Switzerland's Passport Gets a Design-Forward Makeover
RETINAA’s new design is inspired by the country’s unique geographical features and cartographic traditions.
Issued in Fall 2022, Geneva-based studio RETINAA was enlisted by the Swiss Federal Office of Police to reinterpret the country’s passport with an updated design aesthetic. Design in partnership with Thales and Orell Füssli, the final result utilizes dynamic UV-sensitive designs drawing from the European country’s vast natural landscapes to bring the passport pages to life.
From the simple primary red cover, one might expect a minimalist graphical design within. However, the inside takes a horror-vacui approach, filling up the negative spaces with abstract technicolor watermarks, geometric patterns, juxtaposed with naturalistic and cartographic illustrations. For example, the ID page of the booklet centers on an image of Pizzo Rotondo summit in the Saint-Gotthard Massif and reveals curvilinear topographical lines under UV lights. Elsewhere, a two-page spread showing an aerial map of alpine peeks features Swiss crosses at the center of each page, revealing Swiss architectural landmarks and more topographic lines under UV lights.
In an Instagram post RETINAA said that the updated document “contains the holder’s biometrics and thus requires the highest level of security,” making the security aspect one of the most technically challenging requirements. “Under UV light, a network of isolines physically and symbolically safeguard the holder’s data,” the post continues.
The inside covers center on hydrological maps, showcasing one of Switzerland at the front and a world hydrological map on the backside. Depicting major bodies of water, ocean currents and flowing rivers the hydrological theme represents global movement — a fitting motif for the documents which is one of the highest ranking passports in terms of mobility.
See the gallery above for an in-depth look at RETINAA’s Swiss Passport redesign.
