The designs should be simple, reliable, intuitive, and capable of enhancing the overall user experience
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the research and innovation arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has launched a crowdsourced design challenge to improve digital wallet interfaces.
Through its official channels, S&T announced a $25,000 prize pool for the Digital Wallet Challenge. The competition seeks user interface designs that will support the department’s broader efforts in blockchain and decentralized identity technology.
According to the Directorate, finalist wallet designs must show clear ease of use and visual consistency while prioritizing interoperability, security, and privacy.
“Winning designs will be easy to use, trustworthy, and improve the overall user experience and management of digital wallet-based credentials,” the announcement states.
These evaluation criteria were outlined by Anil John, Technical Director of S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP).
Digital wallets that meet the requirements may be considered for inclusion in the Department of Homeland Security’s expanding blockchain project portfolio. John noted that one partner is already pursuing a decentralized credentialing system to issue digital Green Cards.
Digital Green Cards could streamline current processes considerably. At present, some procedures related to immigration and credentialing can take anywhere from seven to 33 months; digital solutions aim to increase transparency and efficiency.
While S&T has funded and partnered with blockchain companies through SVIP for several years, this marks the first time the directorate has opened a public design competition. SVIP Prize Program Manager Kathleen Kenyon said the office is reaching out to freelance and community designers because, although S&T has strong ties with the software development community, it seeks deeper connections with graphic and user-experience designers.
Prizes are structured to support community-level participation: three finalists will each receive $5,000, and the overall winner will receive an additional $10,000 from the prize pool.
Kenyon explained that the prize levels are intended to attract independent and small-team designers rather than large corporations, and to allow S&T flexibility to run similar competitions in the future.
Applications are open through October 15. Finalists who pass the first stage will be announced at a virtual SVIP event on October 27, and the competition winner will be revealed in December.