Designing experience: banknotes of the future

Designing experience: embracing cultural identity and innovation in banknote development

This sounds like a good time to speak about the concept of “designing experience” for banknotes.

The standardized approach to banknote design was design development, feature integration, and then presentation of the finished solution. We’ve chosen to make a radical break from this at G+D, however. 

As the market leader in cash technology, we are responsible for innovative solutions, clear direction, and trust. We don’t just serve the market, we actively shape it. We achieve this through innovation, clear strategies, and design. Our process is now far more iterative and participative. 

What that means is that we start with concepts that are strongly oriented toward the cultural identity of the respective country. Our goal is to design not just a functional banknote, but one that feels familiar and authentic to the people in that country. There is no universal style that works for all countries. Banknote design is a process of mutual adaptation and close collaboration.

That sounds challenging.

It is! Especially when it comes to fine-tuning. A design sometimes goes through up to 50 iterations before everyone involved is satisfied. The reason for this is that a banknote not only has to look good, but it also must function perfectly, both technically and emotionally. 

Let me give you an example. Metallic effects on banknotes, such as foils, security threads, or special inks, are strongly linked to emotions. The shine of metal is linked to value. This is deeply rooted in our subconscious. Some behavioral researchers claim this is linked to our association with water, which was essential for survival in our evolutionary history. 

We take these fundamental psychological factors into account, along with technological aspects. The experience with an individual banknote is never the result of a one-dimensional process, but rather an intertwining of tradition, modern technology, and cultural expectations. 

How does your team achieve that necessary balance between functionality and aesthetics?

Well, first of all, a banknote has to work! It has to be secure, durable, and machine-readable. These are the basic requirements our customers have. Central banks are the “guardians and preservers of monetary security,” and for good reason. Cash is a trusted commodity, and any disruption to its infrastructure can have serious economic consequences. 

The other side is the aesthetic experience, the visualization of a country’s cultural identity. To do this, we work out what citizens of a given country associate with their money. We then translate this into a visual language. This is often a balancing act. How much innovation can a banknote tolerate without losing its familiar appearance? 

For each project, we weigh up exactly where the boundaries lie between modern design, that place’s culture, and the highest possible level of security. 

Are these boundaries fairly uniform, or do they always have to be adapted to the specific needs of a country?

Let’s study the banknotes of Oman as an example. Windows play a key role in that nation’s traditional architecture and craftsmanship. We integrated a window into the banknote as a security element, as a functional design element that combines security and tradition. This creates a bridge between state-of-the-art security technology and cultural roots. 

Our job is to understand these cultural nuances and translate them into customized design experiences. The banknotes of the Central Bank of Kazakhstan are another prime example of innovative banknote design. They combine national symbols and noble-looking metallic security elements with abstract design elements to create a unique visual language. The key to success here was the close collaboration between the local designer and our specialists. 

Involving customers in this development process is obviously vital. How do you manage it?

Through the “total customer experience” approach. Every customer is an active part of the design process. This ranges from the creative phase with sketches and concept ideas, to gradual refinement, to secure design decisions, right through to iterative coordination before the final design goes into production. 

This is the essence of “designing experience”: to create a banknote that is not only technically perfect, but also feels authentic and tangible for that country.

What role do modern technologies play here?

Technology was, is, and always will be the key to counterfeit protection. Therefore, it will remain central to the further development of banknote design. Again, our motivation is to strike the best possible balance between design and protecting against counterfeiting. No matter how innovative a security feature may be, it still needs to be visually convincing and fit seamlessly into the design, or it loses its impact.

Our slogan at G+D, “Creating Confidence”, explains our approach. We help our customers convey confidence, provide orientation, and pave the way through state-of-the-art technology and design.

Balancing sustainability and security in banknote production

Let’s talk about sustainability. How can a banknote be made more sustainable without compromising on security?

Sustainability is no longer an optional extra, but rather a necessary condition of banknote development. Banks around the world increasingly have to deal with issues such as carbon footprints, “repurposability,” and material efficiency. This is exactly where our solutions come in. 

With cotton from sustainable cultivation to conserve natural resources. By reducing water and energy consumption in production, particularly in paper manufacturing. With hybrid banknotes that stay in circulation longer and therefore need to be replaced less often. 

We are at a turning point where innovation, security, and environmental awareness are coming together, as an emotional experience. 

Sustainability is not just a technical issue, but also an emotional one?

Absolutely. Sustainability must be woven into the very fabric of the banknote experience, impacting both central banks and end users. 

Some countries are only now grappling with the issue of sustainability and initially seemed skeptical. However, our strategy is to lead, to initiate. We demonstrate how banknotes can be made more secure, future-proof, sustainable, functional, and adaptable to regulatory requirements. 

Sustainability is about more than environmental aspects. It’s also about social and economic resilience, making it a comprehensive concept. Our print shop in Malaysia is transforming into a “green site” with solar panels on every roof. Fish and vegetables are farmed on the factory premises, and we have our own sustainable restaurant. We’ve received feedback from visitors like, “Sustainability is much more than a technical requirement – it’s the big picture.”

This underscores that pivotal moment where innovation, design, safety, and environmental awareness are converging, and can be deeply experienced. As a stable partner for the long term, we are committed to supporting and enhancing this experience.

Published: 06/05/2025