Currency Redesign
For this project, I was asked to design a widely recognizable, story-driven currency system based on a chosen location.
My research began by understanding the different types of currency and what makes them successful. In order to create a currency system, I had to learn what was important in each bill. My next step was to investigate different locations, I chose Iceland and the Bermuda Triangle. Through this investigation, I created a mood board and laid out the focus points of each location. I decided on the Bermuda Triangle due to the freedom I would have due to the lack of precedent.
Research Moodboards
The design process first began with practicing distinct graphic styles. These graphic styles helped get grasp with illustrating on Adobe Illustrator and to get a start on these small elements our currency can make use of. My next step was to make two iterations of my currency and get feedback from my class. These iterations were helpful in learning what I liked about my design and what I could make better. I then went back to my designs and created more iterations. My goal was to make three bills that characterized the stereotypical horrors of the Bermuda Triangle and create elements that threw the viewer off.
Graphic styles and first currency iteration
Final Currency Redesign and Decoder
My final design of the Bermuda Triangle currency was successful in many ways. I kept realistic elements, such as a shape that would easily fit into wallets and a focus point, much like the presidents of the U.S. dollar. Not only this, but I created seals, patterns, and holographic elements in order to eliminate counterfeiting this currency. But as my design had realistic, expected elements, there are plenty of unanticipated components that separate my currency from the rest. There is meaning in each part of this composition. Such as the baby, cat, and chicken, which are all insulting metaphors. Also, the value of each bill, 7, 13, and 666, are typical scary numbers, even 7, which is from the 7 ate 9 joke. All in all, these bills are used to scare off the visitors, and even the residence, of the Bermuda Triangle. Sharp edges, reds and blacks, and the Bermuda Triangle slogan of "Abandon All Hope" makes these bills frightening to its viewers. However, the bills successfully use visual hierarchy, attention to detail, and imagery to create an appropriate final design.
