Currency Project
Emphasize
I researched India, a nation known for its diverse culture and rich heritage as the subject for the currency design challenge. Through my research, I discovered two intriguing facts which are that it is the world's largest democracy and has made great contributions to mathematics and astronomy throughout history. In addition to my research, I sought a more personal connection by interviewing my roommate, who shared insights into their Indian heritage and experiences.
Interview
Q: Which city/town are you from?
A: Boston, Massachusetts but my mother is from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Q: What are some important landmarks?
A: The Taj Mahal comes to mind first. Maybe the Mysore Palace.
Q: What are some important symbols?
A: The official flower is the lotus, and the official animal is the tiger.
Q: What event is happening in India right now?
A: The Denali Festival
Q: What is the currency called?
A: Rupee
Q: Do you like the current design?
A: Yeah, I like it.
Q: If you could change anything, what would you do?
A: I would change the face to someone else because there’s more to India than Gandhi and the history of the British taking over.
Define
I will sketch ten ideas for the front and back using my findings from my research and interview for the new currency design of India. I used Photoshop to mask the images necessary and Illustrator for its effects like the texturizer and mosaic tiles.
Ideation
Each of the sketches on the currency notes share a connection between their fronts and backs. The first sketch has Rabindranath Tagore, the poet behind the "Banyan Tree" poem. His portrait is depicted against a tree with a background of crosshatched shades of blue resembling the sky, and musical notes on the right. On the back, Tagore's Nobel Prize is showcased, marking his distinction as the first non-European to receive this prestigious award. Moving on to the second sketch, it showcases the Mysore Palace, drawn in vibrant yellow and red hues of the tops, with flowers at its base. Orange and green squiggles evoke the sense of heat waves. The reverse side displays the golden throne which is housed within the palace. The third sketch has Indira Gandhi, India's first female prime minister. The lotus, India's national flower, is on the left, while the Indian flag is placed on the right. On the back, the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, is added for her contributions. The fourth sketch has Sarojini Naidu, a freedom fighter and poet. I drew a book with a famous quote, ink and quill below it, and her portrait to the right. The back features the symbol of the organization with which she was associated, but probably not a good idea to add since it raises political concerns. The final sketch highlights the India Gate, a war memorial with thousands of engraved names. Hints of yellow and blue on the front allude to the rising sun. To the right stands the national emblem, the Lion Capital of Ashoka. On the reverse side, the "Amar Jawan Jyoti," or the "Eternal Flame," memorializes soldiers of the First World War, located near the India Gate.
Prototype
In my currency prototype, I chose the third sketch of the first female prime minister which aligns with my roommate's want for a new face on the rupee note. To create the front design, I employed a pink gradient with a mosaic tile effect as the background. A floral lace pattern mainly occupies the left side in a pink gradient that transitions from a peachy hot pink at the top to a deeper pink at the bottom. I incorporated a masked image of the tiger, India's official animal, and Indira Gandhi, on whom I applied saturation and a texturizer effect. Additionally, I added a rectangular shape with a gradient in orange, because of the tiger's colors. I added engraved markings for the visually impaired which are on the original currency just above the orange gradient. To the left of the tiger’s front right paw is the bank seal. The finishing touches include a narrow, transparent pink gradient rectangle serving as a security thread, denominations, a serial number, and the bank's name, all in the Algerian font. The back of the currency note has a similar concept. However, the imagery now showcases lotus flowers in a lake with a plastic effect, and the Banyan tree from the first sketch, reinforcing the nature theme.
Feedback
I incorporated several critiques from my tablemates into my final currency design to make it more refined and cohesive. The feedback included the addition of another denomination, a border pattern, a constellation pattern, and a suggestion to turn the tiger pink. To address these recommendations, I introduced different denominations in various sizes, placing them on both the top right and bottom left of both the front and back of the currency. A border pattern with a sponge effect and the same pink gradient as the background was added. The constellation pattern, also utilizing the same gradient, was positioned below the tiger's tail on the front, near smaller dots that encircled the former orange background, which now transitions to a more prominent pink gradient with a dotted border. Furthermore, I adjusted the saturation of both Indira and the tiger, shifting them to a consistent shade of pink. I also applied drop shadows to various elements, enhancing depth and distinguishing between background, middle ground, and foreground. I replaced the initial lotus image with a better depiction of a lotus, positioning it to the right edge. In the center is the wheel, or "Dharmachakra," a significant symbol from the Indian flag, with a lowered opacity. The final image on the back is of the award. All the images share the same pink gradient and effects carried over from the front design. Above the serial number on the back, the constellation pattern is placed. Replacing the flower pattern is two ribbon patterns containing nested ribbons that decrease in size, resembling a fractal pattern. All the changes I made were to create a more visually appealing currency design.
Reflection
Overall, I applied a diverse amount of design elements and principles for my composition for the currency design challenge. I transitioned from employing simple textbox gradients to incorporating a range of meticulously thought-out patterns and effects. While my design was successful, the process itself was challenging. I didn’t follow a linear structure, leading to frequent last-minute changes. Nevertheless, I consider this project to be a culmination of my learning experiences, not only from this class but also from related courses in digital art, where I learned masking, and visual communication, which introduced me to design theories. If given the opportunity, I would gladly take the challenge of redesigning the currency of another country, by using the knowledge and skills I've acquired.