If there’s one trend that seems to have lasting legs amongst young creatives, it’s the popularity of mechanical designer keyboards. Drawn to the pleasurable aural and tactile feedback of mechanical switch keys, many find that they improve typing accuracy and speed, compounded with the joy of unique analog aesthetics. In regards to the latter, designers have outfitted keyboards with everything from round keycaps, cases inspired by Italian ceramics, and even embellished keyboards with the chromatic cinematic aesthetic of Wes Anderson to stand out from the crowd. The K-Bird concept keyboard by 3D artist Travis Ragsdale takes a literal different angle to tactile typing with a hexagonal keycap design and an industrial sci-fi aesthetic, alongside an adaptive modular add-on accessory platform imagined to grow according to a creative’s workflow.
Ragsdale’s K-Bird is built around a flat unibody construction bookended with stainless steel handles on each side, giving the keyboard a hint of rack mount hardware seriousness. But it’s the K-Bird’s hexagonal scheme that stands out from the crowd, right down to its mini polygonal power switch and 6-sided dials and sliders.
Unlike typing on a flat laptop surface, an angled accessory keyboard is a far more comfortable experience. To address this issue, Ragsdale accessorizes the K-Bird’s flat case with two feet to angle the entire setup and improve ergonomics.
The K-Bird’s other prominent addition is its modular add-on platform, an attachment allowing users to trick out their keyboard according to their workflow. Ragsdale conceptualizes the option to add an extended number pad, drawing tablet with digital stylus, or an audio/video editor’s dream upgrade accessorized with dials and slider controls for precise adjustments.
The multifunctional and modular K-Bird is but a concept for now, but there are a handful of creative console solutions available today offering similar workflow options. If you’re interested in expanding your inputs beyond QWERTY, we recommend exploring tactile workflow devices such as the Monogram Creative Console, which snaps together like LEGO pieces, or the Naya Create that pairs modularity with a strong emphasis on ergonomics.
To follow the concept keyboard’s continued development, visit TravisRagsdale.com.
