US Currency Redesign

Adobe Design Suite | Good ol' Pen and Paper | Hours of Research

Goal: By comparison, the United States "greenback" has been swiftly outclassed by modern currencies in regard to security, functionality, and accessibility. Redesign the US currency based on these functionalities.

The goal of this project was to reimagine U.S. currency in response to the limitations of the current “greenback,” a system that has remained largely unchanged for decades and no longer reflects modern standards of security, usability, or accessibility. My redesign proposes a future-focused currency system where each bill is assigned to a branch of the U.S. military, creating a cohesive visual structure rooted in national heritage and service.

To address security concerns, I introduced layered verification features inspired by international banknote design, including micro-engraving, holographic seals, and modular patterns that shift under light. For usability, I applied a color-coding system that allows quick denomination recognition, especially in fast-paced or low-visibility environments. A major emphasis was accessibility: I incorporated braille embossing, an essential feature still missing from U.S. currency, to ensure that visually impaired users can navigate the system independently.

Each bill has a pair: the $1, $10, and $100 represent foreign defence, the $2 and $20 are air and space, and finally the $5 and $50 are homeland security.

With this project, it was essential to identify security systems to ensure the bills were protected from efforts to counterfeit. I implimented tactics currently utilized by the current bills and added additional layers to protect the bills further.

Can you guess what was added? Grab the slider to see the advanced systems within this redesign.