keycap set inspired by one of my favorite Japanese soda drinks, ラムネ, known in English as Ramu Bottle. This set takes its main cues from the bright, nostalgic grape flavor, capturing the playful sweetness of fizzy candy drinks and summer festival energy.

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/RamuFan.jpg)

Hiragana Sublegends Alpha kit
12/30/2025 update: Based on some feedback from IC and vendors, Hiragana sublegends will be a separate kit from the base.

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/RamuFan-HiraganaAlphas.jpg)

International Support
(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/International.jpg)

Fun Novelties
Ramu Fan will have a novelty set that continues the fun theme of Ramu Bottle, the locations of where you enjoy them and some other fun Japanese themed keycaps.

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/RamuFan-Novs.jpg)

More
[deprecated for now given initial IC feedback]
If there is enough interest, having additional flavors would be great.

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/RamuFan-Strawberry.jpg)
(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/RamuFan-Melon.jpg)
Title: Re: [IC] Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Tue, 16 December 2025, 08:54:23
Updating this post to show more renders.

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/on-table.jpg)

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/keyboard-portico.jpg)

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/novelty-shift-ctrl.jpg)

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/novelty-enter.jpg)
Title: Re: [IC] Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: manhuake on Tue, 16 December 2025, 10:03:59
It would be helpful to include who your prospective manufacturer might be (GMK, PBTFans, etc...) as well as the material and profile of the keycaps!
Right now, all we can see whether we like the colors and designs, but not much about preferred materials/prices/profiles/etc...
GLWIC!
Title: Re: [IC] Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Tue, 16 December 2025, 11:09:51
Quote from: manhuake on Tue, 16 December 2025, 10:03:59
It would be helpful to include who your prospective manufacturer might be (GMK, PBTFans, etc...) as well as the material and profile of the keycaps!
Right now, all we can see whether we like the colors and designs, but not much about preferred materials/prices/profiles/etc...
GLWIC!
Hi manhuake! Appreciate your reply.

I am hopeful to have GMK be the manufacturer and their CYL/Cherry to be the profile, but I didn't add the manufacturer primarily because I have yet to find a vendor.

But I will add GMK and profile to the post because that is what I am aiming for. And the base set colors are GMK keycap colors.

Thank you!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: meowoofun on Tue, 16 December 2025, 11:15:33
Can we get some renders with the GMK Cherry molds? It's hard to visualize it with the current font.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Tue, 16 December 2025, 12:26:56
Quote from: meowoofun on Tue, 16 December 2025, 11:15:33
Can we get some renders with the GMK Cherry molds? It's hard to visualize it with the current font.

Hi meowoofun! Mocks have been updated, this was an error on my part. (and, a huge learning curve)

Thanks for checking it out!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: meowoofun on Tue, 16 December 2025, 14:09:00
Thank you for the renders! I have to say the Green Ramu is the real winner for me, that shade of candy apple green looks awesome.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: madmax13 on Tue, 16 December 2025, 16:10:06
GLWIC! Also, I think you forgot to change the color of the 1.5 modifier colored pipe. Otherwise, I am a fan!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: HubertThemad on Tue, 16 December 2025, 16:12:54
Very fun colours! I absolutely love the drink as well. GLWIC and I'll keep an eye out for this!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Wed, 17 December 2025, 14:30:59
Spent a good amount of time making a small but impactful iteration on colors and legends.

1. Colors for Grape, Melon & Strawberry now better matches GMK's producible keycap colors. I have to say, the strawberry is super bright now. The blue also better matches now too and I think makes the set just wonderful.

2. Legends. This is the part I've struggled with to match the theme. I love the bold characters of GMKs legends, but it was just not quite right for the theme. I've decided to try their Neue set designed by MVKB and I think this is a great change to the set.

Here is a slight before/after:

(https://jarqu.es/ramu-fans/update.png)

madmax13 and HubertThemad, thank you for the comments! Appreciate you both.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: meowoofun on Wed, 17 December 2025, 16:09:23
I respect your decision for Neue font but that's where I draw the line, its cherry or bust for me.

Wish you well for your IC ♥️
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Piperaceae on Wed, 17 December 2025, 18:55:46
Neue font for the win! Yes!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Wed, 17 December 2025, 22:28:47
meowoofun, totally understand. Thanks for your support!

Piperaceae, it really is a nice addition to the GMK legend family and I think fits this theme really well.

In another update, setup a discord (https://discord.gg/CHezTTS8fa) for more frequent updates so I don't spam here too much.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: johnkeyboard on Wed, 17 December 2025, 23:07:07
I love the vending machine and shinkansen novelties lol
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Thu, 25 December 2025, 10:30:41
johnkeyboard, thank you for the kind words!

Some updates from my side:
Thank you and a happy holidays and new year!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set (novelties updated!)
Post by: Shark on Fri, 02 January 2026, 13:30:29
1/2/2026 Update:


New novelties updated in the post above. Here are some on-keyboard renders:

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/novelty-shift-ctrl.jpg)

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/novelty-enter.jpg)
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - vendors and novelties updated!
Post by: Shark on Mon, 05 January 2026, 16:46:09
1/5/2026:
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: FoxandFoundry on Tue, 06 January 2026, 22:34:08
Quote from: Shark on Wed, 17 December 2025, 14:30:59
Spent a good amount of time making a small but impactful iteration on colors and legends.

1. Colors for Grape, Melon & Strawberry now better matches GMK's producible keycap colors. I have to say, the strawberry is super bright now. The blue also better matches now too and I think makes the set just wonderful.

2. Legends. This is the part I've struggled with to match the theme. I love the bold characters of GMKs legends, but it was just not quite right for the theme. I've decided to try their Neue set designed by MVKB and I think this is a great change to the set.

Here is a slight before/after:

Show Image
(https://jarqu.es/ramu-fans/update.png)


madmax13 and HubertThemad, thank you for the comments! Appreciate you both.

This doesn't even make sense, your render with the Neue font uses way brighter colors.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Tue, 06 January 2026, 23:22:09
Quote from: FoxandFoundry on Tue, 06 January 2026, 22:34:08
Quote from: Shark on Wed, 17 December 2025, 14:30:59
Spent a good amount of time making a small but impactful iteration on colors and legends.

1. Colors for Grape, Melon & Strawberry now better matches GMK's producible keycap colors. I have to say, the strawberry is super bright now. The blue also better matches now too and I think makes the set just wonderful.

2. Legends. This is the part I've struggled with to match the theme. I love the bold characters of GMKs legends, but it was just not quite right for the theme. I've decided to try their Neue set designed by MVKB and I think this is a great change to the set.

Here is a slight before/after:

Show Image
(https://jarqu.es/ramu-fans/update.png)


madmax13 and HubertThemad, thank you for the comments! Appreciate you both.

This doesn't even make sense, your render with the Neue font uses way brighter colors.

It was an error on my part in the render, please refer to the image in the main post.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: wastl on Thu, 08 January 2026, 05:40:59
Quote from: Shark on Thu, 25 December 2025, 10:30:41
johnkeyboard, thank you for the kind words!

Some updates from my side:
  • Another round of iteration on the novelty icons and I think I'm pretty happy with them.
  • There was interest in international support in the IC form, alongside full 40s support & 2.25u and 2.75u alice bars.
  • Moved the marketing page away from my personal site to bord design (https://bord.design/ramu-fans), which will be my new identity moving forward.
  • Had a vendor from Singapore reach out, so that's an exciting update. (still searching for a lead vendor)
Thank you and a happy holidays and new year!

Are there any plans for a 40s kit?
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fans - a delicious keycap set
Post by: Shark on Thu, 08 January 2026, 09:51:54
Quote from: wastl on Thu, 08 January 2026, 05:40:59
Quote from: Shark on Thu, 25 December 2025, 10:30:41
johnkeyboard, thank you for the kind words!

Some updates from my side:
  • Another round of iteration on the novelty icons and I think I'm pretty happy with them.
  • There was interest in international support in the IC form, alongside full 40s support & 2.25u and 2.75u alice bars.
  • Moved the marketing page away from my personal site to bord design (https://bord.design/ramu-fans), which will be my new identity moving forward.
  • Had a vendor from Singapore reach out, so that's an exciting update. (still searching for a lead vendor)
Thank you and a happy holidays and new year!

Are there any plans for a 40s kit?
There seems to be enough interest in having a 40s kit, so I am working on adding that this week!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - vendors and novelties updated!
Post by: nebulazy on Fri, 09 January 2026, 17:33:52
purple gang! i love the novelties, very cute. GLWIC!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - vendors and novelties updated!
Post by: Shark on Sun, 18 January 2026, 15:56:13
Quote from: nebulazy on Fri, 09 January 2026, 17:33:52
purple gang! i love the novelties, very cute. GLWIC!

Thank you! I am so happy with the novelties, and made me miss Japan while working on them.

I'm probably bias but purple is a fantastic color   :D
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - vendors and novelties updated!
Post by: OrinNYC on Thu, 22 January 2026, 09:24:18
Love the idea of additional flavors here - would love to have the green colorway as it looks to be almost the same as DCS Creamcheese and Green which has dismal kitting.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - vendors and novelties updated!
Post by: mr_foggy on Fri, 23 January 2026, 01:11:03
I would be interested in the green variant f it wasn't neue
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - vendors and novelties updated!
Post by: Piperaceae on Fri, 23 January 2026, 09:02:37
Neue is a selling point for me, glad to see more of it!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - updated kitting, new IC form
Post by: Shark on Tue, 27 January 2026, 10:31:19
Thanks Piper and Orin for the love! mr foggy, I totally understand that Neue isn't for everyone. But I do hope you get to try it one day!

After evaluating the comments on the initial IC form, I've decided to just focus on the grape flavor in this initial release. Strawberry needs some love and Melon seemed to be liked as well but not as much as Grape.

Wanted to thank all of you who filled out the form, your support means a lot! Based on the comments, here are some updates:

Here is the current proposal for a blue accent kit:

(https://bord.design/ramu-fans/BlueAccents.jpg)

Thanks again to everyone that showed their support for this set, it's been so fun working on it.
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - updated kitting, new IC form
Post by: shiva1796 on Wed, 28 January 2026, 23:22:43
Super stoked for this!
Title: Re: [IC] GMK CYL Ramu Fan - updated kitting, new IC form
Post by: Shark on Tue, 03 February 2026, 09:01:24
Quote from: shiva1796 on Wed, 28 January 2026, 23:22:43
Super stoked for this!

Thank you, appreciate it!