Keywave

What it does

A beginner-friendly electronic keyboard that replaces complex controls with intuitive touch, scroll, and illuminated interfaces—making learning music easier, more engaging, and accessible for all, while blending smart features seamlessly into daily life.

Your inspiration

I’ve been playing the keyboard for over two years and often found the user interface unintuitive, especially for beginners. This led me to observe others facing similar issues struggling with complex controls, dense menus, and unclear feedback. Inspired by slides from my study, like the cluttered UI of existing keyboards and user feedback on frustration with function access, I saw a need for a simplified, lifestyle-oriented design. My solution integrates features like haptic feedback, scroll wheels, illuminated buttons, and a larger touch display designed to make music learning easier, more intuitive, and enjoyable for everyone.

How it works

My design is a beginner-friendly electronic keyboard that enhances the user experience by replacing complex, cluttered physical controls with a clean and intuitive interface. Traditional keyboards often overwhelm new users with too many buttons and confusing layouts. To solve this, I reduced the number of physical keys and introduced a touch-based control system that is easier to navigate. At its core, the keyboard features a TFT or IPS display that clearly presents all essential settings like tones, rhythms, and recording functions. Users can scroll, tap, and swipe just like on a smartphone making it familiar and accessible. To boost user confidence and reduce mistakes, the design includes visual cues and haptic feedback (gentle vibrations) to confirm actions. These technologies combine to create a seamless, responsive, and frustration-free experience, allowing users to focus on learning and enjoying music instead of struggling with complicated controls.

Design process

The design process began with personal experience as a keyboard player for two years, I noticed how difficult it was for beginners to navigate complex menus and tiny buttons. To explore this further, I conducted user research, observing and interviewing novice users. This confirmed that most found current keyboard interfaces confusing and cluttered. I started with concept sketches exploring ways to simplify the interface. I experimented with replacing button clusters with a scroll wheel, larger touch display, and illuminated buttons for clearer feedback. Early mock-ups were paper models to test layout and size. Next, I built 3D prototypes using foam and cardboard to evaluate ergonomics. This led to adding haptic feedback for tactile confirmation and redesigning the button placement for better accessibility. I also created digital models and renders to visualize form and CMF (Color, Material, Finish). User feedback on these models helped refine details like button shape, screen angle, and overall form language, leading to a more friendly, modern, and compact design that supports everyday lifestyle use. The final concept blends technology with ease of use making music more accessible for everyone.

How it is different

What makes my design unique is its seamless integration with a companion app that actively guides the user through the learning process. Unlike traditional keyboards with cluttered buttons and menus, this keyboard uses reduced physical keys, a touch-based interface, and visual haptic feedback for a simpler, more intuitive experience. The app connects effortlessly and shows users which keys to press through interactive key lighting, making learning songs easier and more engaging especially for beginners. This real-time guidance builds confidence and accelerates learning. While other products focus on features, this design focuses on the user making music education accessible, interactive, and enjoyable.

Future plans

The next step is to build a fully functional prototype using real electronic components, display modules, and haptic systems to test usability in real-world conditions. I plan to conduct user testing with beginners to gather feedback on comfort, interface clarity, and learning ease. I aim to collaborate with music tech startups or manufacturers for partnerships or licensing, and explore developing a standalone learning app to pair with the keyboard. In the future, I hope to launch the product for home learners and hobbyists, making music more approachable.

Awards