OUGD505 - SB1 - Concept Decisions - Initial Ideas

For the initial stage of the concept generation process it was time to outline three very different design outcomes for the brief itself, that include totally different concept and currency ideas and from these three different ideas generated through the form of feedback sessions the decision will be made to take one of the concepts through in to the final stage of the project. Due to the fact that the whole brief centred itself around specifically looking at this design of a currency as 'the future of money' it was immediately apparent to me from my concept research the the future of money would function like a bitcoin in the way that it can be spent in any country under any currency but instead bring this in to the world of physical money so that it is as inclusive as it possible can be. This is important as although bitcoins are brilliant a vast amount go the earth has no access to the internet, and due to the fact some inhabitants of the earth are less proficient with the internet than other this international paper current that can be spent all over the world combats these facts of bitcoins. This international currency would be the feature of two of my design ideas but with both of them having very different design outcomes aesthetically. The final design resolution idea is to step away from the fact that the first ideas revolve around a practical and informed concept and to instead adopt a more satirical and witty standpoint to see if this added fun aspect could make the idea develop better due to my interest.

The first idea that builds upon a satirical and humorous standpoint is to redesign range of currencies linked to different countries and in it to point out by the note the national debt of that country e.g. USD = $19.3 Trillion or GBP = £1.56 Trillion. The concept centring the notes poking fun at the facade that is national debt, who is this debt owed to? to infuse digital and mystical sense glitch imagery would be used.

The second idea is to design a series of notes for an international currency that can be spent anywhere of which  centres its whole concepts around the man made wonders of the world, celebrating out advances as a human race and the accomplishments we produce through landmarks such as The Statue of Liberty. Each note would feature a different landmark from different cities around the world and would feature and in detail illustration that takes the centre point of the currency design. It would be accompanied by simplicity in the rest of the note to add emphasis to the feature illustrations.

The final idea would also have the feature of the project as an international currency but instead of just eluding to different places around the world, instead ti would have a more conceptual idea. The money would celebrate money within greek history, due to the fact that the greek's were some of the first people to use the concept of money instead of trading of skills. The currency design would say homage to the greek philosophy of the elements that make up the earth as this is a currency that would be able to be spent anywhere not he earth. The design would work as a set of four notes each printed on acetate or clear stock, with each different not in the set of four representing each element. When overlapped the four different elements within the notes would come together to represent the four elements coming together. Eluding to a notion on inclusiveness and the world as one whole without borders.

Although it is the obvious choice to many that the future of money is digital by such means as e.g. bitcoins but this doesn't to me represent what the brief is asking for at all, as it stipulates banknote form delivery and so there will be no further look in to bitcoins as they aren't very appropriate for the design outcome.