jilli design 
Currency Design Project
project introduction
For this project, I was assigned to redesign an existing currency or design a brand new one for a location that doesn’t have one already. The location I chose to design a currency for was Disney World. Hypothetically, if this currency were used, it would be used within the Disney World parks. The idea was to have people exchange their real money for this currency for the same value to then be used throughout all parks. Also, if this project were extended, I would include more princesses for each numeric value. For example, you can exchange a 5-dollar bill for 5 Princess Points and so on. And what they had left could be converted back afterwards.
I had multiple ideas of an overall theme or how to represent Disney within my design. One of my ideas was to incorporate the parks in my design, such as Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom. Eventually, I decided to represent Disney through the Disney princesses. The princesses I chose to represent were Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle. I chose these three because they are the most iconic and well-known. They also have a cohesive primary color palette.
Ideation and process
To begin the project, we first had to decide what style we wanted our currency to take. After many style explorations using minimalist, retro, and post-modernism examples, I decided to move forward with the minimalist style. I felt more drawn to this direction because I had fun ideas for the graphics and the overall design of each bill. The minimalist style also felt more engaging and fluid rather than just images pasted together.
Details and Breakdown
Within the project requirements, we were not allowed to use the word “dollars” in our new currency’s name. My original idea was to call them “Disney Dollars,” but I re-routed into “Princess Points,” which was more fitting with the theme of the design anyway. We also had to include the name of the location of the currency, the “bank” it comes from, a serial number, a seal, a signature, a symbol, a form of counterfeit protection, and, of course, the value of the bill. With all of those requirements in mind, I have broken them down in the decor sheet I created to explain each one in detail. Each bill features one iconic princess as well as one cohesive color scheme. Additionally, for my final designs, each bill increases in height by 1/2 inch as the numeric value increases, for accessibility purposes. You can see this more clearly in the final image of each bill’s design side by side.
in-depth decor sheet
This decor sheet lays out and explains every element of the bill and the intention behind them. The elements on each bill have the same meaning and purpose, but a different look.
symbol
The symbol for each banknote is located in the top left corner and is a meaningful item to each princess (Cinderella has her glass slipper, Aurora has the spinning wheel, and Belle has her rose). The color of the symbol also corresponds to the color of the princess.
location
The Disney Parks logo and tagline represent the location on the front of each banknote, and are embedded in the color of each different princess’s theme. The logo is slightly transparent to make it more subtle.
counterfeit use
For the counterfeit protection feature, I decided to include a cutout of the Disney icon himself, Mickey Mouse. This would be placed in the same location on each banknote. The symbol of each bill would also be raised as an extra anti-counterfeit feature.
serial number
The history of each princess inspires the serial number on each bank note. It includes the date that each movie was first released, as well as the order in which each princess was first introduced to Disney. For example, Aurora’s move was released on January 29, 1959, and she was the third Disney princess.
numeric value
The numeric value of each bill is located in the lower left corner on the front and the upper right corner on the back. The number is also repeated on the back of each bill to create a pattern and add some dimension. The numeric value is also written on the front and back as well.
famous quote
Each banknote also includes a famous quote from the featured princess below the bank line. These quotes are significant to the princess and the stories or lessons they share with us.
name of bank
Another important element that needed to be included in this currency design was the name of the bank. Obviously, the Bank of Disney does not actually exist, but that is the name I decided to use for my design.
signature
To make this currency official for use, it needed to include a signature. And of course, I included the signature of the founder himself, Walt Disney. Although his signature was a little difficult to track down.
seal
For official use, this currency also needed a consistent seal of approval across the system. That being said, I once again used the iconic Mickey head as a recognizable and universal symbol of Disney.
Final Product
reflections and learnings
This project taught me how to work within strict restraints and how to prioritize parts of design I hadn’t thought of before, such as accessibility and counterfeit protection. I was also able to use both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, which allowed me to elevate my skills in both programs and take this design to the next level. I also had a lot of fun getting to work with a location that I love deeply, which made the project fun and extra special. Overall, I am very proud of this project, considering I designed it as a freshman, and it is still one of my favorite things I have done.