About Us

The Hard Hat Brigade brings hackers together in the spirit of endless curiosity and tinkering. We use a common platform (hats) to combine art (bling) and hacker functionality (warez) to inspire others to explore outside of their comfort zones in a safe and welcoming community. 

We encourage everyone to explore their creativity using art, electronics, mechanical design, or any other medium that piques their interest. Hats are inexpensive, widely available, and easy to modify to suit your needs. We started with hard hats but are not limited to any type of hat, so you have the freedom to choose whatever hat suits your fancy.

Despite everyone using a common platform, every creation is unique and embodies the personality of the creator. Walking around DEF CON, you can display your creation for all to see, and many will stop to ask you about what you have created. This allows you to talk about your experience, as well as inspire others to explore new ideas of their own.

One of the challenges at hacker summer camp has been finding people to connect with.  By leveraging hard hats as a canvas, HHB has solved this challenge with something that is incredibly accessible while also offering a ton of variety.  Gazing upon these creations, they reflect back the uniqueness of all the awesome hackers that we’ve been able to meet.  In years past, we’ve had the opportunity to see how so many talented and creative hackers tackle the challenge of using the venerable hard hat as their muse.  Just as fun, charming and skilled as so many attendees are, the hard hat has been a great vessel to carry their awesome projects.  

Stop by our community space and make your trip memorable by trying on a hat, learning and sharing building techniques, networking with other hat loving hackers, and expressing yourself in your own hacker way.  Keep on hacking!