Main Difference in Currency Design

The design of a currency plays a crucial role in its acceptance. If a nation's money looks too much like their opponents', they'll never win a battle for hearts and minds. Now, more than ever, countries are taking notice of the visual branding of their money and the importance it plays in forging a connection with their citizens. Here are some of the main differences in currency design around the world.

Looking at the design of money can be tricky, because you have to remove the information that makes it valuable. The best way to look at the design of currency is as art. You can't put a price on aesthetics, so the best way to evaluate the beauty of a coin or banknote is to look at it without any preconceived notions about how much it should be worth. Here are some of the elements that make up the artistry of a perfect, timeless design.

Color

The most essential element of any design is color. You can't have a design that doesn't have color in it, because it's the nature of humans to notice and remember things in color. Monochromes are extremely difficult to create because everything in the design has to be exactly the same, the difference in value is determined by the fact that some places value blue more than others. Even though this can vary by denomination, it still has to be exact because some printers are more experienced in certain colors than others. If you want to get the most out of your printing press, you have to order a certain number of each color in advance, so that you don't end up with any wasted sheets of paper at the end.

Line

A line can be many things. It can be the outline of the lettering or figures, the edge of an ornament, the edge of a design element, or any other thin band or bandage around the shape. A perfect line is very thin and almost imperceptible to the naked eye. A good line is simple but elegant and can be used to create a three-dimension appearance.

Shape

The shape of something can be described as its overall form or profile. It can be round, square, or pear-shaped, for example. If there is no clear definition of shape in your dictionary, then consider this the best definition you'll ever need: ‘shape' is used to describe the overall appearance and/or proportion of something. When you're talking about the shape of money, you're talking about its contour, which is basically all the elements described above in combination. A perfectly shaped object has all the right angles, is well proportioned, and appears to be a smooth and continuous surface from one end to the other. Take a close look—the difference is difficult to discern.

Texture

A good texture gives the appearance of a three-dimensional object. It can be hard to explain exactly what texture is, so let's define it as anything that affects the feel or the look of an object. There are many different kinds of textures, the ones most commonly found in nature are smooth, shiny surfaces. Think of a satin pillow or a silk scarf. These are examples of smooth textures. A well-executed texture can fool the eye and make an ordinary two-dimensional object feel three-dimensional. If you're using texture to denote value, then the higher the rating, the more texture there is. Think of a crumpled-up paper ball compared to a folded-paper ball, or a plastic-wrapped chocolate bar compared to a wrapped bar in foil, or a cloth compared to a plastic bag for the same product. The more layers there are, the more value there is. Think of your cell phone. You won't usually feel the need to peel off the wrapping to use it, but it is still made of layers upon layers of paper and plastic. In general, the more value there is, the more layers there are. Take a close look—the difference is difficult to discern.

Symbolism

Every culture has its traditions and its ways of expressing themselves through art and design. For the Chinese, symbolism is extremely important and everything has a meaning. It is not just the colors or the figures that one sees on a piece of artwork that evoke an emotional response in the viewer, but it is the hidden meanings and the spiritual associations that the artist might have intended to evoke. Since ancient times, the Chinese have used symbolism in their art and it has always held a special place in their culture.