Smart piggy bank concept brings the Bitcoin feeling to physical coins

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and its cousins were supposed to revolutionize the way the world sees and uses money, but it will take more than just a few revolutionary ideas to change a system that has been in place for centuries, even millennia. That said, the craze did reveal a few advantageous features, particularly the handling of money through digital wallets. Of course, the latter only makes sense for the money you’ve already “digitized” through banks, digital or otherwise, not so much for the money you still have at hand. That’s especially true for coins that are often chucked into containers, presuming they don’t get lost, and are almost forgotten. This concept design for a “smart piggy bank”, however, gives importance to every dime and penny, allowing you to really see where your money is going, even if still exists in physical form.

Designer: Guilherme Ferreira, Pietro Vitelo, Gustavo Billo (Breathe Design & Strategy)

Digital wallets that let you monitor the flow of your money have been around for a long time now, but it wasn’t until the cryptocurrency craze became mainstream that people started to realize the benefits that such a system has to offer. In particular, it gave people more direct control over the money they have in their accounts, especially when it comes to monitoring how much goes in and out of their savings. Real physical coins, however, aren’t as easy to handle and they often get dropped anywhere and lost, money that could have added up to big savings over time.

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Smart Piggy is a concept that upgrades the iconic pink piggy bank into something fit for the 21st century. In a nutshell, sensors on the slot at the top of the pig-shaped device detect when a coin is inserted and pass this information to a connected smartphone. The mobile app, which is actually the center of the whole experience, is where users get to monitor the comings and goings of their savings, particularly those from the Smart Piggy. It’s a simple feature that has a significant impact on user behavior, encouraging people to actually pay attention to where those coins go.

The concept does leave a few details open to interpretation, like how the system will be able to identify different coin denominations. It also doesn’t mention anything about taking out coins from the piggy bank, so presumably, the coin detection and monitoring is a one-way street. Still, it touches on the possibility of an implementation that can take into account both cash flows, so to speak, giving people not only the tools they need to keep track of those coins but also the motivation to actually pay attention to where they go.

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Magnetic Piggy Bank reassembles itself after being broken, becoming a circular fidget-toy in the process

Built on the ideals of Kintsugi (or the art of repairing pottery with gold to help cherish your belongings instead of discarding them), Penny is a playful little piggy bank that can break apart and come together. Using a series of magnetically-bonding pieces, the piggy bank comes with an all-white design that reveals its cracked surface rather than concealing it. Add the coins in as you would, and when you want to take them out, simply break open the bank by either striking against it or dropping it to the floor. The piggy bank shatters just like its ceramic counterpart would, but in a predictable set of pieces that can be put back once again. The joy of retrieving the money from inside Penny is only accentuated by the joy of getting to build her back again, piece by piece!

Designer: Dario Narvaez

“After seeing the loss and hardship suffered by millions of people during the pandemic, Penny is a representation of what is lost and broken, can also be recovered in unique and unexpected ways,” says designer Dario Narvaez. Even though the interaction of breaking and reassembling Penny is a fun, engaging activity, it has a broader meaning too. Built on the idea of resilience, Penny is all about how life can be rebuilt even after the effects of a hard fall.

The Penny piggy bank is made of 12 PVC injection-molded parts with neodymium magnetic inserts built in. The matte-finish PVC material used in Penny provides a wide range of benefits relative to its use: high resistance to impact, and the ability to conceal scratches, scuffs, and marks caused by the repetitive breaking of the piggy bank. The unique construction of the piggy bank allows it to be reassembled in thousands of different ways by rearranging or rotating certain pieces. The ears, face, and legs stay constant, while the other parts can be swapped with one another, or rotated in a variety of manners, creating a new instance of Penny every time!

The Penny Piggy Bank is a winner of the A’ Design Award for the year 2022.

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Valve coin saver gives you satisfaction when you pull the plug

I hate carrying around coins in my wallet or in my bag. So whatever coins I get, I put it in a container. I try to convince myself I’m able to save some money when I do that. But the truth is that since I can easily open said container, I keep taking out the coins when I need them so there are no savings in sight. The challenge would be to put them in something that I can’t easily open or break to help me discipline myself. Or maybe choose a container that’s a bit more interesting or fun.

Designer: Thereal Mutian

The Valve Piggy Bank looks like a pretty interesting concept for a coin container and money saver. It is made from glass and is transparent, which lets you see how many coins you’ve already put inside it and if it’s time to break it open. It looks like a jar with two slits at the cover which seems to be able to fit any coin size since there are various currencies with different sizes. You’ll see a small, thin rope in the middle that’s connected to a sort-of valve at the bottom and that’s what makes this different from other piggy banks.

Just like the plug or valve at your sink that you pull the drain the water, this piggy bank also has a valve and plug that you pull so that all the coins will come out of your bank. It’s not a high-tech or unusual thing but there’s probably a certain satisfaction of seeing all the coins that you were able to store and save fall out when you need to count them or even eventually spend them. It brings back memories of breaking the piggy bank when I was young, although this one you actually don’t need to break.

It still won’t solve the problem of having easy access to your coins as you can pull the plug so to speak anytime you want to. So the answer will still be storing it somewhere that will not be so easy to open or to just have more discipline if you really want to save some coins for a rainy day.

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This coin bank concept tries to give a deeper meaning to saving money

We all know we should save for a rainy day, but just like eating veggies, it’s easier said than done. Even the simple act of saving loose change is something that people put off, forming bad habits that work against saving even the smallest amount of money. Part of the hesitation comes from the negative psychology of parting with your hard-earned money, a mentality that is especially alien to a generation used to instant gratification. One solution is to turn the narrative around and transform the piggy bank into a wishing well, as exemplified by this design concept, one that accumulates small wishes in order to build the foundations that will make that wish come true.

Designer: Jaejong Ro

Piggy banks or coin banks have been around for centuries, maybe even millennia. They might come in different sizes, shapes, and designs, but the meaning behind them has remained the same. Like a bank account that doesn’t accumulate any interest, it’s simply a way to stash money away so that it’s not easy to reach unless absolutely necessary. It uses the psychological principle of “out of sight, out of mind” to make you temporarily forget about the money you might otherwise be spending unwisely.

The simple act of putting coins inside that container, however, can also carry with it some negative emotions that become hindrances to forming that habit. You are, after all, making a sacrifice, and the very word itself carries with it concepts of pain and suffering. The most successful coin banks, however, are filled with a specific intention in mind, usually involving saving up to buy something that parents or partners wouldn’t normally approve of. That’s the kind of psychological trick that Plop is trying to use, turning sacrifice into a wish instead.

The concept uses the image of a wishing well where one throws in coins to make a wish. Do it enough times, and the wish will come true, or at least that’s how some myths go. It’s the same action of accumulating enough coins toward a certain goal, but changing the narrative to something more positive helps reduce mental friction. When it’s easier to think about putting money in, you’re more likely to do it moze often than not.

Positive reinforcement also applies to the top panel designed as grilles to mimic wavy water. Unlike a traditional coin bank where you can only guess the amount of content based on its weight, Plop provides more positive visual feedback instead. The more coins it contains, the higher the panel rises. Depending on how often you save, you might see this visible change more frequently. In fact, it might even encourage you to put more coins in, which is yet another trick to push our brains to develop good habits rather than hindering them with negative emotions and images.

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This minimal money bank’s design takes “low-hanging fruit” very literally!

Money is not usually considered a “low-hanging fruit” but this money bank is here to change your mindset about abundance and savings! Fruition is a minimal money bank or coin box or piggy bank – based on where you live – that falls once it has accumulated enough treasure. While most money boxes are designed for kids, this one has a modern aesthetic to appeal to grown-ups who probably need to save more than a child does!

Fruition is named because your efforts to save literally come to fruition with this design. It demonstrates a semiotic effect that appeals to human psychology and makes us feel good about the amount we’ve saved. The simple action of the box or ‘fruit’ falling is satisfying and gratifying at the same time! The money box itself represents the ripe fruit that is ready to be enjoyed just like your savings. The money box is attached to the ‘tree’ with strong magnets that give in to the weight of the money after a certain point. The lower tray is always ready to catch the ‘fruit’ and you can also use it otherwise to store smaller items like keys, masks, or stationery.

The ‘fruit’ is made of silicone and magnets, so coins are safe and secure. It can also be reused over and over again. When the ‘fruit’ drops there is a clanging sound that lets you know it is time to treat yourself…or deposit it in the bank. “This notifies users when to empty the money box while giving them a sense of accomplishment of harvest,” says Kim. I love how simple, playful and dynamic this design is – it truly makes money boxes look like an art piece for your desk with a post art auction bounty for your wallet!

Designer: Younghyun Kim

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Super Mario Coin Bank Deposits Into the Mushroom Kingdom

The currency of choice in the Mushroom Kingdom is the Gold Coin. But here in the real world, it’s pretty rare that you’ll come across coins made out of anything besides nickel, zinc, copper, or if you’re really lucky, silver. Sure, gold coins used to be common currency, but now, our coins don’t have much in the way of actual value unless you save up a whole lot of them. For Nintendo fans, this Super Mario coin bank could be a good start for your coin collection.

This small-ish piggy bank has a 3D layered effect that makes it look like your coins are dropping in-between some of the pipes, bricks, and question mark blocks from a Super Mario Bros. game level. Measuring in at just 7″ square, it’s not going to hold enough coins to purchase a new Nintendo Switch, but it might be good for collecting laundry money.

You can pre-order the Super Mario Coin Bank over at Big Bad Toy Store for $19.99, where it’s expected in stock sometime this month. I wonder if Mario or Luigi ever tried to use Koopa shells to pay for things. I know that puka shells were used as currency many years ago, so why not Koopa shells?

The Slinky that’s a piggy bank

Ever played with a Slinky? I was my favorite ‘fidget’ from back in the days. Giving it a new lease of life is this Elongation Piggy bank by ShaoJun Zhang. We can call it a whimsical expression of design, because there is no practical affluence when it comes to getting the savings out of the piggy bank. You simply open up the spring and let all the cash tumble out of the seams… literally. Use the slot on the top to pour it all back in!

Designer: ShaoJun Zhang

“The top of the piggy bank is a small tray on which to place spare coins for everyday use, and the excess coins are deposited into the piggy bank. If you only want to get a small amount of coins, just grab the tray on the top with one hand and pull it up to the radian to remove the coins,” ShaoJun Zhang tells Yanko Design.

“When the coin is full, pick up the piggy bank, grab both ends with both hands and pull them apart. The coin will be taken out of the gap easily and quickly. This way of opening and closing makes it easy for people to use the piggy bank while adding a lot of fun for people to withdraw money.”

The piggy-bank gets a stunning visual upgrade, turning currency into art

Rather than encasing coins in an opaque container, the Numizmatus highlights them! A derivation of the word numismatics (the collection of coins), the piggy bank uses two sandwiched pieces of glass to trap and showcase the coins, placed one upon the other. You slip the coin from the opening in the top, and it drops down to randomly sit and collect with the other coins, facing either headwards or tailwards to the user. The Numizmatus works best with a variety of coins, spanning different values, currencies, and even ages. Old and new coins sit alongside each other, showcasing a stellar variety of a metallic chrome sheen or the patina of aged metal, with details like famous figurines and foreign numerics. Collect enough coins, and the Numizmatus becomes worthy of being mounted on a wall with other pieces of art, possibly even being a metaphor for the price of art itself!

Designer: Andrey Fabishevsky (Art. Lebedev Studio)

An Incentive to Save Your Money!

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Many of you will be familiar with the proverb, ‘Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’, and with this comes the need for a place to store said pennies. Whilst many will resort to a characterful Piggy Bank, or a container of sorts, why not add an element of playfulness? Well, that’s exactly what the Hammer Bank has been designed for.

Designed on the philosophy of Familiarism; the idea of connecting familiar product interactions with new experiences, this hammer-like money-bank encourages destruction! Not only does this bring an element of excitement to the product, but due to its one-use nature and inevitably destructive end, it introduces the incentive to save… and not repetitively dive into the savings!

Aside from the ‘X’ shaped coin-slot on the top of the device, it features an uninterrupted, unibody form, giving it a satisfyingly clean aesthetic… that is until it shatters into a million pieces on your desk!

Designer: Chris Ference

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An urchin-inspired coin-bank to store your ane’money’

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A simple product that is highly indicative of what it stands for, the Tentacle Coin-bank by Hoi Ng came to life using two CAD modeling commands. Repeat and Extend… two commands that somehow ironically are liked to money too! A repetition of income, something we live for, and an extension of the hand to receive the income! Let’s not dwell too much the metaphorical side of it, but rather look at how simple and intuitive it is. Just looking at its bulbous shape and the dimension of the slits gives you an idea that it’s a coin bank… and this is without any imagery of pigs or currency.

The Tentacle Coin-bank also has the additional advantage of aesthetic appeal, looking more like a decorative desk toy than like a donation box of sorts… or a highly ornate swear jar!

Designer: Hoi Ng

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