Siew Ming Cheng

Sometimes you're crammed into a line or on public transportation and don't have much choice other than to snuggle up with strangers. Industrial designer Siew Ming Cheng's Spike Away vest ensures unknown people won't want to squeeze next to you.

Cheng created the vest for a workshop at the National University of Singapore. "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," Cheng writes.

The materials came from the gardening section at a hardware store. The strips of spiky, plastic material were originally meant to keep prying birds and curious cats out of plants. Cable ties hold the strips together into a form that can be worn as a vest.

The vest manages to look like a piece out of a futuristic fashion show. The design itself is simple, but the concept could be pretty effective. If I saw someone wearing it, I would head for the other side of the train. Mission accomplished.