Playful Versatility: The Nomad E Keyboard by Work Louder + Interview with Co-founder Mike di Genova

The Nomad E is the latest creation by the disruptors at Work Louder, a trailblazing tech company that has gained recognition for its innovative modular keyboards, specifically designed for digital creators.

This sleek keyboard packs a number of interesting features and forward-thinking design elements, so it’s no wonder it smashed its original crowfunding goal in record time.

The Nomad E comes equipped with a dual core 32-bit processor and 16Mb internal memory to store keymaps and other settings. It features a dual layout (ISO/ANSI) and is compatible with MacOS, Windows, Linux and iOS devices. This keyboard also offers the flexibility of connecting wirelessly to as many as 3 devices using either Bluetooth or a 2.4Ghz dongle.

However, one of the most unique aspects of the Nomad E is an integrated 1.9″ IPS display, which allows users to personalize it with playful widgets and handy workflow tools.

We had the opportunity to ask Work Louder’s co-founder Mike di Genova a few questions to get a deeper understanding of the product and the company’s philosophy. He’ll be sharing insights into the inspiration behind this innovative keyboard, the challenges faced in its creation, and what the future holds for Work Louder. Let’s dive right in.

IG: Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about Work Louder?

Mike: Hi I’m Mike – I’m 29 years old, I live in Montreal/Canada, I studied pharmacology in university, I have no formal design, or business background for that matter, and I’m one of two co-founders at Work Louder. My partner, Mattia, is 31 years old, lives in Venice/Italy, studied graphic design in college, and self-taught himself industrial design during the pandemic.

Work Louder started as a personal project for Mattia, and we met via an Instagram explore page post of the Creator Board I stumbled across. I reached out after following the project for 6 months, and we decided to launch Work Louder officially after the first Zoom call we did together. Also, we have only met in person 3 times since starting the company about 3 years ago!

Work Louder makes products for people, inspired by a version of themselves sometimes forgotten – playful, versatile, and above all else, creative. We believe people who do their best work when it doesn’t feel like work at all – when it’s all work & no play.

IG: Your latest product, the Nomad E, was impressively funded on Kickstarter in less than 30 seconds. What are the unique features that set it apart from other mechanical keyboards and make it so appealing?

Mike: We applied all the knowledge/learnings from our previous keyboard, the Creator Board, to make one of the best mass market boards available – dedicated macro dials/buttons to make repetitive tasks effortless (copy/paste, undo/redo, launch apps, etc.), then uniquely crafted injection molded keycaps that makes all day typing a dream, custom linear Gateron switches (great for typing and gaming), and lastly a beautiful compact form factor to maximize your desk space. We even made the incliner on the back of the keyboard a removable ruler, so you never have to hunt for a straight edge again.

IG: What was the inspiration behind creating this innovative keyboard?

Mike: The Nomad E was created to address the problem of overstimulation in the modern work environment. As someone who works from home, and has been diagnosed with ADHD, I’ve always found it difficult to get in the zone and stay there. I discovered the Pomodoro method, which really helped me, but I didn’t like the app based solutions as the phone was still a source of distraction, and didn’t want to have a physical timer on my already small desk.

Through trying to solve my own “lack of focus” problem, and running 100s of hours of UX discovery calls with digital creators like myself – we discovered that efficiency in the workplace, whether at home, or at the office, is not simply a matter of doing more in less time – it’s really about using the time available more efficiently, and that’s where the Pomodoro method comes in.

It’s a simple work/rest methodology that we’ve baked into the Nomad E as one of 3 core focus oriented widgets, which can be applied to any workflow. Work for 25 minutes, rest for 5, then repeat. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll find yourself “in the zone”.

IG: The Nomad E is described as a keyboard that merges work and play. Could you explain what that means?

Mike: Mattia and I grew up in the 90s. Back then tech was much more tactile and in many ways more playful because of it. We’re bringing that aspect of play and tactility back not only through our dedicated and customizable macro keys/dials, but through the overall design language of the product as well – because who doesn’t want a little play in their work!

IG: What are the capabilities of the integrated display, and how does it contribute to the keyboard’s overall functionality and user experience?

Mike: Instead of creating an aimless screen module, we opted for a small subset of well-thought-out widgets revolving around our goal of “focus” to launch with – pomodoro timer, a “kebogotchi” companion, and a trusty clock. The developer community will be able to add to the widgets available on the Nomad E after the first batch ships out in Q1 2024.

IG: What challenges did you face while developing the Nomad E, and how did you overcome them?

Mike: What hasn’t been a challenge! This is the first time we are making a mass market keyboard. We’ve had to learn a lot to figure out everything from how to design a top housing with the correct structural supports suitable for injection molding, to integrating custom software with custom hardware.

That being said, it’s a lot less daunting when you break it down into day-by-day steps, and that’s how we’ve been doing it. Progress is still progress, no matter how small – the key is consistency.

IG: Can you share some insights into how the Nomad E was tested for durability and performance?

Mike: Actually we aren’t at this step yet. We are currently validating the engineering to make sure it simply works as we expect, next we will be getting all the design details right. Once that’s done we’ll test the prototype in all sorts of QA tests to confirm durability, and performance.

IG: Who is the ideal user for the Nomad E, and why?

Mike: The Nomad E is made for someone looking for the perfect combination of design and utility for their setup. Someone that has so much going on they could really use something to help them optimize their time, and keep them on track – but also wants to look good while doing it 😉

IG: What future plans does Work Louder have for the enhancement or expansion of the Nomad line and other offerings?

Mike: You can expect more well researched and refined products from the Nomad product line, in comparison to the Creator product line that focuses on more small batch and experimental products.

Nothing to announce in particular at the moment, but we’re always in the kitchen cooking…

We hope you enjoyed our interview with Mike and this first look at the Nomad E. If you’re curious to learn more about this promising keyboard and other Work Louder products, be sure to check out their website.