Norwegian mood: Digital techniques give banknotes a natural feel

The back of the new notes features pixelated abstractions that represent coastal horizons. They are inspired by the Beaufort scale, a measure of wind force. Low-denomination notes feature short rectangular shapes, whereas more valuable notes have increasingly long shapes, suggesting a spectrum from a light breeze to gale-force winds.

Boundaries are a rich metaphor with roots in Norway’s coastal identity, according to the firm. ‘The design invites you into the beauty of boundaries – the transition between digital and analogue, soft and hard – a dynamic that creates tension and life, just as with the boundaries of our coast,’ Snøhetta explains on its website.

For more on how contrasts and opposites are inspiring consumers, read LS:N Global’s The Polarity Paradox macrotrend.