Seamless by design: creating a serene and fluid security experience
© Thales
The design of this HELIXVIEW security gate is far more than just an outer shell. It is a complete response, embodying Thales values: technological excellence, perceived quality, operational efficiency, and above all, respect for the human factors in the most critical environments. Because when security is well designed, every journey begins better.
From the very first phases of the project, the scope of reflection expanded well beyond the gate itself. The challenge: to consider the entire airport security environment—upstream and downstream—in order to design a solution that integrates seamlessly into the passenger journey.
The objective was clear: to streamline the security checkpoint experience while reducing sources of stress.
This required in-depth work on visual language, embedded infographics, and signage elements—designed to guide without constraining, to assist without overwhelming. The design had to reassure, while also anticipating the needs of both passengers and security agents, in environments that are often dense and high-pressure.
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F+a © Thales
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F+a © Thales
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F+a © Thales
A peaceful experience, a reassuring design
The Thales signature here is expressed through a profoundly human approach to design, centered around the concept of Peaceful Design: a calming aesthetic serving efficiency. Gentle lines, rounded edges, and soft-touch materials—all are crafted to create a serene, reassuring atmosphere from the moment a passenger enters the checkpoint.
The chosen colors are intentionally soft, while the materials are durable yet non-aggressive—drawing from the codes of “care”—to reduce the visual hostility of this key travel stage. Here, less truly is more. Simplicity serves clarity, and elegance serves readability.
F+a © Thales
Technologically advanced, but distinctly humanised
One of the project’s greatest challenges was to integrate advanced technology without imposing it—to humanise highly technical equipment and make it more approachable, intuitive, almost familiar.
The material finishes, inspired by everyday connected objects, echo the design codes of home automation and personal electronics. The ambition: to transform a piece of security equipment into a functional companion, one that fades into the background to let the user experience take centre stage.
Integrated luminous circles within the structure guide interactions, instantly signalling the device’s status and ensuring immediate response in all circumstances. Information legibility, visual hierarchy, and instant feedback: every detail was designed to support operational decisions without cognitive overload.
F+a © Thales
Fluidity and sophistication in constrained environments
Because airport environments are often dense and constantly evolving, compactness and adaptability were placed at the heart of the design. The gate adopts a lightweight format with optimised volumes, making it easy to position even near pillars or within tight circulation zones.
Its aerodynamic silhouette conveys fluidity, further emphasised by subtle graphic work: wave-shaped stickers and a continuous pencil line that naturally guide passengers through their movement.
Here, sophistication does not come from accumulation, but from precision. The design draws on noble materials, anchoring the solution in an aesthetic inspired by hospitality. Delicate arabesques on the entry and exit tunnels add a refined touch, reflecting the carefully mastered design ethos in line with Thales’ standards of excellence.
Ultimately, it is this meticulous attention to detail—from form to material, from function to user experience—that allows this security gate to combine advanced technology, intuitive ergonomics, and a peaceful passenger journey.
F+a © Thales
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