African Franc Design Boards

Licence to Print Money In an age of Apple Pay, Bitcon, contactless, Paypal and other options for the transferring of funds, is there a future for ‘real’ money?

The work had to be printed in one of the analogue print methods in the college and the printed outcomes had to fit into the 21cm by 26cm constraints.

The work would be submitted for an exhibition so the outcome had to be of a really high standard.

This initially meant for a lot of limitations in my designs, the non digital format mean I had to think about how my design ideas would translate into a printed process.

I began this project by conducting a very large range of research both primary and secondary, looking at the online proposed redesigns for currency in the US, artworks that use the theme of currency in there pieces, the primary research of the ‘Show me the money’ exhibition at the Peoples history museum in Manchester, interviews on Creative Review of Ootje Oxenaar’s designs for the Dutch Guilder and a number of examples of money from around the world.

After compiling all this research I felt confident I was ready to create some design ideas for this brief.

Creating twenty one initial design ideas meant I left no stone unturned

in terms of my design ideas and really pushed myself to create as many as possible. After pitching my ideas to my class mates in a critique the idea that stood out as the most popular and intriguing was the currency of Africa idea was is due to it being very individual and having so many possible avenues to explore the designs could reflect Africa’s heritage or be more of a modern take of what the bank note may look like.

This sketch shows my original idea and the rational behind it.

A bank note of Africa. Combining all fifty four countries in Africa in a one universal currency. As Africa has such a large variety of cultures, landscapes, buildings and wildlife there is so much possible content. Being the second largest continent in the world the idea would probably not work in real life, but for this project could be an different and interesting idea with a lot of possible outcomes.

I then decided to research more specifically into African currency this would give me an overview of what it is that makes it indvidual and how I could translate this into my designs.

Each of these bank note designs are from one of the 54 countries in African.

Looking for recognisable symbols and imagery to use, different distinctive styles that define a section of countries, the commonly used terminology for example pounds, francs and dollars, the general size of each note, common uses of colour and choices of type, numbering systems and any thing that stands out different in African money compared to the rest of the world.

Identifying these features put me in good stead to start creating some preliminary sketches on the idea.

This note represents a number of countries in central africa there is a emphasis on the bank note not being too specific and feeling looking typically African. The use of a map with small detailed pictogram makes the design feel more personal. The boarder used typically African colours and patterns that work in contrast to the bold illustrations. An African elephant is a large feature that is iconic for the region. This notes design is unmistakably African and was an

excellent starting point in my research that I can refer back to for colours, patterns and the composition.

African wildlife is something distinctive of Africa and no where on Earth has such a range of iconic animals. These designs for Congo instead of political figures feature famous animals. It makes for a more interesting design that breaks from the normalities of bank note design. As it is such a key part of African culture I knew I would be approptiate to use animals in my designs as both a main feature and a smaller detail. It is what comes to mind first and would be most recognisable. The animals lend themselves nicely to illustrations, all being so different in size, shape and colour this had to be represnted in my designs.

This Namibian currency once again features animals but in a more modern design. The large amount of space used places all the emphasis on the imagery. tThe colours of green and purple really contrast each other and have a interesting two tone feel to them. This technigue would lend itself to screen printing due to the vibrancy of colour.

These designs for the Sudanese Pound are some of my favourite of any of the Africa's currency. There are so many eye catching elements. The cross cultural feel of the designs is something I have not before seen work to such a great level. The information is clear but expressed in a a variety of languages and styles and was something I felt I would need to implement in my designs. The use of both traditional imagery of animals, landscapes and patterns is put together alongside more modern designs, including new technologies architecture and contempary culture. The colour combinations all seem to compliment each other yet remain visible, every bank note uses a dominant colour for the most important information like the text and numebrs and this system is carried on throughout all the designs.

The colour for the illustrations and patterns is not as bright and create a hierarchy of information. This was a technique I tried to implement into my own designs, if I chose to screen print I will only be able to use a limited amount of colours and this hiarchy is something to concider. The images and text remain in the same place on each note to emphasis clarity and readability throughout. A gridded system is seen in all the designs but some illustrations seem to expand out of this, this brings them to life and connects the different sections of the design, again I wanted to expriment with this in my own designs.

Considering the name for the currency like African Pound or African dollar I have decided to use African Franc.

I counted each of the names used in each African country Franc was used seventeen times almost half of them used the Franc. Pound second with three countries.

After researching current and past currency of Africa I began sketches of my own ideas. Creating a large range of ideas will further my thinking on the theme and would always open up possible avenues in a project that don't come to mind at first. Looking at using a combination of a few of these ideas, as bank notes are usually highly detailed for security reasons they should include a number of design features.

After creating eighteen different designs I have highlighted these four as they would best represent my research and development. Combining these ideas would make for an interesting and detail response that I could begin refining ideas.

Idea 3. Using some of the old design features of African currency for Congo and Djibouti. Try and replicate the intricate type and hand drawn imagery.

The focus on the wildlife of Africa, being so recognisable and a icon of Africa. Using illustrations from these old notes in my own sketches.

Idea 5. Using all the 54 countries names in Africa. Due to the large amount of countries that make up Africa there is an opportunity to use the names in an interesting arrangement of type. This idea would have lent itself to creation using letterpress but with the time constraints would be differcult. This is another of the ideas that I knew would work with more ideas alongside it.

Idea 6. Using textures patterns typically seen in Africa. Being know for its fabric design there are so many examples of beautifully detail and graphic textiles and pattern designs seen across Africa.

This idea implements this pattern across the whole bank note design as the focal point, the type would then be places onto of this. This is another design that I adapted to use alongside other designs.

Idea 14. Negative space of African map.

Show above in the Burundi currency using the surrounding space as flat colour make the designs really stand out. This is something I could use as well as another idea and would not be too over powering.

different African countries, again to emphasis the currency representing the whole continent.

I have additionally included some design features from my initial sketches, the African animals is something distinctive of African culture and art so felt very appropriate.

As well as this I have included the examples of African monuments and architecture. Using some African plants and and masks as smaller illustrations This loose sketch helped me when creating a digital version for screen printing.

Combining some of my African bank note sketches I created a more refined design, In my research on African Currency using a symmetrical layout with two large numbers on the left and right hand side is a design feature seen many times, I have subsequently replicated in my design above. On the opposite side of the note the layout is not symmetrical the numbers are placed top right and bottom left, this is a feature of the Dutch Guilder bank note designs and adds to readability with the note. Placing the map of Africa large twice on both sides of the note will emphasis the currency being for all of Africa. The boarder around the first note would be all the names of the

The layout of information and images is based on the Dutch Guilder this series of notes is regarded as one of the most beautifully designed currency in recent years, as this currency is no longer in use due to the Euro it will be interesting to reinvent the design in my African theme.

As this brief requires the note to be printed in an analogue print process I have sketch the design using four colours this helped me to transfer my designs for screen printing. This is just a quick sketch but will help me in the future in deciding which colour to use for each part of the note.

I choose screen printing as a process due to the high level of detail that can be printed, the fact its easy to create a lot outcomes would help when picking one final note and the variation of colours that could be printed.

My initial designs I looked to replicate the general grid and layout of the Dutch Guilder’s 25 pound note. The number stood out to me as it used two very distinct characters 2 and 5 this would stand out from the typical 10 and 100 notes seen in my research. The grid system is extremely clear and allows for readable numbers as well as lots of space for illustrations, type and other imagery. The relationship between each part of the design is clear and consistent and creates a beautiful hierarchy of information.

I have typeset each of the 54 African countries in a rectangle alignment. This was very difficult to get the spacing right and with the limitations of type size for screen printing being around 10 to 8 pt I needed to keep the type as large as possible to remain readable.

Tracing and image of the map of Africa and applying this to the bank note gave me a detailed shape that I could edit freely, leaving this shape in white and adding a back background gives the note more depth and is a design feature I picked up from the Burundi currency designs shown on the right, this cut out made the designs really distinct and recognisable, additionally I could experimenting with different coloured stocks to change this negative space. The designs basic grid being influenced by the Dutch Guilder, I felt the rest of the design should reflect a more African style.

The type for the numbers needed to be clear. Looking at using an outline typeface allows for a variety numbers that work together, the triple lined feature was an element of the design that looked modern and was an interesting change, and something I didn't see in research.

On top of this I have additionally used the typeface Snell Roundhand for a small detail under the numbers with 'Twenty Five African Francs' as this is typically seen in bank note design, this adds an old fashioned feel the note an connected the note to the old bank notes of Africa. This works in contrast with the large type on one side of the note in very clear and easy to read type. This adds an additional level of clarity to what value the note featured and communicated to the viewer straight away that the design represents all of Africa.

For the large rectangular space on the opposite side of the note I took illustrations seen on various bank notes in my research and created these negative space illustrations, the design had to be very clear what animals they were, detailed and striking, these animals would make up the main imagery for this print for the had to look good. Taking examples from a very large range of notes from different places meant the designs represented as many countries as possible. Tracing directly from these images meant the designs accurately showed this, using the negative space for the details of each animal and extending the shadows added a extra bit of needed detail to really bring the animals to life.

I additionally used this pattern taken from the old Central African Republic bank note including traditional African patterns will only emphasis the African theme and make the note even more distinctive of Africa. I experimented with the width of the pattern to really make it stand out and would work when screen printed.

Additionally the for the note I have included a security code of AF 3492380 this extra use of type fills the space and adds more subtle detail, again using a more classical type adds to the subtle details that reflect older currency designs.

As well as this I used another more subtle colour for a back ground image of 25 in large type, this would be a part of the second colour separation when screen printing to emphasis the note representing 25 African Francs.

I then looked at colour combinations for the different screens for screen printing, as I could only use a limited number of colours I needed to identify what parts should be more and less dominate. Finding a appropriate hierarchy of information is key in the communication of currency design. Using yellow and green felt appropriate, this is comes from my research into flags of Africa, the colours that seemed to be used most frequently were yellow, red and green as shown in these images of the flags above.

The use of a Star is seen throughout these flags and I felt this would be simple design feature that again adds to the subtle detail of the note but not becoming to complex and busy.

Overall the I feel the digital designs had a interesting modern feel to them but appropriately represented what an African currency might look like.

Moving forward I saved my files ready to screen print, selecting what would be included on each page of the screen was very important for how the print would come out so I decided to use the smaller details on one screen and the other screen as more of a background.

When printing I knew that print finish and quality was key in making a successful outcome to insure this I ordered some samples to print on from G.F Smith. The paper being slightly off white to gave the designs more of a textured feel, the more creamy coloured paper on the right is labelled as ivory coloured this connects again to the African theme, I didn’t want to highlight this too much as ivory trade is something very negative associated Africa and using it may seem inappropriate.

When printed I bought some more paper stock, using a coloured stock would give me an extra colour and add another level of detail to my designs.

These images show the range of paper stocks I have used. The coloured stocks however didn't seem to work as well, the images were lost and the background colour was far too dark.

When printing initially I used the green as the background after the prints came out this was not as clear as I wanted. I reversed the design and used the yellow as the back ground as green as the foreground and details this meant for a much clearer print and was something I didn’t consider until I actually started printing.

These images show my finalised prints, printing a massive range of prints insured the quality was as clear, the two screens were in line and accurate printed as possible. I found though some of the more textured designs better reflected the African theme, the designs being a bit ruff around the edges and not printed perfectly seemed to look appropriate and was not at all a bad thing.

Printing both of my colours for each screen gave me some interesting variations of each, the print with the yellow back grounds with the green on top for me are much clearer and can be read much easier.

Creating a range of different prints insures I have left no stone unturned and my designs best represent how much effort and research I have put into this project. In terms of which I feel works the best I think the variety is key, possibility using one side of the note in one stock and a completely different stock for the other. This would show the diversity of Africa and represent both the old and new, when I submitted my designs I included a range of prints as I was yet to chose which print was the more appropriate.

Overall I am pleased with both the print quality and communication of my designs and feel they would be an interesting part of the exhibition.

In this project what I feel has lead to in depth and interesting content is the level of research I did before any making. Finding a range of sources from many different places meant my understanding of what a bank note

looked like was much more refined.

Then creating a very large range of ideas from this further research meant through feedback and reflection I could identify an idea with a lot of possible outcomes and engaging content.

My design decisions have all stemmed from my research and all reflect my overall theme of African currency, I found in this project my application of time was much more considered printing my note early meant I could concentrate on other briefs and not have issues with re-printing if I made any mistakes.

Experimentation of paper stock is something I really pushed in my design to find which would be most appropriate for my designs.

If I was to change anything in this project I would have looked at using some additional processes like mono print or letterpress. This would add another level of detail to my final outcome. As well as this I feel my final prints could have featured some more hand drawn designs, as my design ideas were all drawn this could have been reflected in my final outcome.

All in all this project has really pushed my practice and encouraged me to be always look for further research and design ideas. I feel my outcomes full reflect the time and effort I have put into this brief. I have really enjoyed looking into the design of currency and my appreciation of how currency is designs has definitely improved.