KeyMoji: Emotion-Expressive Mechanical Keyboard
Role
Designer
Team
Individual Project
Timeline
February 2025
3 Weeks
Skills
Physical Prototyping
3D Modeling
Brainstorming
Original Object: Mechanical Keyboard
Mechanical keyboards hold a deep sense of nostalgia for me. When I was little and first learning to write, I practiced my spelling on an old mechanical keyboard, the clack of the keys marking the beginning of my journey with language, technology, and the Internet. That keyboard was a gateway to digital expression.
Reflecting on my experience with mechanical keyboards, I realize they also represent a cultural shift. As I grew, so did the contexts in which I typed—Chinese with my parents and childhood friends, English in academic settings and conversations with classmates and professors. The keyboard itself remains a fixed, rigid object, yet what it produces is fluid and ever-changing. It bridges languages, adapts to different contexts, and carries emotions within the words it helps form. It’s more than just a tool; it’s an extension of communication—interchangeable, cross-cultural, and deeply personal.
New Object KeyMoji: Emotion-Expressive Mechanical Keyboard
My new object is a mechanical keyboard reimagined with oversized, reconfigurable keys that let users express their emotions physically while maintaining full functionality. Unlike conventional keyboards that prioritize efficiency, this design embraces emotional expression, making typing more interactive and culturally adaptive.
This keyboard is designed for anyone who sends digital messages, but it especially resonates with multilingual users who navigate between different languages and cultural expressions. It’s for those who see communication as more than just words—it’s about feeling, tone, and shared experiences across cultures.
Exploration
I explored different ways to enhance the keyboard, from remapping keys to shortcuts, emojis, and multiple languages to adding sound and lighting effects. Each idea focused on making typing more engaging and expressive. Later, I noticed how tempo, speed, and frequency naturally reflect emotions when typing. A rushed, frantic pace feels different from slow, deliberate keystrokes. That’s when I decided to make the keys larger. Bigger keys encourage a more physical and intentional interaction. They turn typing into an expressive act, where emotions aren’t just communicated through words but also through the way they are typed.
Iterations
I used Rhino to create a 3D model of the large keycaps. Ensuring precise dimensions was crucial, particularly maintaining the ~2mm gap between keys. I began by modeling standard-sized keycaps and conducted a test print to verify the fi t with the keyboard switch.
After confirming the dimensions were accurate, I proceeded to 3D print additional keycaps and laser-cut the letters. I hand-painted each cap in different colors to represent specific emotions and carefully glued the letters onto the caps. This approach added a personalized and expressive touch to the final design.
I created a custom texture in Rhino by combining a plain color background with an emoji. I then mapped this texture onto the 3D models, ensuring the fi nal print would accurately represent the intended design.
I chose red for the laughter key because it’s bold and vibrant, capturing the energy of joy. Pink felt perfect for the aff ection key since it’s often associated with love and a bubbly vibe. Yellow represents excitement because it’s bright and inspiring. For the switch shortcut, I went with white so users can assign their own color, giving them a bit of creative freedom.
In addition to changing the keycaps, I incorporated different lighting effects for various language inputs. I used lighting to reflect cultural nuances; for example, since I associate Chinese culture with more reserved expressions, I designed softer, more subtle lighting for this mode. On the other hand, the emoji mode is all about vivid expression, so I used brighter and more dynamic lighting to match its lively and expressive nature.