Gallery: What if Our Money Were Designed to Celebrate Science Instead of Presidents?
Travis Purrington01USD-CMYK
For his master’s thesis at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland, American designer Travis Purrington gave US currency a top-to-bottom, front-to-back overhaul.
Travis Purrington02USD-CMYK
Instead of presidents, Purrington's bills are based on systems. The black-and-white drawing of a bucky ball, here, is the building block of the skyscraper, found on the other side of the $10.
Travis Purrington03USD-CMYK
Blood cells that make up our circulatory system are on one side of the $20. A body of water, which also keeps us alive, is drawn on the other side.
Travis Purrington04USD-CMYK
The $50 note has a labyrinthine drawing of a circuit board; flip it over, and there’s an astronaut’s helmet, reflecting a view of the space station.
Travis Purrington05USD-CMYK
Part of Purrington's redesign was "not to reinforce such a patriotic bond with the country, but more of a global bond with mankind.” To that end, the $100 bill bears a drawing of the cosmos.
