Mr Mittelstaedt, the line “Experience Design That Works” sounds intriguing. What does it mean at G+D?

For us, it’s not only an aesthetic statement, it has a very technical meaning, too. And it goes further: “Design is only WOW if it WORKS”, in cash centers, in people’s wallets, and across the entire cash cycle. If a note looks impressive but causes problems in production or wears out quickly in circulation, it doesn’t serve its purpose. At the same time, banknotes are far more than a means of payment. They are part of everyday life, they carry history and identity, and they connect people with their currency. They have to protect and connect. “Experience Design that works” therefore covers two dimensions: the experience of everyone who touches a note, and the experience we bring as a partner into every project.

How do central banks experience this approach in day-to-day collaboration with you?

We like to talk about a shared positive experience, because the best banknotes are always co-creations. Customers bring their objectives, motifs, sometimes their own designers or preferred components. Meanwhile, demands for counterfeit protection, sustainability, and compliance continue to rise, requiring innovative collaboration models. Our role is to turn all of this into a solution that works – technically, securely, and economically. Kazakhstan is a great example. Together with the National Bank we developed the Saka Style series, working with a designer involved by the customer, clear cultural references, and specific feature requirements. Our task was to translate that vision into something that performs in real life: the right substrates, integrated security threads and patches, machine processing, and coherent color schemes. The result was a series that makes tradition, culture, and confidence visible. And when the 10,000 Tenge note was awarded “Best New Banknote Asia” in 2024, that was first and foremost an award for the customer’s currency, while of course also affirming our work behind it.

From the first idea to the finished banknote: what does a typical design project look like?

It all starts with the central bank’s vision: What story should the currency tell? What security and sustainability goals are in focus? In joint workshops we refine these requirements, analyze cash-cycle data, and define which denominations and use cases matter most. Next comes the concept phase, where we develop initial design routes and narratives, always in dialogue with the customer. In parallel, we evaluate substrates and security features, simulate combinations, and use data analytics to identify what will work best under the specific conditions. Then design and features are detailed: layout, color concept, watermark, thread, window, patches – including digital proofs.

A holistic, data-driven, and trusted process that leaves nothing to chance

Then comes the technical design phase... 

... where we translate everything into print- and machine-ready data. This is followed by proof printing on real presses, with real inks and plates. Only when the customer has seen the printed proofs and we are all confident that everything will work throughout the cash cycle does the banknote move into production. Our ambition is a holistic, reliable, and data-backed process in which we leave nothing to chance, from the first idea all the way to fail-safe production.

 

You describe banknotes as high-tech products. What does that mean for design and features?

A modern banknote is a multi-layered high-tech product. It has to be eye-catching and easy to verify and at the same time durable, sustainable, and efficient across the entire cash cycle. That’s why we focus on innovation in every layer, from substrate and coatings to threads, windows, and patches.

Take substrates like Green LongLife™ or hybrid solutions: they combine cotton with other fibers, repel dirt and water, and significantly extend lifetime while seamlessly integrating security elements. Our goal is “making beauty more secure and security more beautiful”: features that don’t look bolted on but tell the story of the banknote. When a thread, window, or patch picks up the core motif, creates movement, and clearly communicates a security message, you get an intuitive, multi-layered security experience.

How important are experience and team setup in making this work?

Experience is nothing less than the real differentiator. We have worked with more than 140 central banks worldwide for decades and have seen countless combinations of design, features, and production environments. We sometimes call this “KNOW-WOW”: turning experience into aesthetics that work technically, visually, and economically. At the same time, banknote design is always a team effort. Under one roof, banknote designers, feature specialists, machine-readability experts, and currency-cycle analysts work side by side. From day one we stress-test designs for printability, machine processing, and everyday handling. That is what we mean by “TEAM. WORKS.”, which describes how interdisciplinary collaboration turns into banknotes that work reliably, everywhere, for everyone.

From claim to reality

And what does this mean for trust in the currency and in working with you?

Trust is built through transparency and through solutions that stand the test of everyday life. Customers are closely involved, see every step, and understand why we recommend certain options – for example, when we advise against a feature combination because it could create production risks or extra cost. At the same time, we respect it when central banks bring their own partners, be it a local designer or a specific component supplier. Our role is to integrate all these elements so that the final banknote feels coherent and “of one piece” and meets every requirement.

Ideally, the feedback we hear is: “We were able to realize our vision, involve our own partners – and together we created a banknote that works and earns international recognition.” When that happens, “Experience Design that works” is no longer just a claim. It becomes a reality for central banks, for citizens, and for everyone who handles cash every day.