DC18 Badge Design Competition

[martinbogo]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

DT - any chance of releasing what the components will be? Software development takes a long time, and if we had an idea of what we were going to get (ie, microphone vs 16x16 LED array) then we could get started early on cool hacks. There's just not enough time at con to really hack the badge.

Thanks!

Kallahar, that's kind of the point! The time pressure and limited resources make people be creative, and quick.

[martinbogo]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

Trust me, I agree completely. Out of all involved, I probably feel the worst when I see people standing in line. We're doing everything we can to avoid problems and still create a badge that kicks the crap out of any other conference out there.

Yes, there are lots of people that just want to attend talks and don't care about the badge - that's fine. But, there are lots of people that want something cool to hack on, to learn from, and to use after the con. As long as I'm involved in the badge design, I'm going to try to make something memorable.

It's a fine line to please both crowds, but I guess that's part of the challenge!

Joe

Kingpin, what is the name and contact for the PCB prototyping shop you use in the Bay Area? Just as you're working on the DC18 badge, I'm working on the next generation of the Hack The Badge...

[Kingpin]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

Kingpin, what is the name and contact for the PCB prototyping shop you use in the Bay Area? Just as you're working on the DC18 badge, I'm working on the next generation of the Hack The Badge...

I don't use any local shops (too expensive). I'll usually go with e-Teknet (www.e-teknet.com) who do the production run of badges for me or Advanced Circuits (www.4pcb.com)

Joe

[Dark Tangent]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

We have weekly design calls, emails, etc. trying to work out everything.

Neil works on the artistic angles, and is working on the art now. KP and I work on functionality with KP telling me what might be possible, how much design time vs. cost vs. logistics. A few of the points we all require this year:

- Must be complete in time for no lines
- Must be easy for non HW geeks to work on, program, explore
- Must have some HW Geekery
- Must look cool and do something or be something not done before
- Not break the bank

I'm excited for it!

[FirmWarez]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

I've got Defcon badges that date back to laminated color printed con logos. I don't think the badge has become bigger than the con, but it is a big part of the con. It's the one thing you have to have, and it's the one thing everyone gets to go home with. Around our shop there are all sorts of Defcon badges on display, plexiglass, aluminum, circuit boards -- they are "badges" in the sense of a small token that represents something much bigger. I really doubt that most attendees would want to go back to "just" a badge for entry.

As far as the lines -- well, it wouldn't be Defcon if something didn't get hosed, would it? Maybe some of the folks who gave up should volunteer instead. That's what I've heard since I started going (I think it was DC3, but I'm getting old and DRAM refresh rates are a bitch) -- if you don't like the way things are going volunteer and help.

Thanks DT and Kingpin for the effort in making these cool/hackable/proud to display objets de con. Good to know that the CPU is the same, I'll have the dev environment pre-loaded.

...now back to lurking...

[jackassplus]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

I don't use any local shops (too expensive). I'll usually go with e-Teknet (www.e-teknet.com) who do the production run of badges for me or Advanced Circuits (www.4pcb.com)

Joe

I have had some quick fabs done by Advanced Circuits as well. Good shop. Quick turn.

I certainly love the badges. Last year ws my first go at Freescale Programming. (only bricked it once). After spending at least 70% of last con in HHV, I'd say the badge is what I look forward to most. I didn't think the line was "out of line" I've waited longer for overpriced concert tickets.

Keep up the good work Kingpin!

[saxdr]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

I didn't have too much of a problem with getting my badge last year. I think it took all of about 30 minutes in line for my paper badge and about 1 minute to pick up the powered badge . . . much shorter wait time than the Black Friday shopping lines and my odds of getting what I actually came for were much much better.

I don't think the badge consumed the con. I spent a great deal of time in HHV destroying traces on my badge with one of Alexander Graham Bell's soldering irons (at least, the one I had was about that old), but I still got around to cooling down some beer, attended a bunch of the talks, got some target practice in, and managed to avoid having my usernames and passwords being broadcast on the Wall of Sheep. That's something that I love about DEFCON . . . it covers just about the entire gamut of hacking all in one weekend. Definitely NOT a boring weekend.

I'm not much of a gambler, but I am thinking there is a strong possibility that we'll see the same processor as last year, since there are a few thousand of them laying around at the con's disposal. Of course, I could be wrong, so don't take what I say to the bank.

And now . . . How shall I hack thee, Badge? Let me count the ways . . .