A Visual System of Transferring Economic Value
Graphic Design: Senior Studio
Fall 2007
Project Aim
Although the initial premise of this project was to redesign banknotes for the US currency, it is open for the student's interpretation to include parts of any system that is used to transfer economic value. The purpose of this assignment is build upon the designer's ability to combine type with image within a complex system. This building process will be realized through a series of PhotoGraphic essays reflecting upon research completed as a group and as an individual. The project will utilize: existing knowledge of the comparative-analysis process in graphic design, the visual search of an idea and fulfilling the concept within the context of text, image or object based programs to achieve quality objects/letterforms.
The project begins with questioning the vernacular of transferring economic value. Research groups are formed to build knowledge and innovative momentum.
We discuss hypothetical systems of transferring monetary value. The students are then asked to select one of the systems discussed and then evolve themes that are vehicles of interest that allow the users of the system to appreciate knowledge or accomplishments. One component that the students are asked to incorporate is based on the visual research completed in the previous assignment. This research was a reductive processing of a visual grid that resulted in 6 distinct steps and a color voice.
Visual examples researched by the individual students will be linked below.
The following was the initial brief:
Learning Outcomes
To further understand the freedom and plastic qualities of the comparative-analysis design process.
Realizing the aesthetic conditions of a sequence of images.
Realizing a method to montage image and type:
free-form sketching,
PhotoShop, Illustrator and InDesign.
Ability to identify how: file size affects complex imaging and how to minimize complex clipping masks.
Project Problem
Develop three banknotes or three parts of a system that is used to transfer economic value. Consider all surfaces. The front, the back, the method of use. Think omni-directionally to express unique characteristics about the United States of America. These should be visual essays/statements, which relate to each other conceptually as well as visually.
Group One:
Robin Bundi, Kyle Hanna, Jonggill Lee, Mallori Stone
Print ticket currency:
This money would be created from regular printer paper. You would log into your bank account and then you could select to print a certain amount. Essentially it is like an atm except you get to stay in the comfort of your own home. The currency would be printed with a bar code that could be scanned at any establishment that would take credit cards. This money could be personalized like checks. If the total amount was not used on your receipt you could have a new barcode printed with the new amount or you could select to have cash in return. This has the possibility of saving on resources if you just decide to use the bar code money.
Micro Chips:
This currency would be a digital chip the size of a push-pin head. It would then be surgically placed in a person's wrist. The chip could then be registered to that individuals future bank accounts. This would prevent counterfeiting and no resources would be used because transactions would all take place electronically.
View final results here:
Group Two:
Laura Biel, Diane Call, Jodie Coyne, Abby Hanson, Jon Lee, Shelley Stansbery
Resource Backed Currency
This system closely follows the basis of our current monetary system. Instead of currency being backed by gold as it originally was, it will is backed by a renewable resource. In today's economy resources are more valuable and useful than gold has ever been. This system encourages conservation and offers more motivation for one to consider their actions and subsequent consequences. It provides people as a whole with the opportunity to have some level of control over how valuable their dollar is, as the more of a resource you conserve, the more valuable the dollar will become. To be most successful, resource backed currency would most likely have to be implemented at a global level.
View more final results here:
Group Three:
Michael Bosyj, Aaron Harden, Michelle Diaco, Josh Reith GD 353 10-1-07
Our vehicle is called the thumbprint card.
It will be produced on a high-impact polymer which will reduce the amount of cards a single user consumes in a lifetime.
Its most significant advantage is that it eliminates the pitfalls of relying on a signature to complete a monetary transaction. It is significantly more difficult to forge a thumbprint than it is to forge a signature.
By the same means as credit cards and debit cards save resources by taking paper money out of the equation, our card will save forests. It will also cut the amount receipt at the point of purchase in half by taking the carbon copy receipt for signatures out of the picture.
Name: Change Bill
Material: Synthetic base material with special property inks
Most Significant Advantage: The Change Bill will eliminate the need for coins. Every bill will have the ability to hold between 0 and 99 cents. The bill's value will change with each transaction, making coins unnecessary. It will be treated more valuably than pennies and nickels, which are often misplaced.
Does it save resources? Compared to the current system in the United States, the Change Bill will save highly on resources. The Change Bill’s synthetic base material can be comprised of recycled materials, and since coins will be obsolete, they can be returned to the government and recycled.
View even more final results here:
Group Four:
Visual Debit
Conservation Credit
Having the convenience of a debit card but the monetary knowledge of how much you are spending is what the Visual Debit Card gives its customers. Solving the problem of carrying around a pocket full of change and a wad of dollar bills this convenient card is not too far related to the already present debit/credit card. One of the main differences is that by creating a visual scale of your balance you as the consumer has a better chance of not overspending and knowing exactly how much money is present in your account. Cards will individually have a bar tracking system to advise consumers about their account balance and will also come with a case that when the card is inserted will give a digital balance of the amount and where the purchases took place along with total sum. This will save on resources by now allowing the consumer to be aware of one’s monetary balance at all times cutting down on ATM andbank paper print balances.
Carbon footprint; these two words are becoming the vernacular of many economically conscious people worldwide. With Conservation Credit one gets rewarded for having a smaller carbon footprint. By conserving Element X (petroleum, natural gas, water, coal (electricity) etc.) one gets reimbursed by the lack of admittance one puts into the air. Not only is the consumer paying less out of one’s pocket because they are using less of Element X but the government is also rewarding them. Using one card to track gas consumption and another to swipe the electric meter will let consumers know exactly how much they are conserving every month and how much compensation they are entitled to.This will save on any resources the government chooses to acknowledge with compensation and will be in a reusable plastic card form.
View several more final results here:
Process
Phase One:
Groups will expedite the research portion of this investigation.
Each group will identify a variety of systems in which to articulate the idea of currency. Consider the concerns against counterfeiting however do not dwell on it too much at this time.
Phase Two:
After identifying the vehicle, themes of approach should be proposed and discussed.
Such as: cultural activities, art, architecture, design, science landmarks, technology,
writers, poets, philosophers, pre-Columbian landmarks, natural landmarks,
historic events, athletics, travel, musicians, film stars, melting pot,
medical advancements, health, geographic, inventions, inventors, ethics,
state representation, military, multi-cultural coexistence, research,
transportation, leaders, astronomy, physics, theater, women, . . .
A carefully thought out set of themes should be presented with visual references.
This Wednesday the systems will be presented in full scale and materials/substrates, which are being suggested should be represented. Be inventive and practical. Even if you or others don’t select your group's proposals they should be part of your process binder.
Everyone is responsible for a theme and visual examples must be presented for the various links of the front to back as well as support visual data. i.e. Einstein and Mc2 + diagrams + the university or government body which supported him or architectural feats achieved the same year he presented his theory of relativity.
Each of you will then individually decide on the currency or the
vehicle
format based on all that are presented by the groups. Select the theme, which is most interesting to you and proceed to further research the theme of your choice.
The use of Images in Graphic Design means more than the simple incorporation of a photograph with typography. PhotoGraphics encompasses a wide range of technical information, as well as, a full understanding of visual aesthetics in Graphic Design. It is important to explore many facets of self-generating images, the technology and experimentation of combining aspects of Translation/Drawing, Photography/Digital Image Grabbing, and Typography.
Creative experimentation in image making, whatever method, is more than creating a single image. It advances to a true understanding of clear visual communication through the use of montage. The methods by which images are obtained must be appropriate whether it be a photogram, a contact negative of a photogram, self-composed studio photography, daylight photography, image grabbing in studio or outside, scans of photographs, a montage of textures or other methods and the combination of any of these.
PhotoGraphics includes the creative manipulation of images in a clear, sensitive manner. During this creative manipulation/montaging, the understanding of space, rhythm, form, line, texture, and quantity relationships must be incorporated into the composition. The working sizes should not exceed postcard (US currency) size. The most important reason for working postcard size is to realize the dynamics of simplicity. Immediate image/message registration to the mind requires simplistic and harmonic relationships. When working within simplicity the refinements will need to maintain fidelity and balance.
The series must consist of black and white composite montages, and type, within or outside the image area. Black and white image areas are highly suggested. Duotones are also possible. Color can replace black and can come into the compositions as spot color. Four color is discouraged at this point.
Phase Three:
Creating your images:
Collect five items/images having signification to your theme. These will be the only images permitted within the compositions. All parts can be used as innovatively as possible. One condition is requested; a rigorous sketching process must be maintained. A binder containing this process will be turned in at the end of quarter.
Selecting Copy/Text:
Identify the final words or brief statements that are significant to your theme THINK metaphorically.