The retro design wave isn’t just about reselling old products or making them fit for modern use. It has also sparked the spirit of designers to apply those old designs to other products, sometimes unrelated to gaming. Of course, it’s a lot easier to reimagine gadgets in those decades-old aesthetics, but that doesn’t mean the process is any easier.

This 3D printed keyboard, for example, takes its cues from the classic Nintendo Game Boy, known for its blocky beige body and shiny plastic buttons. Unlike other retro keyboard projects, however, this has one rather unique appeal in that it doesn’t even require you to assemble your own keyboard. You can simply take an existing Logitech K380 and slap it into the chassis, instantly letting you relive the 90s in a slightly different way.

Designer: The Lesser The Besser

The keyboards in the late 80s to early 90s definitely had their own peculiar charm, but one might always wonder what could have been if the same design language used for gaming handhelds and consoles were used for these computer peripherals. 8BitDo answered that question with the Retro Mechanical Keyboards that take their inspiration from the older Nintendo Entertainment System, more fondly remembered as the “NES,” also called Famicom in Japan.

Key Boy follows the same train of thought but with two major differences. First, it uses a handheld gaming device for reference, the iconic OG Game Boy. More importantly, however, it isn’t an independent keyboard itself but is simply a housing for a Logitech wireless keyboard. That means almost anyone can easily have their own Key Boy, presuming they get their hands on the 3D printed chassis.

The story of this Game Boy keyboard is just as interesting as the design itself, including the decision to simplify the design by using an existing off-the-shelf keyboard. There are also a few interesting details about the keyboard’s design, such as the removable “cartridge” that exposes the keyboard’s battery cover. The power switch slider is also designed like a Tetris block, though you wouldn’t be able to tell at a glance.

The narrative also shares a few tricks to pull off an authentic appearance, like using UV glue to create the domed shape of otherwise flat keys. The printout also intentionally has a bit of rough texture along the sides, not exactly like the original Game Boys. It’s definitely an interesting project that might become a retail product, presuming, of course, Nintendo doesn’t set its lawyers on it.

The post Game Boy-inspired keyboard is a 3D enclosure around a Logitech keyboard first appeared on Yanko Design.