The topic of “Designing Experience” for banknotes is becoming increasingly important for G+D - why is that?

Bernd Kümmerle: The requirements placed on banknotes are constantly changing, as are the expectations placed on them. In a rapidly changing world, we cannot and do not react to individual trends alone. We keep an eye on the big picture. I like to call this: "Seeing the forest, not just the trees." As the market leader in cash technology, we are responsible for innovative solutions, clear direction, and trust. We don't just serve the market, we actively shape it. We achieve this through innovation, clear strategies, and design.


What are the changing expectations?

Our partners expect more than just products; they demand a long-term vision. Where is cash heading? What role does design play in an increasingly digital world? How is trust developing? Our slogan, "Creating Confidence," explains our approach: we help our customers convey confidence, provide orientation, and pave the way through state-of-the-art technology and design.

Bernd Kümmerle, Managing Director Banknote Solutions at G+D Currency Technology

»Banknote design is a process of mutual adaptation and close collaboration«

How does the design process shape this path?

Always through an intensive dialog on fundamental questions such as: What values should be conveyed? Which cultural symbols are important? What security requirements must be met? For us, every banknote and the experience with it is unique because it is not just a means of payment, but also a symbol of national identity. To this end, we are radically breaking away from the standardized approach - design development, feature integration and presentation of the finished solution. Our process is now far more iterative and participative. In concrete terms, this means: We start with concepts that are strongly oriented towards the cultural identity of the respective country. Our goal is not just to design a functional banknote, but one that feels familiar and authentic to the people in the country. There is no universal style that works for all countries. Banknote design is a process of mutual adaptation and close collaboration.
 

Sounds challenging.

It is, especially when it comes to fine-tuning. A design sometimes goes through up to 50 iterations before everyone involved is satisfied. The reason for this is that a banknote not only has to look good, but it also must function perfectly, both technically and emotionally. Let me give you an example: metallic effects on banknotes, such as foils, security threads or special inks, are strongly linked to emotions: The shine of metal is linked to value, a reflex rooted in our subconscious. Some behavioral researchers claim this is linked to our association with water, which was essential for survival in our evolutionary history. We take these fundamental psychological factors into account along with technological aspects. The experience with the individual banknote is never the result of a one-dimensional process, but an intertwining of tradition, modern technology and cultural expectations.


... in other words, a combination of duty and pleasure. How does G+D achieve the necessary balance between functionality and aesthetics?

First, a banknote has to work, it has to be secure, durable and machine-readable. That is the duty, the basic requirement that our customers place on us. After all, central banks are the “guardians and preservers of monetary security”, and for good reason: cash is a trusted commodity, and any disruption to the cash infrastructure can have serious economic consequences. The freestyle is the aesthetic experience, the visualization of a country's cultural identity. To do this, we work out what people in a country associate with their money and translate this into a visual language. This is often a balancing act: how much innovation can a banknote tolerate without losing its familiar appearance? For each project, we weigh up exactly where the boundaries lie between modern design, culture and the highest possible level of security.

»It’s our job to understand cultural nuances and translate them into customized design experiences«

Presumably, these borders are rarely linear but must always be adapted to the specific needs of a country.

That's right. Take the banknotes of Oman, for example. Windows play a key role in the country's traditional architecture and craftsmanship. We integrated a window as a security element into the banknote – as a functional design element that combines security and tradition. This creates a bridge between state-of-the-art security technology and cultural roots. Our job is to understand these cultural nuances and translate them into customized design experiences. The banknotes of the Central Bank of Kazakhstan are another prime example of innovative banknote design, combining national symbolism and noble-looking metallic security elements with abstract design elements to create a unique visual language. The key to success here was the close collaboration between the local designer and our specialists.


How do you involve customers in this development process?

Through the “Total Customer Experience” approach. Every customer is an active part of the design process, can contribute their ideas, help shape sketches and naturally has a say. This ranges from the creative phase with sketches and concept ideas to gradual refinement to secure design decisions, right through to iterative coordination before the final design goes into production. This is the essence of “Designing Experience”: creating a banknote that is not only technically perfect but also feels authentic and tangible for the respective country.


What role do modern technologies play in the “banknote experience”?

Technology was, is and always will be the key to counterfeit protection and therefore also to the further development of banknote design. Here too, our motivation is to strike the best possible balance between design and counterfeit protection. No matter how innovative a security feature may be, if it is not visually convincing and fits seamlessly into the design, it loses its impact.

»We are at a turning point where innovation, safety and environmental awareness can be experienced emotionally«

Another question is: how to make a banknote more sustainable without compromising on security?

Yes, and sustainability is no longer an optional extra, but a necessary condition of banknote development. Our customers increasingly have to deal with issues such as carbon footprint, “repurposability” and material efficiency. This is exactly where our solutions come in: With cotton from sustainable cultivation to conserve natural resources. By reducing water and energy consumption in production, particularly in paper manufacturing. With hybrid banknotes that stay in circulation longer and therefore need to be replaced less often. We are therefore at a turning point where innovation, security and environmental awareness are coming together and becoming an emotional experience.


So, sustainability is not just a technical issue, but also an emotional one?

Absolutely. Sustainability must be woven into the very fabric of the banknote experience, impacting both central banks and end users. Some countries are only now grappling with the issue of sustainability and initially seemed skeptical. Our strategy is to lead and initiate. We demonstrate how banknotes can be made more secure, future-proof, sustainable, functional, and adaptable to regulatory requirements. Sustainability is about more than environmental aspects. It's also about social and economic resilience, making it a comprehensive concept. After visiting our print shop in Malaysia, which we are transforming into a "green site" with solar panels on every roof, fish and vegetable farming on the factory premises, and our own sustainable restaurant, we received feedback from customers like: "Sustainability is much more than a technical requirement — it's the big picture." This underscores the pivotal moment where innovation, design, safety, and environmental awareness are converging and can be deeply experienced. As a stable, long-term oriented partner, we are committed to supporting and enhancing this experience.