~ Licence to print money - concept research ~

Recent changes to the rise in university fees and  distribution of maintenance grants to university students show how the class system is changing. It's becoming increasingly difficult for people from the lower class backgrounds to get a degree education which would essentially allow them to earn more money. I think this is an important issue that can be addressed within this brief.

I decided to enhance my knowledge of the concepts background to make sure each element was as informed as possible. 

• Elite - the most privileged group in the UK, distinct from the other six classes through its wealth. This group has the highest levels of all three capitals

• Established middle class - the second wealthiest, scoring highly on all three capitals. The largest and most gregarious group, scoring second highest for cultural capital

• Technical middle class - a small, distinctive new class group which is prosperous but scores low for social and cultural capital. Distinguished by its social isolation and cultural apathy

• New affluent workers - a young class group which is socially and culturally active, with middling levels of economic capital

• Traditional working class - scores low on all forms of capital, but is not completely deprived. Its members have reasonably high house values, explained by this group having the oldest average age at 66

• Emergent service workers - a new, young, urban group which is relatively poor but has high social and cultural capital

• Precariat, or precarious proletariat - the poorest, most deprived class, scoring low for social and cultural capital
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I read numerous articles about the emerging new class systems dependent on migrant workers and people refusing to stay into the categories they were 'born into'. From these 7 categories I then selected 4 sections to translate onto my banknote designs.

Considering there are 4 bank note values I need to include within the brief I need to assign 4 examples of varying class on each of them.

£5 - Living without employment - on benefits - Jeremy Kyle
£10 - Working class - Postman, nurse, fireman, teacher etc.
£20 - Middle class - Graphic designers, IT-technicians, Science based workers etc.
£50 - Elite/upper class - Living off family inheritance - Royal family/David Cameron

I will use these basic overviews of the class system assigned to each note as a starting point to illustrate them. I want to create a comedic and lighthearted tone of voice to keep things not to dark surrounding the issue. Theres a lot of judgement between class systems and I will not shy away from the stereotypes to ensure clarity and comedy.

Lower class

Upper class