Madeline: A Premium Reinterpretation of the Adalyn

The Madeline keyboard was born from a desire to elevate an open-source board called the Adalyn, giving it the premium treatment it deserved. Working closely with my manufacturer, I fused elements of the original design with inspirations from other projects they had completed, resulting in a keyboard that invokes both elegance and grace.

At the heart of Madeline’s aesthetic is its distinctive wavy undercut, which flows seamlessly along the sides and back, paired with a uniquely shaped external brass weight engraved with "Madeline" in a refined script. These design choices ensure Madeline is not just a tool but a statement piece.

Key Features:

• Mounting: Gasket-mounted for superior acoustics and typing feel
• PCB: RP2040-powered with JST and DB connectivity, supporting Vial firmware and encoder functionality
• Layout: QAZ layout for a compact yet functional form factor
• Materials: Cerakoted aluminum frame with a bead-blasted brass weight
• Plates: Options include a 1.6mm aluminum plate or a 4.7mm thick polypropylene plate for sound and flex variations
  

Group Buy and Fulfillment:

I managed every step of Madeline’s fulfillment, including hand-packing and shipping all 45 orders, 30% of which were international. To provide an elevated experience, I also offered custom services like millmaxing PCBs, a manual process that added a personal touch to each unit.

Outcome:

With all units sold and overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers, Madeline was a resounding success. Its refined design, premium materials, and meticulous craftsmanship resonated with the community, solidifying Madeline as a testament to thoughtful design and execution.