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Second or "Why didn't we think of that?" prize

Second Prize is:

Design Crash Course, A historical design primer.

AIRWAY OK
Garment classification system

Bryan Boyer
California , USA

Solution:

While no one likes the uncertainty of standing in a security line, it's a fact of contemporary life. Without the option of erasing these procedures from our travel facilities we are forced to find ways to expedite the process. AIRWAY OK addresses the anxiety felt waiting in sluggish lines by arming every citizen with a way to determine beforehand whether or not they are going to cause the dreaded beep.

Should you be surprised when your sneakers have a metal arch inside them? Is it a guessing game with your metal zipper? Do I really have to take off this sweater?

AIRWAY OK proposes that all clothing and accessory price tags and care labels tell us whether or not they contain enough metal to set off a metal detector in the security queues. This helps the owner decide which clothes they need to pack in a suitcase and which they can wear while traveling. In this manner, AIRWAY OK expedites the entire security process by taking the guess work out of the line.

Implementation of this system requires minor modification to the printing and stitching processes already in place. With this minimal footprint it can be implemented quickly and with little or no additional investment.

We Liked:

The elegance of the solution allows an existing and very easily implemented technology add a large amount of perceived value to lots of different products, from shoes to shirts.

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Runners Up:

Sway
Fun Personal Rocker

Lin Weizheng
Singapore

Solution:

Sway is a rocking platform that is included in baggage trolleys. When you find yourself waiting in a long line to check into the airport, pull out your Sway, and rock the minutes away.

We Liked:

Man, we're suckers for playful. The idea of a whole United check-in line full of rockers was too funny.

Wavelength
RFID Item and Child Management

Elijah Wiegmann & Justin Johnsen
Pennsylvania, USA

Solution:

It’s happened to all of us. You are traveling for pleasure or business and realize that something has gone missing. You have lost (or someone has taken) your wallet, purse, luggage, or even a child. A wave of panic sets in as you try to remember where it could have gone…Enter the relief from this anxiety with the help of Radio Frequency ID (RFID) chips. Protecting and keeping track of your wallet is as simple as inserting a slim RFID card into a slot in your wallet. To monitor your luggage or purse, just drop a transponder pebble into a compartment. Most important of all, to make sure that a child does not get lost or abducted, give them the fun-to-wear RFID watch. The watch has a secure latch so that the child cannot take off the watch on his or her own. All of these devices are monitored through a base unit small enough to carry in a pocket or clip on a belt like a cell phone. If any of the RFID devices are separated more than twelve feet from the base receiver, both devices sound an alarm to notify the user. The base receiver will track the location of your valuables on an LCD screen while the alarm on the devices will help to locate them and deter thieves.

We Liked:

Lots of different functionality in this design, from wallet theft prevention to child monitoring. RFID might not be the right technology, because of it's limited detection range, but the range of applications is great.

Luf
Security Checkpoint Re-design

Ron Ruiz
Georgia, USA

Solution:

With all the modern technologies available to us, why not add a little visual appeal to Airport security Checkpoints? Luf places metal and explosive detection pads discreetly so as to minimize physical and visual distress to passengers going through security.

We Liked:

Ron, we hear you. Security checkpoints are long overdue for a brightening up. While most of the technologies you suggest are set pretty far in the future, the idea of a minimalist installation is nice, and it might cut down on the possibility of miss-handled of snuck-through items, since there would be less shuffle to lose things in.

Airport Music
Airline Art Museum

Christopher Doulgeris
Pennsylvania, USA

Solution:

An airport is an enormous captive audience of travelers, all wishing they had something to occupy their time waiting for their plane. Why not turn terminals into independant art galleries which sponsor works from the community, and raise funds through sale of the art. Christopher even included an original song which he wrote for the contest. It's a little too big to host here, but we're working with him to get it up on his band Hooliganship's site

We Liked:

Alternative ways of funding arts and artistic expression, and new ways of engaging the public in art and design are totally interesting to us. This concept is already in place in many airports, although mostly as a showplace, rather than a funding source. Definitely something worth considering

Fly:Wrap
Searchable Wrapping Paper

Elliott Montgomery
IDFuel, USA

Solution:

Despite being ineligible to win, Elliott was so fed up with having his carefully wrapped packages ripped apart at christmas, he envisioned a new kind of elastic, velcro-closeable, re-usable wrapping for gifts that could be applied after you want through security.

We Liked:

If you've ever had this happen to you, it's close to the most aggravating thing ever, especially since the gift is a sweater, and the security guards SWEAR they saw a knife on the X-ray... Oh well.

Be sure to stay tuned this friday for the next Bonfire. It's going to be even hotter than this one.