24/07/2026
A few months ago, we entered the European Central Bank’s banknote design competition alongside more than 1,200 designers and agencies from across Europe.
Yesterday, it was officially announced that our design has been selected as one of the ten finalists by an international jury.
Our goal was to create a banknote that feels contemporary while preserving the trust, dignity, and timeless quality associated with traditional currency. We combined emotion with clarity, and artistic expression with analytical precision.
The backgrounds on the front of each banknote are deliberately minimalist and highly abstract, depicting Europe's waters and the landscapes that surround them. At the center of each composition is a bird, illustrated in a highly detailed style that adds depth, craftsmanship, and a strong sense of value to the overall design.
The analytical layer presents the bird's call as a visual representation based on MIDI notation, accompanied by a concise profile highlighting its most relevant characteristics. The vertical bar on the left visualizes each bird's flight speed in relation to the birds featured on the other banknotes, allowing for direct comparison across the entire series.
The reverse side presents the architectural motifs in a clean, contemporary visual language. The sky subtly reflects the type of water landscape depicted on the front of each banknote, creating a visual connection between both sides of the design.
Now the final stage of the competition begins: the public vote.
If you like our design, we would be incredibly grateful for your support. https://surveys.ecb.europa.eu/10b/neweuro/
