It was in 1953 that Porsche forever changed its trajectory within the automobile and racing industry with the release of its 550 Spyder at the annual Paris Motor Show. Although its chassis was smaller than many of its rivals at that time, it proved to be an aerodynamically superior car, with the 550 Spyder scoring multitudes of wins throughout that decade. The Spyder over the years has seen many updates, leading up to its 2015 718 Spyder model, whose design holds so much history and design influence in itself. Drawing inspiration from its iconic predecessors and leveraging decades of engineering expertise, the 2015 718 Spyder represents a significant milestone in Porsche’s history. With more aggressive front edges and a spoiler reminiscent of its 718 Boxster counterpart, the 718 Spyder showcased Porsche’s dedication to aerodynamics and performance. This evolution was a result of years of research, development, and refinement.
Throughout the 718 Spyder development, Porsche looked to its racing heritage, particularly to models like the 550 Spyder for inspiration. The lessons learned on the racetrack were translated into the design and engineering of the 718 Spyder, which resulted in a car that looked well represented but also delivered performance which punched above its weight on both road and track. Furthermore, the 718 Spyder represented a shift towards a more modern and innovative approach to automotive design. Porsche incorporated improvements in technology and materials which overall raised the bar for racing and high-end car mechanics.
Although the keyboard hobby has not had a design history as long as automobiles, the community still has seen a number of designers make their mark on the hobby with boards such as the OTD series and Norbauer Heavy Grail, forever changing how hobbyists interact with their medium. Now, with the current generation of designers, comes the ability to look back in time and integrate the influences of the old with the innovation from the new. For the up and coming designer Plywrks, this has culminated in his most recent design of the Spyder TKL. Initially inspired by the 718 Spyder, a car known for its fusion of classic design elements in conjunction with modern performance features, Plywrks sought to emulate this balance in keyboard design.
Creating parallels between automotive and keyboard design, Plywrks meticulously blended elements from the classic 550 Spyder and the 718 Spyder with contemporary keyboard design aesthetics. The side profile of the Spyder TKL echoes the wedged look of the OTD 360Corsa, also reminiscent of the aerodynamic lines found in the 550 and 718 Spyder while simultaneously incorporating the slightly extruding body seen in the Norbauer Heavy Grail. Plywrks also created subtle nods to Porsche’s heritage throughout the Spyder TKL design. Alongside the subtle LED accent is an understated through-weight etched with “Spyder” on the bottom-side and “718” which serve as direct references to Porsche’s iconic models. According to Plywrks, the “bottom weight represents the internal engine,” emphasizing the importance of both form and function in the design. Even the choice of font for the lettering on the keyboard is reminiscent of the recognizable Porsche typeface.
As intended by Plywrks, the Spyder TKL effortlessly “marries both the classic and modern features” seen in some of the most influential customs creating a timeless piece that appeals to enthusiasts of both automotive and keyboard design alike. Plywrks also opted to use the Hiney87 layout, which makes the PCB easy to replace.
The designer says he expects a group-buy total of 50, but he has left it uncapped for anyone who decides last minute to pick this one up. He has also kept most information on this specific board off of Geekhack thus far, with most information accessible through his Instagram and Discord, which we will link below.
Although design influences from other mediums are a seemingly popular trend within the community at the moment, Plywrks has managed to redefine what it means to create originality out of inspiration. Make sure to check out his socials for updates on the group buy, which is currently projected to occur late March 2024.
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