Siew Ming Cheng, a design student at the National University of Singapore, has invented a vest covered in plastic spikes which has the dual-use of preventing people standing too close on the subway and singling you out as an antisocial freak with no respect for shared space.
Writing on portfolio site Behance, Cheng says the vest was produced during a 'Chindogu' workshop. 'Chindogu' is the Japanese art of designing indigenous gadgets to solve mundane, everyday problems (such as the 'Ostrich Pillow' which allows users to sleep anywhere provided they don't mind looking like their head is being eaten by a giant, plush facehugger).
A quick brainstorming leads to a everyday situation. Trains are usually crowded during peak hours. Everybody will push each other to try and get onto the train. How can I protect my personal space?
The idea was then conceived. "What if I wear a vest that is full of spikes?"
Or, instead of wearing a vest full of spikes, how about respecting that subways are shared spaces and one sacrifices a certain amount of personal space for the convenience of public transport?
This isn't the first time plastic spikes have been suggested as a solution to lack of personal space on the subway, in 2012 the Beijing Morning Post reported on a new craze of spiked backpacks being used to prevent anyone getting too close (as if, and I say this as someone who wears a backpack to work every day, bags weren't antisocial enough on a crowded subway already).
According to Apple Daily, Cheng herself said she wouldn't wear the vest, because it's "too ugly".
[Image via Behance // Via: Coconuts Singapore]
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