These Dollar Bill Concepts Are Better Than The Real Thing

While U.S. currency does change a little on occasional, the basic design of the notes has stayed fairly constant: green/black background, a portrait on one side, and a pretty picture on the other. These concepts take that classic design, and turn it on its head.

They're the work of designer Travis Purrington, and his philosophy was to create a currency that was forwards-looking, rather than reminiscent of the past. Rather than railroads and 19th-century landscape portraits, you get molecules, astronauts and silicon circuits. As Purrington explains:

This particular series plays on themes of human discovery and endeavors to connect achievement, theory and the fundamental properties of life.

This is of course not a conspiracy to trivialize or shun the great deeds of the past, but to communicate principle rather than effigy permeating through the spirit of industrial, organic and elemental systems.

Aesthetically, I also think he's nailed it. There's something strangely appealing about a portrait-oriented banknote. As far as I'm aware (although I'm sure a currency expert will be along to correct me post-haste), every country uses landscape-oriented money, so to see a portrait design is decidedly refreshing. The pastel colors and monochrome contrast definitely gives a modern look, which chimes well with his overall design philosophy.

Purrington says that he was inspired by Switzerland, which holds a contest every 20 years or so to redesign the franc. If there were a competition to replace our bills tomorrow, these would definitely get my vote. [Travis Purrington]

from ffffff http://gizmodo.com/these-dollar-bill-concepts-are-better-than-the-real-thi-1664646002

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