Inspired by Canada’s groundbreaking new ten dollar bill, IDEA20 students focus on other banknotes that could use a design refresh.
In November 2018, the Bank of Canada released a new ten dollar bill into circulation, and in doing so, made history.
Viola Desmond was selected to be on the bill after an open call for nominations and a public opinion survey on the Bank of Canada website. In one of the most widely reported incidences of racial discrimination in our country, Desmond was arrested in November 1946 after refusing to leave a whites-only section of a theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She decided to fight the charges laid against her, and the resulting court case served to raise awareness about the realities of segregation in Canada.
Not only is the bill historic for being the first in Canadian history to portray a person of colour, it is the first time a woman other than the Queen has been featured on our currency. Furthermore, the design utilizes a vertical orientation; a departure from our past bills.
Hong Kong dollar redesign, envelope and brochure by Isaac Mak
Ukrainian hryvnia redesign by Nina Chwelos
The class was lucky enough to have the knowledge and experience of two key players in the Bank of Canada’s banknote redesign process, Martine Warren, Bank Note Design Specialist, Boyd Laanstra, Senior Analyst of Visual Content. Presenting remotely from the head office of the Bank of Canada in Ottawa, Martine and Boyd very generously took the class through an in-depth history of Canadian currency. They also described the lengthy and complex process involved in the design and printing of polymer bank notes, including our new ten dollar bill.
Lebanese pound redesign and website by Nada Hayak
More than just a printed document with colour, design and denomination, bank notes are sophisticated and highly advanced technical products which contain numerous intricate security features and codes – both visible and invisible. These features allow bank notes to be used by many stakeholders, including the public, cash handlers, law enforcement and note processing machines, and ensure the security and reliability of the financial system. This affects how a bank note looks and how the visual elements can be composed. Students considered all of these limitations and requirements in the redesign of their own bills; and included features for added security and accessibility.
Indonesian rupiah redesign and website by Jennifer Panata
Of course, it’s also important that the notes reflect a nation’s identity – in a sense, they can be thought of as a business card for their country. To that end, after selecting a country whose currency could use a design refresh, students researched its history and culture in order to find a theme and subject(s) to feature. Along with the redesign of the bank note, they created a complementary landing page or printed piece intended to educate the public about the significance of the imagery they chose to include in their concepts.
Thai baht redesign and website by Mann Chalermwat
Mexican peso redesign and website by Stephany Gilson
Chinese yuan (Year of the Pig Commemorative Note) by Yiling Zhang
