Before designing my bank notes digitally I needed to determine what size the bank notes would be. There would be many different ways I could complete this brief, I could design a note that is completely new and differently shaped than the existing currencies, or I could choose something familiar and already integrated into contemporary economies.
I chose to design my money in the same size as the UK bank notes, as this is a similar size to a lot of different currencies around the world. There's a reason this is a popular shape and size of note, and it is because it works. It's familiar, comfortable, and easy to carry around in a wallet or purse. Why change it?
The currency I will be creating aims to represent the entirety of Earth, as everyone has a star sign, whether they believe the history and knowledge around the zodiac is a different story, but a person cannot avoid being attached to one sign of the zodiac. This means the size needs to be universally usable and convenient for travel and usage. The notes will not be different sizes as I feel that would be unnecessary, there's no need to differentiate between them by size, but by design instead.
The size of my currency will be 149 x 80 mm.
Stock:
I will be experimenting with 3 types of stock chosen from GF Smith:
Peregrina Majestic in marble white 120GSM
Peregrina Majestic in anthracite 120GSM
Mohawk options in 100% PC White smooth 148GSM
The reason I will be experimenting with these choices is to ensure that I explore different colours to how the designs look on screen. There is no way to see how gold or gloss ink will look on paper and it entirely depends on how it is printed. Mohawk is a matte white stock, and although bank notes are usually around 90 gsm, this is 148, meaning it is a little thicker and more durable but less flexible which may be inappropriate for efficient use, and may be too thick when a person is carrying multiple bank notes.
The 120GSM could be a more appropriate weight for travel and usage, and although again thicker than the usual weight of currency notes, it could be more beneficial in terms of print as it will absorb the ink without it running all the way through as it could do with a thinner stock choice.
The Peregrina stock has a shimmer to it, which will connote luxury and wealth which is essentially what currency symbolises. Due to the theme of the currency, Astrology, the sparkles on the stock can also reflect space and the constellations that will be featured on the designs, giving the content a richer meaning and simultaneously increasing appeal to the overall aesthetic of the notes.
It will depend on the printing process when deciding which note looks the most effective and relevant to the project.
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