If they did this, i won’t be able to distinguish my money from my shampoo bottle.

seriously, how much money has to go into redesigning the dollar? didnt they do this twice in the last decade? improve the watermarks and put some holographs in it, but keep the vanity out please.

Of course, I like having the constitution on the bill, but I don’t think that will force the politicians to actually enforce it (considering the paper dollar is unconstitutional to begin with!)!!!

First, “Of course, one could argue that a snazzier dollar will attract currency speculators to invest here what they would have invested in the Euro, yuan or other currencies.”

And then, “No one can deny the worthiness of that goal.” If “no one” can deny it, then you are for it (you didn’t exclude yourself).

I, however, certainly deny the worthiness of the purpose of this project. As the governement prints more paper money without there being something of value to back it up (i.e. gold), it becomes less of a wise investment. Investors are not Retail Consumers–they are looking at the numbers (as you do mention briefly) not the attractiveness of the packaging. Even the most ugly design is going to make no difference to an Investor as to a currency’s investment soundness.

As a design critique, Richard Smith’s design is terrible since it communicates nothing about the value proposition of the country (we do not see the reverse in this image, so I reserve my full judgement). The United States was founded on some astounding values, and those people who helped found it are honored by having a place of prominence on our currency as well as tell the world who we hold up in honor. This design is abstract for abstract’s sake, and therefore falls short.

I disagree the Kyle R Thompson’s winning entry breathes fresh air into the dollar design. Besides removing all visual references to America and Americans (and thereby making the pillars of our country of no effect–replacing them with “though leaders” is offensive to the reason of founding this country), there is less style as the current dollar design. I thought I was looking at some European currency. There is nothing distictive here from a branding perspective which projects “America”.

What is so artisticly offensive about our currency design? Even the most recent modifications to the dollar have enhanced the qualities of artistry and patriotism. This need to make things of meaning into “cool” and “fresh” for the sake of doing it is clearly a thread which runs through all of our society. Things of value are being swept aside to be replaced with glitz and sizzle and no substance.

For more information on the astounding nature of our country, read “The 5,000 Year Leap”. http://www.amazon.com/5000-Year-Leap-Miracle-Changed/dp/0880801484/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258569799&sr=8-1

1) All bills regardless of denomination share the same size.
2) All bills regardless of denomination share the same color scheme.

Growing up in India, I was accustomed to having larger bills for larger values and different colors for every denomination. It makes the value of a note obvious even to a blind person or an illiterate person (a big reason for the color scheme in India probably). I think the complexity of a currency also makes it harder to forge. All in all “2 thumbs way up” for a dollar redesign.