Reserve Bank of Australia

The Brief

The Reserve Bank of Australia recently embarked on a lengthy journey to update Australian banknotes. This was primarily in response to the degradation of the security technology used in the old banknotes, which had led to an increase in counterfeit currency.

The RBA needed a way to communicate information about their new banknotes, and educate users on how to recognise a fraudulent note so as to reduce the amount currently in circulation. As the banknote security technology (new and old) can be complex and difficult to find, it was essential that this feature highlighted, and the design clear and intuitive.

As a highly public institution, it was imperative that the app met all current accessibility standards and guidelines.

My role: UX designer, onboarding 12 months after product launch

Key Design Challenges

• Create an engaging and interactive experience to convey complex information around new security features

• Empower users from all demographics to clearly identify fraudulent banknotes, and know what next steps to take if a counterfeit was identified

• Ensure a high accessible experience, so that schoolchildren to senior citizens could successfully navigate the app, as well as catering for all levels of disability

The Solution

A native mobile application that enables users to interactively learn more about the design and security features of Australian banknotes.

As identifying fraudulent banknotes was the primary focus while simultaneously being the the most complex concept to convey, a step by step quiz was created to guide users through this process, with accompanying animations to ensure clarity.

A simple, clean aesthetic was maintained throughout the app to reflect the professional persona of the RBA, with all screens and interactions thoroughly tested with users and for accessibility before public release.