from parts to perfection: building keyboards with @dango.niko
posted on 12.05.25
for december's creator spotlight, we’re so excited to welcome @dango.niko, known for her satisfying and aesthetic keyboard builds! from knitty gritty tinkering to adorable customizations, join us as we explore the exciting world of keebs. welcome, dango.niko!
where it all started
what first drew you into the mechanical keyboard space? and at what point did you decide to create content around it?
i got into keyboards in 2023 after watching ASMR videos from creators like rice.cloud and DBOKEY. i got obsessed pretty much instantly. after that, my whole feed turned into keyboard content, so eventually i thought, “why not try making my own?” some of my first keycap sets were actually from osume (winterglow, matcha, tsukimi)!
beyond the trend cycle
the keyboard space is constantly evolving and changing. are there any aesthetic or design trends in keyboards you're excited about trying?
i’ve noticed a lot of new designs starting to include screens. it’s nice to see more attention going to the front of the keyboard instead of just the back weight. sure, the screen isn’t exactly essential for keyboards, but it adds a lot of fun and lets you customize things even more.
do you ever feel pressured to keep up with trends, or do you prefer to stick with what resonates with you?
not really! this is a hobby for me, so i try not to treat it like something i have to “keep up” with. i just go with whatever i’m enjoying in the moment.
the story behind the builds
is there a build you're most proud of? and if so, what made it special to you?
this is really hard to answer, i feel like it changes all the time lol. but as of right now, my favorite build is the green Plato 75% (from Matrix Lab) with osume cafe keycaps and HMX serene green switches! it’s special to me because the color match is just SO PERFECT, and it’s just so lovely to see two of my favorite studios, Matrix and osume, together in one build.
we'd love to know your process when deciding on a new keyboard build! how do you pick switches, keycaps, layout, sound?
for switches, i always pick pre-lubed ones that sound smooth out of the box. i have never lubed switches myself because the task feels too tedious. HMX makes a lot of switches that fit what i like, so i keep an eye on their new releases.
for keycaps, i usually pick cherry profile if the board has sharper lines, and MOA if the board is more rounded. for color matching, as long as one key matches the keyboard’s color, it’s usually good enough.
for layout, i like anything up to 80% since anything bigger takes up too much space on my desk.
sound wise, i usually use all the foams that come with the kit because i like a fuller sound profile. if the board feels too stiff with all the foams installed, i take a few out for a softer feel.
the keyboard hobby is a rabbit hole that many find too intimidating to jump into. do you think it has become more accessible in recent years? what would be your advice to newcomers?
it definitely has! there are so many budget-friendly options these days, many pre-built keyboards are already amazing out of the box. TickType, Chilkey, and Keychron all make solid affordable pre-built keyboards.
if you want to build your own, Neo and QK are great places to look for keyboard kits. they cover many different layouts and have great instructions and product support.
personalizing your keyboards and spaces
keyboards have an endless amount of customization options. do you have a specific checklist of customizations you like doing to all your builds, or does it vary depending on the board?
i’m pretty consistent. i like PP, POM or FR4 plates, and a PCB with no flex cuts. those preferences rarely change.
what's your guilty pleasure when it comes to desk setups? (i.e RGB overload, trinket hoarding) we'd love to know!
definitely hoarding keyboards and not using them enough. sometimes i wish i had ten hands so i could type on more of them at once.
another guilty pleasure is putting different plushies on display. i try to give them all equal attention (yes i am delusional lol).
connect with the creator
you can find more of dango.niko's keebs and content on instagram @dango.niko!
looking to integrate osume products into your setup? get inspired with dango.niko's nemui build and see how she pairs it with other osume sets!
