Modern Materials Keycaps

Mod Musings designed an earthy-toned minimal keycap set for those who appreciate understated elegance.

Available at select retailers worldwide

Click on a vendor to order in your region. These are the only places to buy official GMK CYL Modern Materials keycaps. Any retailer outside of the ones listed is selling knockoff products.

Modern Materials Keycaps

Modern Materials is a low-contrast minimalist keycap set designed by Mod Musings. Inspired by the natural tones found in contemporary interior design, with a nod to the classic 9009 colorway.

Modern Materials is available in two base kits and an accent kit. The "Stone" base kit offers a warm creamy hue, while the "Concrete" base kit provides a neutral gray option. The accent kit adds three colors - "Forest", "Coral", and "Mocha" - allowing you to mix and match for a subtle touch of character on your mechanical keyboard.

Render Samples

Below is a collection of CG renders of Modern Materials in a variety of lighting situations to give you an idea of what the final product might look like in your space. A majority of the keycaps are rendered on keyboards designed by Mode. Click on any image to view larger.

Concrete base kit with Mocha enter accent on Mode Sonnet

Concrete base kit with Mocha enter accent on Mode Sonnet

Stone base kit with Forrest enter accent on Mode Eighty

Stone base kit with Forrest enter accent on Mode Eighty

Different combinations of Modern Materials on Mode Sonnet

Different combinations of Modern Materials on Mode Sonnet

Stone base kit (bottom left), Concrete base kit (top right) on Mode Eighty

Stone base kit (bottom left), Concrete base kit (top right) on Mode Eighty

Accents: Mocha (top), Forrest (middle), Coral (bottom) on Mode Sonnet

Accents: Mocha (top), Forrest (middle), Coral (bottom) on Mode Sonnet

Stone base kit with Coral esc and enter accents on Mode SixtyFive

Stone base kit with Coral esc and enter accents on Mode SixtyFive

Stone base kit with Forrest enter accent on Mode Sonnet

Stone base kit with Forrest enter accent on Mode Sonnet

Concrete base kit with Coral esc accent on Mode SixtyFive

Concrete base kit with Coral esc accent on Mode SixtyFive

Stone base kit with accents on F1-8X

Stone base kit with accents on F1-8X

Stone base kit with Forrest enter accent on F1-8X

Stone base kit with Forrest enter accent on F1-8X

Stone base kit with Mocha esc accent on F1-8X

Stone base kit with Mocha esc accent on F1-8X

Manufacturing & Kitting

Modern Materials will be manufactured by expert keycap makers, GMK in Germany.

Features

  • Double-shot ABS plastic

  • CYL “Cherry” profile

  • Compatible with MX-style mechanical keyboard switches

  • Base kits come with full layout support, including minimal 40s support.

  • Modifier keys are a text-only design, with support for Mac layouts.

  • The accent kit is designed to be used with the base kits and other keycap sets. It includes five R1 relegendable keycaps that can be used in your F-row or on a macro column.

  • All kits come with a Mod Musings logo R1 keycap.

Click any of the kit images below to view larger.

“Stone” base kit - a warm creamy hue.

“Stone” base kit - a warm creamy hue.

“Concrete” base kit - a soft gray color.

“Concrete” base kit - a soft gray color.

Accent Kit – “Coral” “Forrest” & “Mocha”

Accent Kit – “Coral” “Forrest” & “Mocha”

Mix and match the keycaps included in the Accent Kit. Rendered here on the Minerva LX by Archetype.

Mix and match the keycaps included in the Accent Kit. Rendered here on the Minerva LX by Archetype.

The Accent Kit comes with three colors which pairs with either base kit, or with existing keycap sets.

The Accent Kit comes with three colors which pairs with either base kit, or with existing keycap sets.

All of the Modern Materials kits can be mixed to create interesting combinations for personalization.

All of the Modern Materials kits can be mixed to create interesting combinations for personalization.

Where to Buy

A restock of Modern Materials keycaps is currently in production and is available for pre-order. Extras will become in stock at select global retailers while supplies last.

International Vendors

Click on a vendor to order in your region. These are the only places to buy official GMK CYL Modern Materials keycaps. Any retailer outside of the ones listed is selling knockoff products.

About the Designer

Modern Materials is designed by Matthew Encina from Mod Musings, a design studio based in Los Angeles, California. Matthew is a creative professional with 20 years of experience in design, advertising, and content creation.

Learn more about Matthew Encina

matthewencina.com, @matthewencina

modmusings.com, @mod.musings

“When I set out to create Modern Materials, I wanted a keycap set that would reflect my aesthetic – calm, minimal, and inviting. The design draws inspiration from my environment. The natural material of my polished concrete floors, the warmth of my white oak desk, and the plants and decor that add life and vibrance to my space. I created Modern Materials for those like me, who appreciate earthy color palettes and value the beauty of understated elegance.”

— Matthew Encina
Founder & Creative Director at Mod Musings, Inc.

Keycap inspiration

Featured below are photos of the Mod Musings studio designed and built by Matthew Encina.

The Design Process

Learn about the process of how Modern Materials were made in this documentary short.

Artwork

The key art for Modern Materials is based off of swatch tiles commonly used in the interior design process, as a way to select materials for a project. A simplified graphic version was developed as a design system to create branding and marketing collateral.

Media

Leading up the release of the Modern Materials, we created a series of teasers to build anticipation for the product launch. Including a CG animated video inspired by the set, as well as a collection of digital posters announcing the launch date.

Modern Materials Novelkeys video teaser created by Steven Olver.

More to come

This is the second mechanical keyboard product Mod Musings has designed with more on the way. Sign up for our newsletter below and follow us on social media to stay updated with future releases.