A BU student studying Bsc/BA (Hons) Product Design has recently worked on the unveiling of the Bank of England’s new £5 note at Blenheim Palace.
The state-of-the-art new £5 note, which will enter circulation in September, has been unveiled at an exclusive event at Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Elliott Arnold is currently undertaking a 42-week placement at Poole-based UK exhibition and event specialists Quadrant2Design, where he has had a hand in designing materials for the launch of the new polymer-based banknote, which will go into circulation in September.
The new currency, which features durability, environmental friendliness and counterfeit-resistance qualities, was showcased at an exclusive event at Blenheim Palace, where Sir Winston Churchill, whose face adorns the new note, was born.
Graphic design work on the exhibition stands was completed by the Bank of England’s in-house design team, while Elliott, a CAD Designer, worked to create the 3D stands themselves. The stands were printed, finished and built in Poole with the Bank's designers visiting Poole to see the complete stand pre-built before the 'real' installation at Blenheim Palace in June.
Elliott worked with Quadrant2Design Senior Project Manager, Wiebke Carvell, who was assigned to co-ordinate the whole project from start to finish with a team of six on-site installers, plus a graphics and production team.
Elliott said: “I worked on the initial design proposal, and did all the design updates and technical drawings; the Bank of England then based some of their graphic concepts on my original renders, which is amazing.
“I created the initial design proposal that constituted our pitch, and which ultimately helped us win the project; I worked on all the design updates, and produced the technical drawings required to manufacture and assemble the stand. It was great to see similarities between some of the graphic concepts in the pitch renders I produced, and the final stand graphics.
He added: “My placement at Quadrant2Design has been brilliant! The placement has enabled me to hone my design skills in a real, working environment. To see my designs come to life at such a prestigious, landmark event is both a huge honour and an incredible highlight of my placement year!”
Quadrant2Design Managing Director, Alan Jenkins, said: “We were genuinely thrilled when the Bank of England approached us to discuss this project. It’s been an honour and a privilege to work alongside such a prestigious organisation as the Bank of England and to be able to lend our expertise to this landmark event.”
