REBRAND, REBUILD, REVIVE …
It seems so obvious to us that the ‘only’ realistic way for a swift economic recovery is through a thorough, in-depth, rebranding scheme – starting with the redesign of the iconic US Dollar – it’s the ‘only’ pragmatic way to add some realistic stimulation into our lives! Therefore, you must take part and we really want to see what YOU would do.
WHY TAKE PART?
The American Dollar has not truly been redesigned since about the 1930s. The Dollar ReDe$ign Project is your opportunity to theoretically ‘change’ that. Yes, technically there are many limitations and complications when it comes to bank note design, but if the Swiss can do it on a regular basis, why can’t we North Americans too. Besides our great ‘rival’, the Euro, looks so spanky in comparison it seems the only clear way to revive this global recession is to rebrand and redesign. Why not ? It seems to work for everyone else …
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Brief: simply redesign the US Dollar bill in any way you think appropriate and submit to us for review. We’ll then post the ones we like online.
Guidelines: clearly this is a hypothetical project so have some fun with it, don’t get bogged down in the rights and wrongs of currency design.
Technical Stuff: all submissions should be jpgs, 72dpi, 600px wide, please.
Where to Submit: email your ideas to info@dollarredesign.com
Rules and Regulations: there are none, other than we have the right to veto any work submitted. All copyright remains the property of those submitting their proposals, ie the ‘author’, and all proposals are submitted at the author’s own risk of being called up by the Feds or being wire tapped. All work must also belong to you, the author.
Legal: NONE of the work submitted can be used as legal tender. Anyone who tries will be sent to Coventry.
READ MORE
Visit the Dollar ReDe$ign Blog to learn more about this project, view recent submissions, and see the July 4th Competition winners. You can also follow the Dollar ReDe$ign Project on Twitter or join the Facebook Group.
The Daily Blend 
Your site was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.
I’m Out! 🙂
funny ))))
Give our Beloved Leader a couple more years, and He will remake the dollar to the point that no one will be able to recognize it. It’ll be up there with the boliviano, Zimbabwean dollar and kyat.
UGLY!!
How about this analogy: people don’t believe in god any more do to pandemics, food shortages and faith crisis. The fact that the priest is an atheist is not helping. Lets repaint the church – that should help!
yea, right.
Looks like payphone cards
Sir, first at all I’d like to tell you SORRY for these dirty words of stupid russian guys that also doesn’t know how to write the name of there hero: Svyatogor.
For the second, Sorry for my bad english.
I think that the design of the dollar of today is a good and it needs only to add some color. What is USA for not americans? It’s a dollar, gamburger and a cola. The dollar of today represents america of today. I don’t think tha you need to translate the phrase “ex pluribus unum” (from multiple to one) to english. You need to teach american children the latin language and the history of the world more depthly in your schools like in Europe…
So, Imho, the dollar needs some color and that’s it.
Thank you.
I believe it can be a good idea if addressed correctly, as the whole image of America is so muc damaged that it will be practically impossible to restore it, it will be better to rebuitd it over
What should be re-design is not the way the American Dollar should looks, but the way we use it.
Changing the design of the dollar won’t change the economical problem we have – it’s really us the problem. We should re-design ourselves, re-design our way of living…. re-design the capitalism system we live in.
One thing we need to do first is make the different denominations each a different size – take a page from almost every other currency. This would help in a lot of ways: forgery protection, people with limited vision, and more.
Dear, I not going with you to talk profusely, on a theme the Future dollar, at the dollar of the future it simply is not. Russia Gets up from knees, All dear Rouble goes out on an arena, my task as Magician defence of Motherland, so I work because Lord orders. I Lift Russia from Knees. Nachikhat’ me on the USA. And on a dollar the more so.
Include braille. Also, the material should be bactericidal.
The constitution and major amendments should DEFINITELY be inscribed on these items. Any upgrade needs to be technologically compatible with counting and testing: make that metallic strip subject to electronic “query.”
We are two architects from Palermo, Italy. We would like to partecipate to the request for re design of dollars with Richard Smith. How can we do? We have also missed an e- mail to you. We are waiting for an answer
just email your ideas to me – as many as you wish – 600px wide, 72dpi
thanks for your interest
I don’t know if the Euro is such a poster child of modern design. I always kind of liked the Dutch bank notes designed by Jaap Drupsteen: http://www.drupsteen.nl/Bank%20Notes/banknotes.html before they were replaced with the more traditional looking Euro.
Sounds like a fun project. I might partake in it. 🙂
As to whether the American dollar truly DOES need a redesign… well, I respectfully disagree. (And actually, American paper currency has gone through a few revisions in the last decade or two… they’re just not glaringly technicolor obvious is all… with the singular exception of the $1 bill). In any case I have a deep respect for those who designed our currency. There is a LOT of painstaking work that goes into it, and there is also a lot of deep thought and symbolism in the designs aside from “ooh, this looks cool”.
Getting off the soapbox, though, I still think it sounds like a fun theoretical project and a great design challenge. 🙂
What for to us your Dollar, I shall dump it from a pedestal here will see. There will be a Rouble and only Rouble. You live in fear, therefore are afraid of us and revenge us, but for what? Give aspires to live in Spirit Sacred!!! Светогор
We could start using hard assets for money again instead of fiat. How’s that for a redesign? It’s inevitable. Gold, silver, platinum, palladium, etc.
I hope to see some solutions that would make our currency usable to blind and visually impaired people. It would be great to include tactile elements so that those who cannot see can still use the money without the assistance of others.
I like the effort to “reimagine america” but no offense these look like itunes gift certificates.
You want to rebuild the country and revive the economy?
Then you should REMOVE “Federal Reserve Note” from the dollar and put “United States Department of the Treasury Bill” on it.
I’ll make a series with Chuck Norris on all of them. And on the back, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, and other icons.
look forward to seeing them Scott, thanks
Why not set up a flickr group/pool for people to upload their ideas to?
Cole
Thanks for the suggestion Cole, however there is a submission process
The project is also posted in several places including: Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, Posterous, and Blogspot
I’m all for a better design. The only issue I have is with branding. By not changing the design of money all the time, that says something too about the currency. It says stability and value. Take Honda/BMW vs. domestic car companies. Domestic car manufacturers have for years redesigned, chasing trends and recreated their product lines. What has Honda done? They have kept their Accord as a main stay in their product line. The design has changed slightly, but no drastic changes that would devalue the older cars. It has kept the value of the brand in tact and maintained resale value. Brands are a very fragile and must be cultivated over time.
is there a timeline?
Deadline is July 4, 2009.
What’s the prize?
A ltd edition t-shirt designed by Richard Smith.