THESIS STATEMENT
How can US paper currency be used as a platform to celebrate different aspects of American society while expanding its form to be more functionally accessible to those who are visually impaired?
Image of the notes showing the accessibility features.
Images showing the different sized denominations, the face value of a banknote, and how they work together.
Front and back view of the denominations.
The one dollar bill being used.
PRESENTATION
PROJECT BACKGROUND
AND GOALS
In 1861, Congress called for a national paper currency. Thus, creating what we use today: the greenback. The greenback has gone through many different versions over the course of 150 plus years, but for the most part its form and function have not changed. Today, the bills are often seen as archaic, stuck in the past, and lacking accessibility. The fact that these bills have not been revised to be more reflective of the time and more accessible is an example of bad design.
The very first paper currency used nationally in 1861.
One of my goals is to use paper currency as a platform to showcase different American aspects that celebrate the country as a whole. I also want to explore and expand the form of paper currency to find ways in which it could be more accessible to people who are visually impaired.
My audience includes people who often use paper currency, both in and outside of the United States, currency collectors, and designers who appreciate its visual dynamics.
THE CURRENT BREAKDOWN
During my research on US currency, I found an article from 99% invisible podcast that explains the five major characteristics of money: composition, color, size, functionality, and symbolism.
The greenbacks used today.
The composition of American paper currency is made up of a blend of 75% cotton 25% linen. The series has a mostly monochromatic color scheme, with very little contrast between the hues of different denominations. When color is out of the mix, the next thing to separate the bills is size. The current US series is all the same size making the bills impossible to distinguish from one another. Given that those two characteristics lack any accessibility features, there is no functionality of the notes for people who are visually impaired. Lastly, the symbols of the US greenbacks are — and has been since the very beginning — the founding fathers.
Diagram showing the comparison of color, size, and symbolism in US currency.
VISUAL SOURCES
Next, for inspiration, I gathered currency design from all around the world via online sources and my own personal collection. I also looked into other redesign projects to see what has been before and how other people solved the problem at hand.
Collection of currency designs and previous US redesigns.
I studied how people handled money to begin with. It didn't take long for me to see that most people naturally handle their money vertically: whether it be when counting it, putting it into a vending machine, or just handing it over to someone.
USA AS A BRAND
My next research involved asking myself a question: What is the USA as a brand?
To answer this question, I started to compile a list of characteristics, attributes, people, places, landmarks, achievements, etc.; picking out things that unique, different, and relevant to American society. From that list, I had to narrow down to six subjects. It was hard to decide what to show and what not to show. I knew from the beginning that I did not want this series to hold any political connotations or create an underlying agenda. I wanted the series to be as neutral as possible and show things about the United States that hasn't received the recognition it deserves.
The six characteristics I chose were land, animal, agriculture, infrastructure, architecture, and technology. I then chose a unique subject matter that fell under one of those categories. My series would use the grand canyon, bison, irrigation, highway system, empire state building, and Apollo 11 as symbols of American society.
INITIAL SKETCHES
Then the sketching began. Based on previous research, I started experimenting with a vertical layout and found that it provided a more versatile format going forward. During this phase, I also started to think about different sized denominations as a way to tell the notes apart just by touch.
THE DOUBLE-SIDED APPROACH
After exploring many different directions, I decided to go with one that utilized each side of the denominations differently: abstract (minimal) vs. literal (dynamic).
THE FRONT SIDE
The obverse side of the denominations shows an abstract depiction of the United States. The golden ratio and color are used for visual aesthetics; the nine shapes within the golden ratio reflect the nine different regions of USA based on ecosystems.
Diagram showing how the golden ratio was utilized to represent the nine ecosystems of the USA.
THE BACK SIDE
The reverse side of the notes show a more literal and dynamic composition that focuses and sheds light on a certain aspect of American society.
THE SYMBOLISM
The symbols on the back were chosen as a way to be paired to the denomination next to it, as well as being part of the whole series to show a timeline from land to space.
The one and five represent the flora and fauna of the United States. The ten and twenty reflect growth and the fifty and one hundred are representation of Americas achievements.
The one dollar bill showcases the Grand Canyon. The canyon represents the vast land of this country and symbolizes the origin of life and Native Americans, and the eagle represents freedom. The five highlights bison, Americas national animal. The bison is a symbol for strength, unity, and resilience, as well as representing the ties with Native American culture.
The ten symbolizes the innovation of agriculture, specifically center pivot irrigation used to grow corn, the most abundant crop in America. The twenty shows the highway system that connects the whole country together. Being a symbol to American infrastructure.
The fifty displays the empire state building in NYC. The first skyscraper to reach over 100 floors, it is a symbol of technological prowess and city culture. The one hundred focuses on Apollo 11, the mission to send mankind to the moon, one of the greatest achievements of American society. The mission represents the technological advances in America and the determination of its people.
THE REDESIGN BREAKDOWN
An initial change I made to the layout that inherently made each note easier to visually differentiate is the hierarchy of information. The biggest importance is the value, so the number of each denomination has the highest contrast with its background making it stand out in the crowd. The type is also simpler, bigger, and bolder.
Comparison of type on original 100 and redesigned 100.
I kept the composition of this series the same (75% cotton 25% linen) due to production costs but also the feasibility of this project. When it comes to color, this version utilizes tints, shades, and accent hues to create higher contrast within each bill and help set the notes apart; the accent color in the top right square is especially helpful given its contrast to the colors surrounding it. The size of the notes change as well; the width of denomination is the same, but the height is based on the value of each note, making it easier for people to feel one note from another.
Diagram showing the color, size, and functionality of the redesigned US currency.
For the functionality, accessibility features such as braille has been included at the bottom right corner, spelling out the number of each denomination. Another tactile element, that could be used by people who are visually impaired and don’t know braille, is a system of die cut windows.
Image of series showing the functionality features of braille and the system of window die cuts.
Close up image of tactile elements.
The windows reflect the quantity of numbers on its denomination. They can be used in two different ways for people on the visually impaired spectrum. You can either glide your fingers over the die cuts to feel their size and quantity, or you can hold it up to a light and see the windows the die cuts make.
Visual of how the windows glow as light shines through.
THE ANATOMY
There are many layers within the front and back designs of each denomination. They are as follows: text, security, accessibility, imagery. By separating these elements into layers, you can better see how each one works by itself and how it was designed to work with all the others. You can also see the all the security measures that have been included that you wouldn't necessarily notice right off the bat.
Diagram showing the front and back anatomy of the notes.
CONCLUSION
This redesign of US paper currency was meant to promote and celebrate different aspects of American society, as well as expand its form to be more accessible to those who are visually impaired. I hope that this redesign starts a conversation on how little the currency has changed since 1861 and how it could become more inclusive.
SOURCES
Written
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A different look of a simplistic take on US currency. The designer uses
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Special thanks to
Ryan Lewis
Brian Edlefson
Andre Avgust
