Future euro banknote design
For the first time in more than 20 years, euro banknotes are about to be redesigned, and several proposals were submitted by designers across Europe.
In short, two themes and several motifs were given to the designers to work with. The selected themes were “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”. Among the more than 1,200 submissions, a shortlist of ten designs was taken on by the European Central Bank (ECB).
Much more information about the redesign, the contest… on the ECB website: Future banknotes and Future euro banknote design proposals. There's also a survey for citizens to share their opinion about each design proposal.
Here are my two favourite designs.
1 – Design I, by Isabelle Daëron
This is my favourite entry. I'm kind of seduced by the vertical banknotes, I like the soft color palette, and those birds, I'm loving them so much: how they are drawn, the composition (their wings echoing the line of the mountain ridge and the birds framed inside the sun disc)… I'm not that fond of the back of the banknote, though: the silhouettes, the trees and buildings are not my jam. But it's saved by the flying birds and that river-ish pattern around this side's sun disc (which is in the exact same position as on the front side).
2 – Design H, by Atelier Goppel-Toperngpong
Classic horizontal banknotes, the design isn't revolutionary and the white shapes on the left (front) and the right (back) of the banknotes are not that different from what the current ones look like. But again, birds. I don't know why but I find that bird theme quite charming! I wouldn't object at all seeing them on my future banknotes. Colors are great, too, more vivid than the Design I, but not too bright either. Again, I don't think the back design turned out well.
According to the ECB FAQ regarding those new banknotes, the winning entry will be announced by the end of 2026 and “it will then take several years for the first banknotes to enter into circulation and end up in our pockets”. I'm looking forward to it and I hope that my preferred entry will be picked!
Banknotes images are courtesy of the European Central Bank.