Introducing FSR
Welcome to FSR, based in England, United Kingdom. With this inaugural journal post, we embark on a journey we trust will endure with purpose—an opportunity to express who we are, what we value, and the course we intend to pursue.
At FSR, our approach is unambiguous: we design and produce products that we should be content to employ ourselves. There are no shortcuts, no compromises, and no uncertainties in matters of design, machining, or collaboration. Every decision is deliberate, and every detail is treated with the utmost care.
That same commitment to precision extends to the manner in which we present our work. FSR will minimise the use of digital renders, employing them only where no other viable alternative exists, and wherever possible final product pages will present genuine, tested articles, ensuring that what is shown is an exact reflection of what may be expected. This principle extends equally to reviews, group buy promotion, and pre-release communications: only production-specification samples will be used for public-facing content, while prototypes may be utilised for pre-release feedback from selected testers, with any such material clearly contextualised as developmental and used solely to inform final refinement. Reviewers will, at the very least, receive authentic colour samples of the available configurations, enabling audiences to form a clear and accurate impression of the final offering.
This blog is to serve as a record of that ethos. Here we shall provide updates on ongoing projects, offer insight into our processes, and share reflections on the principles that guide our work.
Our collections
The Forma and Aeternus collections present two distinct but complementary interpretations of FSR’s design philosophy.
The Forma collection is defined by clarity and precision. It emphasises restraint, balance, and proportion, distilling design to its essential elements while maintaining a measured respect for tradition. More than a set of works, Forma represents a design methodology in which enduring principles are reinterpreted to create pieces that are both timeless and contemporary.
The Aeternus collection is defined by intricacy and depth. It explores the limits of form by combining complexity with coherence, producing designs that are ambitious yet refined. Aeternus demonstrates how precision and attention to detail can transform intricacy into elegance, offering a considered counterpart to the purity of Forma.
The first project: Hope
Our first project is named Hope. For us, the word suggests a beginning. Hope inaugurates the Forma collection.
Hope is based upon the F12 TKL layout and employs a seven-point top mount for a consistent feel and sound across the board. The enclosure is a two-part seamed construction, with the seam articulated as a deliberate feature of the design. A drop-through weight, fabricated from a contrasting material, is integrated into the lower section, serving principally as an acoustic element that complements the enclosure’s overall form; echoing the design language of the Korean customs that first inspired the hobby.
Each board will be delivered with an anodised finish that deliberately retains its tooling marks. Rather than concealing these beneath a uniform blasted texture, the finish preserves the authentic traces of manufacture, offering an unembellished expression of process and endowing each board with a character uniquely its own.
Hope will be produced only once. The original group buy shall stand as the definitive public release of the design, after which a limited in-stock offering will follow solely to ensure quality integrity. Any in-stock extras shall be commissioned exclusively to replace units affected by flaws and shall not constitute a subsequent or repeat production. Special or limited editions shall be derived from this initial production, refinished rather than newly manufactured, and distinguished by bespoke engravings or distinctive colourways. Bespoke commissions may be available prior to or during the production run, at FSR’s discretion.
Development to date
Progress has been steady. Prototypes, colour samples, accessory development, and hardware are all underway. The prototype has performed well, with a balanced sound profile and machining of a high standard. Only minor refinements remain before finalisation.
We are working with one or at most two carefully selected vendors, chosen not only for their expertise but also for their locations, which help to ensure that shipping costs remain reasonable for our customers. Their involvement allows the project to maintain the highest standards of quality while remaining efficient and accessible.
To bring the project to life, we are collaborating with several esteemed community creators, including Alexotos, Lightning Keyboards, Extrapriusplease, TylerKeyboard, and Mugen.kbd. Their coverage will provide a variety of perspectives, from detailed reviews to hands-on build content, offering the community an informed and engaging view of the project.
We anticipate commencing the group buy in February 2026.
Accompanying details
Hope will be supplied with several components designed to the same standard as the board itself:
- Switch plate, to be precision-machined in a material yet to be determined.
- PCB by Gondolindrim, available in both solder and hotswap configurations.
- Custom Torx screws, engraved with FSR branding and machined from S31600 marine-grade stainless steel alloy.
- Premium carry case, custom-moulded to protect and present the board.
- Authentication crest, CNC-milled in aluminium, engraved with specifications and finished in the same machined finish style as the board.
Looking ahead
Whilst details are still being confirmed, the release is expected to offer:
- A limited production run.
- The indicative in-stock price is USD 760, with an introductory group buy price of USD 660. For transactions conducted via FSR, the final amount will be displayed in GBP, calculated with reference to this indicative USD value. Where applicable, other vendors may determine and display prices in their respective currencies.
- Three anodised colour options: Argentum (silver), Caeruleus (blue), and Glaucus (green).
- Three plate material options: Carbon fibre, polycarbonate, and A95052 aluminium alloy.
- Solder and hotswap PCB variants.
A new beginning
With Hope, we set out our approach to design and manufacture: considered, precise, and without concession. Other projects are already underway, and we look forward to sharing them here in due course.
Thank you for joining us at the start.
Jack.