Punt nua

For graphic design within the graphic arts industry, Punt Nua (English: New Pound) (sign: PN£) is a parody currency and internet meme devised by Irish graphic designer, Con Kennedy.[1]

First published on the social media website, Twitter[2] in early December 2011, within hours of publishing, the images became a viral sensation. Overnight, articles featuring the proposed designs for Punt Nua appeared in the Irish Independent[3] and in the Carlow People.[4] In the following days, Irish and international media picked up and ran with the story due to the notoriety of the people featured on the design of notes.

Concept and origins

Kennedy attributes the concept of Punt Nua was upon hearing numerous reports in the Irish media[5] of a possible return to the Irish Pound after a possible exit from the Euro and decided to devise his own interpretation of what the new currency may look like.[6]

The designs for the notes featured those who Kennedy and many in Ireland, believed were responsible for Ireland's economic problems and possible exit form the single currency.[7][8]

Design

The designs of Punt Nua featured key figures from Irish political life and banking sector that are synonymous with Ireland's economic meltdown and bank insolvencies:

The Half uncial typeface used on the proposed designs for Punt Nua was designed by Kennedy in the 1990s.[9]

Media coverage

Irish media

The notes received great interest from Irish current affairs and light entertainment programmes and was featured on RTÉ's Saturday Night Show,[10] The Daily Show[11] and current affairs programmes, such as Radio 1's Liveline,[12] TV3's Tonight with Vincent Browne,[13] 98FM News[14] and Inside Ireland.[15]

International media

Coverage of Punt Nua extended to intentional media such as Forbes.com,[16] Stone & Strom Investment Managers[17] Finnish television station YLE[18] and Sydney's Irish Echo.[19] Punt Nua also feature on the World Irish diaspora website as one of the top ten Irish events of 2011.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Con Kennedy Visual Communications | News | Punt Nua". Conkennedy.ie. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Introducing an Punt Nua. With the demise of the EURO insight,... on Twitpic". Twitpic.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  3. ^ Become a fan. "Irish designer comes up with a cheeky take on images for Punt Nua if Euro collapses". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. ^ Entertainment. "Lecturer causes currency sensation". Carlowpeople.ie. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  5. ^ "RTÉ.ie Radio1: Liveline – Thursday 8th December 2011". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Gossip | Fancy a Butchers at Our New Currency? | Reviewed by". entertainment.ie. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Irishman develops new Irish currency in case Euro fails". Theamerican.ie. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  8. ^ "#PuntNua Playfully Proposes New Currency for Ireland, WorldIrish". Worldirish.com. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Con Kennedy". Luc.devroye.org. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Punt Nua Design featured on The Saturday Show". 8 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on The Daily Show". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Punt Nua featured on LiveLine". 8 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on Tonight with Vincent Browne". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Check Out the 'Punt Nua' Designs « 98FM: Dublin's Best Music Mix". 98fm.com. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  15. ^ McMackin, Lisa (2 December 2011). "Designer creates tongue-in-cheek Punt nua » Inside Ireland". Insideireland.ie. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". Forbes. Retrieved 12 September 2023.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Irish designer comes up with a cheeky take on images for Punt Nua if Euro collapses « Stone & Strom". Stonestrom.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  18. ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on Finnish TV". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "#PuntNua featured in Sydney's Irish Echo. Thanks to @laz... on Twitpic". Twitpic.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Reeling in the Year, WorldIrish". Worldirish.com. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.