Custom Keyboards · Shortcut Keys · Media Production
When Every Key Has a Job: How Česká Televize Got a Fully Custom Shortcut Keyboard for Their Production Team
Czech national broadcaster Česká Televize came to Goblintechkeys with a specific need: a full-size keyboard where every key is colour-coded to a production workflow shortcut. No labels. No stickers. The shortcuts printed directly into the keycaps.
The finished Česká Televize keyboard: every key colour-coded by function, with media production shortcuts printed directly onto the keycaps. Built by Goblintechkeys.
Most custom keyboards are built around branding. A logo here. Brand colours there. A company name on the spacebar. The brief from Česká Televize — the Czech national public broadcaster — was something entirely different.
They needed a keyboard that their production and editing teams could actually use as a working tool. Every key mapped to a specific workflow shortcut. Every function group colour-coded so an editor's hands could find the right key instinctively, without looking down. A full-size 100% layout with 104 keys, each one carrying purpose.
This is one of the most technically demanding custom keyboard projects Goblintechkeys has completed. And the result is one of the most visually distinctive keyboards we have ever shipped.
The brief: a keyboard built for broadcast production
Video editing and broadcast production workflows are keyboard-intensive. Professional editors rely on dozens of shortcut keys — for playback, trimming, audio levels, video channels, markers and more. On a standard keyboard, there is nothing to tell you which key does what. You either memorise it all or you reach for a shortcut overlay that sits awkwardly on top of your existing keys.
Česká Televize wanted to eliminate that friction entirely. Instead of overlays or stickers, they wanted the shortcuts built directly into a dedicated keyboard — one that their editors could pick up, sit down with, and immediately understand.
"Instead of overlays or stickers, they wanted the shortcuts built directly into a dedicated keyboard — one that their editors could pick up and immediately understand."
The design they brought to Goblintechkeys used colour coding to group functions visually. Each colour zone represents a different category of production action, so an editor's eye — and muscle memory — can navigate the board instinctively.
The design: what the colour zones mean
The full design preview: 104 keys across a 100% ANSI layout, with every key assigned a colour zone and a production shortcut icon or label.
Looking at the keyboard, the colour logic becomes clear immediately. This is not a decorative choice — every colour zone carries meaning:
The function row carries the M1 to M4 macro keys in bold blue — giving editors quick access to their most-used macro actions at the top of the board. The spacebar carries the Česká Televize logo and brand name, grounding the keyboard in its identity without compromising any of the functional key real estate.
Every shortcut icon on this keyboard was printed using dye-sublimation, the same process used across all Goblintechkeys custom keycap sets. The legends are permanently fused into the keycap surface — they will not fade, chip, or peel with heavy daily use. This matters for a production environment where the same keys are hit hundreds of times a day.
Why a dedicated shortcut keyboard changes how people work
Professional video editors typically spend years memorising keyboard shortcuts. The first months at any new job involve relearning where everything lives on a new system. When software updates change shortcuts, the muscle memory resets. When a new team member joins, they face the same learning curve from scratch.
A colour-coded shortcut keyboard compresses that learning curve dramatically. The visual language of the keyboard communicates the workflow structure at a glance. Orange keys are transport. Blue keys are channels. The hand goes to the right zone before the conscious mind has finished processing the decision.
For a broadcast organisation like Česká Televize, where production teams are large and staff turnover is a reality, a standardised shortcut keyboard also means consistent working practices across the team. Everyone's keyboard looks the same. Everyone's shortcuts are in the same place. Onboarding a new editor becomes faster.
Who else this format works for
The Česká Televize keyboard is one of the clearest examples of a custom keyboard as a genuine productivity tool rather than a piece of branded merchandise. That use case extends well beyond broadcast production.
Editors working in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Avid Media Composer benefit from colour-coded shortcuts mapped to their specific software layout.
Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma power users can have their most-used shortcut groups mapped and colour-coded across a dedicated board.
DAW workflows in Pro Tools, Logic, or Ableton Live involve dozens of shortcut combinations. A dedicated keyboard with visual grouping removes the cognitive load.
High-frequency workflows where speed matters and specific functions need to be accessible without hesitation — colour-coded key groups reduce errors and reaction time.
Goblintechkeys can build fully custom shortcut keyboards for any software workflow. You provide the shortcut layout and colour logic — we handle the design, production, and worldwide shipping. Free 3D mockup included before you commit to an order. Minimum from 10 units.
Frequently asked questions
Can Goblintechkeys build a shortcut keyboard for any software?
Yes. As long as you can provide the shortcut layout — either as a design file or a written specification — we can map it onto a full custom keycap set. We support 100%, TKL, 75%, and other layouts in both ANSI and ISO configurations.
How are the shortcut icons and legends printed?
All custom legends are printed using dye-sublimation, permanently fused into the keycap surface. They will not wear off with heavy use. This is the same method used across all Goblintechkeys custom keycap production.
Can I have multiple colour zones on the same keyboard?
Yes. The Česká Televize keyboard uses eight distinct colour zones across 104 keys. There is no practical limit to how many colours or zones can be incorporated into a single design.
What is the minimum order?
For a fully custom shortcut keyboard, we work from a minimum of 10 units. This makes it viable for a small specialist team, a department, or a studio without requiring a large-scale rollout.
Can you produce ISO (European) layout keyboards?
Yes. The Česká Televize order used a 100% ISO layout with Czech-specific key positions. We support both ISO and ANSI layouts across all keyboard sizes.
Build a keyboard your team will actually use better.
Custom shortcut keyboards for production teams, design studios, and specialist workflows.
Free 3D mockup. Minimum 10 units. Ships worldwide.