A minor pause
The review units for the Hope keyboard have now completed production and are held at FSR, each bearing the quiet evidence of the care and attention invested in their making. In the final stages of preparation, a small number of refinements were identified.
One such refinement arose from a technical misunderstanding during production, where all screw holes had originally been sized for M2.5 rather than the intended M3. Exterior screws were updated accordingly, resulting in the exterior screw holes no longer being anodised, while interior screws in the review units remain M2.5. As a result, replacement plates will be commissioned for the review units to accommodate this change, ensuring that no plate alignment is required. Once installed, the plates will be secured with absolute precision and remain firmly in place. Beyond this, the quality of the units remains exceptional, with any subtle variations reflecting the care taken during adjustment. These considerations will not carry through to the production run, where fit and finish will be fully resolved.
Alongside this, the blue review unit presented a darker shade than intended. To ensure the production run achieves the correct finish, our first colour samples will be returned to the factory alongside the custom screws, allowing for precise colour matching.
Finally, bespoke shipping boxes commissioned to accompany the units arrived with incorrect dimensions, momentarily setting us a step back from where we had hoped to be. Replacement boxes have been confirmed and are expected in the first week of February.
In due course
As Hope continues its course, our attention turns quietly to what follows. A 60 XT keyboard, shaped by almost two and a half years of considered iteration, now sits in the final stages of design, with the first prototype expected to be ordered shortly as the project moves from refinement into physical form. Alongside this, Flexus continues to progress towards production, with a run scheduled to follow once the appropriate packaging has been finalised. As always, each project advances at its own measured pace, guided by patience, intention, and an unwavering commitment to getting it right.
Where form is first seen
Renders have become the foundation of how our keyboard enclosures and desk accessories are first presented. At this stage, our current photography setup cannot yet capture each piece in its entirety with the clarity and consistency it deserves, and so renders allow us to present form, proportion, and surface with care, free from the limitations of the moment. More recently, this stage has been shaped by our work with MiKeyDigit, a new addition to our process whose quiet, considered approach has brought a welcome clarity to how our work is shown. His ability to capture detail thoughtfully lets us communicate confidently and consistently—a contribution we value as we refine our product presentation.
Through measured steps
Even the smallest setbacks serve as quiet reminders of the care and precision at the heart of our process. Missteps—whether in logistics, adjustments, or unforeseen minor issues—have momentarily slowed the journey, yet they also reveal the meticulous attention to detail that underpins every aspect of the brand.
Such pauses, though unanticipated, offer the opportunity for considered refinement, ensuring that the production-run units will meet the standards we aspire to in both fit and finish. In navigating these minor obstacles, we are reminded that true refinement is seldom instantaneous; it is measured, deliberate, and ever devoted to excellence.
Jack.