the concept.
Namaste! My name is Rukmini Dahanukar. I am an independent research scholar of banknotes from around the world. I am also the founder partner of my firm "Nirmiti", specialising in brand identity design. This site is the consequence of both these endeavours over the past two decades; best summarised in the words of famous dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh, "I dream my painting and I paint my dream."
Banknote.design
Circulating for more than 300 years now, banknotes bear witness to our everyday lives, our possessions, our stories and our memories- close to our hearts and deep in our pockets. Launched securely, loaded with innovative designs, hypnotising configurations and geometric lathe patterns, mesmerising tessellations or rather impossible to copy artworks; however; inspiring counterfeiters on the very next day, to rush to their drawing boards. Design- aesthetic and functional; integrated with security features and technology; has since the beginning not left the banknotes’ side. Hence, banknote and design!
The size- restricted, the medium- paper, recently polymer, two-dimensional and two sided- obverse and reverse, the method- printing, foiling and special security technologies; not much has changed over the past 300-odd years considering the influx and constant bombardment of innovations leaving most objects and practices obsolete or redundant! But not this medium of exchange. And that’s exactly what makes the banknote and its design so extraordinary and an even more interesting research study.
Designed exclusively, individually customised, artistically bespoke and yet for a wholesale, across-the-board, extensive exchange; to be used by all, anywhere, anyhow, anytime- makes banknote design; the most coveted of all possible design opportunities.
More importantly, each note, in its medium and its message integrates ‘zeitgeist’- the sign of the times; reflecting the promise of its currency.
the context.
Why design? I eat, breathe, sleep, dream design. Ever since I can remember- colour, arrangement, balance and composition; have always caught my eye. Sorting candies by colour while others gobbled them down, rearranging my bedroom furniture every few weeks, painting & pasting collages from magazines and old newspapers; occupied a fair amount of my growing up years. At 18, when I co-founded my brand design firm, "Nirmiti", I knew that I had found my calling. Since then, design- form and function, the cliché; have seized my mindspace in almost everything that I see, touch, feel, hear of and experience.
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Why the banknote? Isn't it all about money! But truly on another note; paper, inks, printing-offset or raised, foiling & plastic film technology- the entire spectrum of the print medium has fascinated and captivated my professional experience and practise. The ultimate illustration of branding in a global environment is the “banknote.” Could I have stumbled upon anything else!
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“The banknote is the most exchanged artwork in the world,” Professor Paul Martin Lester.
An outcome of our conversation at California State University, Fullerton, in the spring of 2004, culminated in my thesis “Money Talks-currency as communication media.” Since then I have presented at over a dozen conferences worldwide focussing on the graphic design and visual imagery of banknotes analysed through an interdisciplinary approach covering Visual Communications & Mass-Media, History & Anthropology, Politics & Nationalism, Identity, Gender & Cultural studies all amalgamated and analysed using Design & Branding curricula. For more visit www.moneytalks.design
This website is one more brick on that wall. However, this site is different.
It follows the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” It is less words and more images; all from my recently acquired personal stash!
Banknote.design is a commemoration, a tribute to nations, their central banks, the engravers, the artists, the designers, the historians, the note printers, the note consultants and all of us, everyday users; who have had a special and unique part to play in this ultimate artifact of popular culture communication!
the collection.
Not until recently, did I start collecting my own stash and in a really short time I feel that I have a sizeable, documentable and communicable collection to categorise and present thematically.
Of course, I’ve been warned that the pool of world banknotes is ever expanding. Collecting and acquiring could become an unstoppable, overwhelming and irresistible interest- but I’m up for that challenge! On the contrary, its been an eye-opener and an absolute delight to discover and showcase the wealth of nations without the usual economic spotlight, contribution or bias. What's more; its the world's first centurion collection!
To see the entire collection; click here>
Coming soon.
the confluence.
The confluence. The ultimate culmination, my “piece de resistance”- a book, the untold story of banknote design. A book that would make every reader across ages, gender, nations and interests; curious and fascinated with banknote artworks- all of it, everything but the obvious exchange value. Of course, that is money’s inherent attraction but this culmination will showcase, examine, probe and explore the banknotes that we see, feel and interact with each day and how their specifically designed images are consumed by us and end up consuming us; in a myriad of emblazoned experiences. Coming soon.
