So let me get this straight. The UK in a cost-of-living disaster, the NHS is creaking on the seams, and the Financial institution of England has determined that what Britain actually wants is a public session on whether or not our banknotes ought to function “nature” or “innovation” themes.
As a result of clearly, whenever you’re selecting between heating and consuming, your major concern is whether or not there is a good image of a daffodil in your fiver.
What am I speaking about? Effectively, the Financial institution of England has launched a public session on the subsequent collection of banknotes, inviting us all to assist select between six themes: notable historic figures; nature; structure and landmarks; arts, tradition and sport; noteworthy milestones; or innovation. Although we all know the very best rebrands may be invigorating, this isn’t one among them.
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(Picture credit score: Financial institution of England)
They need us to consider that is democracy in motion, that our voices matter in shaping the way forward for British foreign money. However to my thoughts, it feels extra like they’re asking us to rubber-stamp an costly vainness venture, while pretending we’ve a say within the matter.
This isn’t, I ought to add, a part of the method of changing the late Queen’s head with that of the King; that already occurred a 12 months in the past. It is a additional redesign that does not appear to have any apparent cause driving it.
Nor has the Financial institution of England put it out to tender to design companies, to get the freshest concepts and the very best all-round worth. As a substitute, all of it appears to be occurring, once more for no apparent cause, in-house.
Safety theatre
The Financial institution’s professed justification for this newest redesign is safety, claiming they should “incorporate the most recent anti-counterfeiting expertise.” This sounds terribly necessary till you realise that the standard American one-dollar invoice hasn’t been redesigned since 1963.
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That is proper: for over 60 years, the world’s most generally used foreign money has stayed basically unchanged. And in some way the US economic system hasn’t collapsed underneath the burden of subtle counterfeiters armed with photocopiers.
If the Individuals can handle completely effectively with George Washington’s decades-old portrait staring again at them, why do we have to spend thousands and thousands redesigning notes that, by the Financial institution’s personal admission, aren’t being counterfeited in important numbers? All of it appears like “safety theatre” of the best order.
Human value
Whereas the Financial institution pays lip service to accessibility, speaking concerning the “massive font and tactile options” of the brand new notes, they’re ignoring the true influence of on the individuals who depend on money most – and all of the accessible fonts on this planet will not assist.
(Picture credit score: Financial institution of England)
Let’s be trustworthy: each time banknotes change, aged individuals who’ve spent a long time recognising foreign money by really feel and familiarity are pressured to relearn every little thing. The identical goes for individuals with visible impairments, who develop subtle strategies for figuring out notes that turn out to be nugatory in a single day when designs change.
And the timing could not be worse. Simply as we’re asking households to tighten their belts, the “complicated and detailed multi-year course of” the Financial institution describes does not come low cost. Design charges, printing prices, public session bills, advertising campaigns – all of it provides up. And for what? So we will have a pleasant image of Stonehenge as a substitute of Jane Austen?
(Picture credit score: Financial institution of England)
In the meantime, the Financial institution’s personal analysis exhibits that money utilization has declined dramatically over the previous decade. If fewer persons are utilizing banknotes, why are we spending more cash making them prettier? It is like investing in a brand new sound system to your native Blockbuster.
Democratic fig leaf
Name me a cynic, however the session itself appears like a masterclass in managed democracy. The Financial institution has graciously allowed us to decide on between six pre-approved themes, all of which sound like they had been focus-grouped to dying. “Notable historic figures” – groundbreaking. “Nature” – revolutionary. “Innovation” – how very 2025 of them.
What they will not allow us to select is a seventh choice: preserve the bloody issues as they’re. That is not on the shape, as a result of it will be the overwhelmingly in style alternative and would quite defeat the purpose of the train.
(Picture credit score: Financial institution of England)
None of this feels pure to me. As a daily contributor to Artistic Bloq, I am usually the one sticking up for the federal government’s proper to spend a bit of money redesigning stuff (see, for instance, my article Everybody relax, designers did not receives a commission half one million to maneuver a dot). However on this case, I discover myself uncomfortably on the facet of the naysayers.
As a result of so far as I see it, the present notes work completely effectively. They’re safe, recognisable, and folks know easy methods to use them. In a world stuffed with real issues requiring pressing consideration and scarce sources, redesigning purposeful foreign money is the definition of a luxurious we won’t afford.
And sure, I do know it is too late to cease any of this. However subsequent time they get the urge, I would love the Financial institution to think about the chance that the notes are positive as they’re. Typically, the very best innovation is understanding when to depart effectively sufficient alone.
To do higher, see these recommendations on model technique.
