1st Prize:
$500 USD + Seeed XIAO Pillow + Other gifts
2nd Prize:
$150 USD +Seeed XIAO Pillow + Other gifts
3rd Prize:
$50 USD +Seeed XIAO Pillow + Other gifts
Excellence Award:
$30 USD + Seeed XIAO Pillow + Other gifts
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Special Note: The contest begins on the 11th of July and ends 11th of October 2022 (GMT time). Submissions must be received before midnight. Thanks for all of designers interest! Seeed Fusion PCB Assembly sponsorship for XIAO keyboards ended on 22nd of September. Follow us on Twitter for more contests and sponsorships in the future!
Fusion XIAO Mechanical Keyboard Contest is closed.
Seeed Fusion invited Tamás Dovenyi, the webmaster of KBD.NEWS, to judge the outstanding keyboards together with us. So the judges are made by Seeed staff and Tamás Dovenyi. The average of the ranking determines the winners. The scoring criteria involve: the usability and originality of the design, quality of the documentation and media provided, available source files, aesthetics of the keyboard, popularity on social media, etc. Hereby we announce the 11 winners of the contest:
For more information, please read this blog.
Award Winners
1st Prize
Marc Rühl
TOTEM | a tiny splitkeyboard with splay
Christian Lo
Beyblock20 | a magnetic, modular MacroPad
Beyblock20 | a magnetic, modular MacroPad
Perfect modular features and fully customizable with a unique, open-source Beyblock system. The magnetic attaching feature also looks very cool.
Learn more
Sonal Pinto
Purple Owl | a 60% keyboard powered by Seeed XIAO RP2040
Purple Owl | a 60% keyboard powered by Seeed XIAO RP2040
A very simple RGB full-sized keyboard without fancy features. With innovative physical layout, it implements a scan chain (61 keys) that demonstrates the versatility of the XIAO controller.
Learn more
3rd Prize
Shashank
KLEIN | a wireless ergonomical keyboard
KLEIN | a wireless ergonomical keyboard
Keycaps are printed and also have a rotary encoder. Open-source ergo split, well documented.
Learn more
policium
GRIN Quern | an ergonomic keyboard on center trackpad
GRIN Quern | an ergonomic keyboard on center trackpad
Monoblock split with IO expander. Has an ergonomic design and rotary encoder.
Learn more
Yu Sanagi
Kidoairaku Swallowtail | a cute butterfly-shaped keyboard
Kidoairaku Swallowtail | a cute butterfly-shaped keyboard
54 keys + LED achieved by using the improved square matrix. Cool design and very interesting colored backlighting effects.
Learn more
Excellence Award
illness072
Ten-Key | a minimalist wireless 10-key Num pad the size of a business
Ten-Key | a minimalist wireless 10-key Num pad the size of a business
Learn more
Evgenii Vilkov
Pica40 | Split keyboard with 40 keys using XIAO controllers.
Pica40 | Split keyboard with 40 keys using XIAO controllers.
Learn more
junzhe
Kretsträd | a 34 keys split keyboard running on ZMK firmware
Kretsträd | a 34 keys split keyboard running on ZMK firmware
Learn more
Julian Becker
Shortcut Keyboard | a shortcut keyboard featuring 4 mechanical switches and a Display
Shortcut Keyboard | a shortcut keyboard featuring 4 mechanical switches and a Display
Learn more
alin m elena
m4 | an ortholinear keyboard set in lego 2×2 with optional encoder and oled
m4 | an ortholinear keyboard set in lego 2x2 with optional encoder and oled
Learn more
Licensed Keyboard
After our internal discussions, we have selected 3 keyboards to license. Seeed will assist with all electronics manufacturing including structural parts, testing, certification, provide engineering and quality assurance services, and promotion, sales and distribution around the world using Seeed’s own network and channels. For more information, see Seeed Licensed Product Program. The 3 keyboards below are the licensed products in this contest:
_
Shashank
KLEIN | a wireless ergonomical keyboard
KLEIN | a wireless ergonomical keyboard
Keycaps are printed and also have a rotary encoder. Open-source ergo split, well documented.
Learn more
_
Julian Becker
Shortcut Keyboard | a shortcut keyboard featuring 4 mechanical switches and a Display
Shortcut Keyboard | a shortcut keyboard featuring 4 mechanical switches and a Display
Learn more_
Cristian Palma
MacroBoard | 9-key hotswap mechanical macropad
MacroBoard | 9-key hotswap mechanical macropad
Learn moreConnecting The World Starts With A DIY Mechanical Keyboard
“The humble keyboard is the most used tool in the life of an ever increasing number of people: not just writers, journalists, software developers, bloggers, gamers, etc. Others use it for hours a day, but whole industries depend on it. However, the standard keyboard is obsolete in many ways. It’s based on an almost 150-year-old design. We can do better. There have always been tinkerers who tried to think outside the box, fought path dependency, and created their own keyboards (and even custom typewriters by the way). ” That’s what the webmaster of KBD.NEWS, Tamás shared some of his thoughts when we interviewed him about why he runs a website all about keyboards.
Meanwhile, to encourage more individual keyboard designers and business users to customize their mechanical keyboards, Seeed Studio Fusion has launched the DIY XIAO Mechanical Keyboard Contest based on the Xiao series.
Why Seeed Xiao Series is perfect for building keyboards?
- Native USB, support tinyUSB for keyboard control
- Multiple development interfaces and rich pins are ideal for keyboard projects
- Ultra-small size (21 x 17.5mm) & Super cost-effective, 5 to 10 USD with powerful MCU core
- Single-sided components and SMD surface mounting design for easy adhesion to PCB backboard, helping to speed up your product mass production
If you are ready to get started but not sure what to do, check out our “How to enter the Competition” as below for additional information on how to make one. And at there is a collection of custom DIY Mechanical Keyboard demos to get you inspired.
Show us your creations for a chance to Win $1000 Coupons and Seeed XIAO Pillows!
Here is your chance NOW!
| Items | Seeed Studio XIAO SAMD21 | Seeed Studio XIAO RP2040 | Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 | Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense | Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | SAMD21 | RP2040 | nRF52840 | nRF52840 | ESP32-C3 |
| Wireless Connectivity | N/A | N/A | Bluetooth 5.0 /BLE/NFC | Bluetooth 5.0 /BLE/NFC | Dual-mode WIF I/BLE |
| Memory | 3 KB SRAM 256KB FLASH | 264 KB SRAM 2MB onboard Flash | 256 KB RAM 1MB Flash 2MB onboard Flash | 256 KB RAM 1MB Flash 2MB onboard Flash | 400KB SRAM 4MB FLASH |
| Interfaces | 12C/UART/SPI | 12C/UART/SPI | 12C/UART/SPI | 12C/UART/SPI | 2C/UART/SPI |
| PWM/Analog Pins | 11/11 | 11/4 | 11/6 | 11/6 | 11/4 |
| Onboard Buttons | N/A | Reset/Boot Button | Reset Button | Reset Button | Reset Button |
| Onboard LEDs | N/A | Full-color RGB 3-in-one LED | 3-in-one LED Charge LED | 3-in-one LED Charge LED | N/A |
| Programming Languages | Arduino CircuitPython | Arduino CircuitPython MicroPython | Arduino CircuitPython | Arduino CircuitPython | Arduino |
| Price | $5.40 | $5.40 | $9.90 | $15.99 | $4.99 |
Introduction
DIY XIAO Keyboard Demos
Get inspired!
Sharing your story behind the "XIAO keyboards"
"Worldwide lockdowns and working in home office brought the average user's attention to ergonomics, improving the working environment, especially keyboards -- thus, the mechanical keyboard hobby exploded while attracting new consumers, makers and manufacturers alike. As a result, many people realized the ideal keyboard has to be tailored to their own body: one size doesn't fit all. KBD.NEWS is an attempt to gather and organize the knowledge necessary to design and create your own custom keyboard."
------ By KBD.NEWS Editor-In-Chief & curator Tamás Dövényi
"I wanted to challenge my design skills across a few of my interests, and build a project that incorporated function, form, circuit design, and 3D printing. I've needed a numpad for a while, and I'm really pleased with the outcome. The form factor of the XIAO RO2040 is perfect."
------ By Scrapyard . Australia
"Seeed XIAO RP2040 form factor and USB-C connector makes it a perfect fit for various modern mini mechanical keyboards. I used in ANAVI Knob 1 and ANAVI Knob 3 with rotary encoders convenient for audio and video editing. They run with the open source KMK firmware written in CircuitPython which allows reprogramming of the encoders for use as a macro or even as a dedicated shortcut keys, making them suitable for a number of applications across various industries."
------ By Leon Anavi . Bulgaria
"Making a keyboard from scratch is a great learning experience. For me, however, much of their appeal comes from customizability. We can use different keycaps, change their mechanical switches, and in some cases even swap out microcontrollers to get a keyboard that’s tailored to our preferences."
------ By Naveen Kumar . Japan
"Worldwide lockdowns and working in home office brought the average user's attention to ergonomics, improving the working environment, especially keyboards -- thus, the mechanical keyboard hobby exploded while attracting new consumers, makers and manufacturers alike. As a result, many people realized the ideal keyboard has to be tailored to their own body: one size doesn't fit all. KBD.NEWS is an attempt to gather and organize the knowledge necessary to design and create your own custom keyboard."
------ By KBD.NEWS Editor-In-Chief & curator Tamás Dövényi
"I wanted to challenge my design skills across a few of my interests, and build a project that incorporated function, form, circuit design, and 3D printing. I've needed a numpad for a while, and I'm really pleased with the outcome. The form factor of the XIAO RO2040 is perfect."
------ By Scrapyard . Australia
"Seeed XIAO RP2040 form factor and USB-C connector makes it a perfect fit for various modern mini mechanical keyboards. I used in ANAVI Knob 1 and ANAVI Knob 3 with rotary encoders convenient for audio and video editing. They run with the open source KMK firmware written in CircuitPython which allows reprogramming of the encoders for use as a macro or even as a dedicated shortcut keys, making them suitable for a number of applications across various industries."
------ By Leon Anavi . Bulgaria
"Making a keyboard from scratch is a great learning experience. For me, however, much of their appeal comes from customizability. We can use different keycaps, change their mechanical switches, and in some cases even swap out microcontrollers to get a keyboard that’s tailored to our preferences."
------ By Naveen Kumar . Japan
How to enter the competition?
Take a close look at each of the following participation steps!
Fill out the form for keyboard proposal
Each person is limited to 2 PCBA boards 100% FREE for one design. The custom design must include any of these five microcontrollers: Seeeduino XIAO, Seeed XIAO RP2040, Seeed XIAO BLE, Seeed XIAO BLE Sense and Seeed XIAO ESP32C3.
Prepare your BOM File & Contact Fusion team support ([email protected]) to apply a Coupon
When you are preparing the BOM file, just add one of the three SKU or parts.
1) Seeed SKU 102010328 or the part number Seeeduino XIAO
2) Seeed SKU 102010428 or the part number Seeed XIAO RP2040
3) Seeed SKU 102010448 or the part number Seeed XIAO BLE nRF52840
4) Seeed SKU 102010469 or the part number Seeed XIAO BLE nRF52840 Sense
5) Seeed SKU xx or the part number Seeed XIAO ESP32C3
* Then, add the order to the cart and contact our Fusion support ([email protected]) to obtain the coupon for settlement.
Manufacturing and Assembled your custom keyboard with Seeed Fusion by using Seeed XIAO Series
Publish projects on your own platform
By participating in this Contest, you agree to review your experience with us and allow us to share the design with the community on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, discord, blog, etc.). The design does not need to be open-sourced and production files will not be shared with the public (unless you want to).
Participate in the selection and win prizes
Seeed will share your project on Twitter, linkedin, Facebook and Discord, and we will determine if your project makes it into the top three based on the number of likes, retweets, and interactions it shows on our social platforms. We have one first prize, two second prizes and four third prize.
ADDED BONUS:
We will invite well received keyboard designs to the Seeed Marketplace where your products can be listed, sold and shipped directly by Seeed on the Seeed website. We will also support designers to reach thousands of like-minded customers and distributors with Seeed’s global sales channels and social media presence. Get Involved Now!
Prizes：Win $1000 in Prizes and Seeed XIAO Pillows!
Explore more FUN with us
Be the First to Share
Share the Contest on your social medias and tag – @seeedstudio, then contact our team support ([email protected]) to get a $5 coupon!
Further Cooperation With Seeed
After your project is released, we will further verify whether your Macropad/keyboard meets our sales standards. Once verified, we will invite you to sell your keyboard products (electrical part only, no structural case included) on Seeed Bazaar. Any interest?
Join Discord
If you have any questions about the DIY keyboard contest or would like to have more conversations with other participants, welcome to join our Keyboard Discord community!