The New TSA Logo

Jacob Sullum | February 22, 2010

Security maven Bruce Schneier announces the winner of his TSA Logo Contest:

This design, by Rhys Gibson, is pretty good, although I question the British spelling of theater, and I'm not sure I get the rolled-up newspaper. Is it a reference to publicity? Were TSA screeners confiscating periodicals at some point? I prefer Travis McHale's execution of the same basic concept, which can be viewed here along with the other finalists. Feel free to pick (and justify) your choice in the comments.

Gibson's inspiration, the Department of Homeland Security logo, looks like this. The old TSA logo, from before it was absorbed by DHS, looked like this. More suggested improvements here. More on the TSA here. More on Schneier here.

[Thanks to Geoff Nathan for the tip.]

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John Tagliaferro|2.22.10 @ 4:33PM|#

It is a little known fact that the Schneiers are closely associated with the Masons. They pretend to be cutups with funny Turkish hats riding their go-karts around in parades, but those go-karts are truly state-of-the-art-future-alien-technology assault vehicles.

Beware of Schneiers bearing jokes.

PIRS|2.22.10 @ 4:22PM|#

I like this one:

http://kurushio.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/tsa_logo1.jpg

"Removing dangerous objects since 2001."

Old Mexican|2.22.10 @ 4:22PM|#

I'm not sure I get the rolled-up newspaper.

The Mass Hysteria Media as the willing accomplices?

deja moo|2.22.10 @ 9:56PM|#

The two letters showing say "NO".

Old Mexican|2.22.10 @ 4:23PM|#

It's a beautiful logo . . . and the artist is now on a No Fly list.

Seth|2.22.10 @ 4:27PM|#

More like the patted-down-harassed-and-cavity-searched-until-he-misses-his-plane-every-time list.

Zeb|2.23.10 @ 11:59AM|#

Do you really think so? I would think that mockery of the TSA is so ubiquitous that such a list would be far too long even compared to the real lists they have.

Seth|2.22.10 @ 4:24PM|#

I have to go with the one by Matthew Williams (second to last). By far the most detailed and best looking. The name change is perfect, too.

|2.22.10 @ 4:28PM|#

I'm disappointed that while two of the entries used the words "weakness," "tedium" and "farce," none of them arranged them in that order. Would've made a great acrostic.

|2.22.10 @ 11:11PM|#

Shriners have the go-karts, not Masons.

Kolohe|2.23.10 @ 1:42AM|#

Shriners are affliated with Masons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.....ant_bodies

The Masonic Temple in Alexandria used to have a huge diorama that was like a model railroad set, except with Shriner parade vehicles instead of trains.

|2.22.10 @ 4:56PM|#

It's for when they keep you in your seat the last hour of a flight. When you crap on the floor, they'll hit you in the nose with the paper.

ed|2.22.10 @ 4:56PM|#

My complaint is with the text path and kerning. Looks like somebody did it with Chartpak letters.

|2.22.10 @ 4:59PM|#

I like how the eagle is looking both ways. As if to say, not sure what I'm looking for.

anonymous|2.22.10 @ 8:32PM|#

It's a riff on the tragedy/comedy masks symbolizing theaters...

|2.22.10 @ 5:03PM|#

We hassle you now, so the terrorist can't hassle you later.

Fist of Etiquette|2.22.10 @ 5:12PM|#

I enjoyed this one.

Martin|2.22.10 @ 5:22PM|#

I think the "rolled-up newspaper" is actually meant to be the no-fly list.

JebusPuncher|2.22.10 @ 5:23PM|#

The newspaper says "No", i.e., no toothpaste.

|2.22.10 @ 5:42PM|#

The bird should be a chicken.

NeonCat|2.22.10 @ 6:01PM|#

You can use a rolled up newspaper as a weapon.

|2.22.10 @ 11:18PM|#

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millwall_brick

|2.22.10 @ 6:09PM|#

"Transportation Security Administration - We put the Line in AirLine."

|2.22.10 @ 7:17PM|#

My guess for the "newspaper": I saw it as a "NOV" at the topand assumed it was a reference to using well timed security theater to garner votes.

|2.23.10 @ 9:51AM|#

I thought it was a reference to "the rolled-up newspaper of justice" from the comic book and cartoon series 'The Tick.'

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