OUGD406: License to Print Money - Initial Ideas

Initial Sketches

Drawing from the inspirational examples of currency I have looked at already, I started putting pencil to paper and experimented with various ways that I could layout my banknotes, with regards to the print process ofcourse..

These designs were very influenced by the structure of the notes I have found through researching. They do replicate usual note layouts in my opinion and do not offer anything different or new to currency design. They all clearly communicate space within the layout for the amount specified, written in number-form and letter-form and which note it is - play or work, but this will be clear through the use of colour aswell. I also want it to be clearly stated as a student currency so people can quickly identify this.
As I am bringing a completely new concept to Leeds - it being a community-based currency to enhance local retail and keep money in the local economy but also act as a student currency (almost a reward system to encourage work and then support play aswell) - I do want to bring something eye-catching and new to currency design, something to attract and engage with students and to encourage them to do their work to get better play and also to keep their money invested in their city.
This suggests to me how I want to produce and experiment with something more playful and eye-catching. Something with a nice, graphically considered layout which can be paired with this more playful approach..
As there will be WORK money & PLAY money they need to be the same layout style so they can be easily recognised as a pair, but they also need to communicate their contrast.. one being playful and encouraging fun, whilst the other is more serious and structured encouraging you to get the work done for a better reward.
I can highlight these contrasts through experimentation with type maybe? through colour definitely and through the patterns/imagery on the note reflecting serious or playful. I went round and asked my coursemates on their opinions of how to differentiate between work and play and this is what I have concluded to take forward..

PLAY - colourful, playful geometric shapes, linear, curvy, animated
WORK - similar layout but more structured, traditional perhaps?            rigid.