The new version of the San Marino Card (SMaC), an evolution of the San Marino discount card created in 2008, will be introduced in the coming months with a new graphic design created by four students from the University of the Republic of San Marino thanks to a competition organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Budget.
The image, logo, website, app, promotional campaign framework, and more, including the new cards made from eco-sustainable materials, were designed by a group of students enrolled in the Master's Degree in Design, selected from among the authors of 25 different projects, for a total of 45 students involved.
Andrea Ingrando, Salvo Pitingaro, Barbara Merlino, and Alessandro Ricciardo, the first-place winners, were awarded this morning by the Secretary of State for Finance, Marco Gatti, in the 'Fausta Morganti' Great Hall of the university campus in the Ancient Monastery of Santa Chiara, in the historic center. The ceremony also featured the presentation and appreciation of the second- and third-place winners, as well as two honorable mentions.
The winners, selected by a six-member jury that included academics, representatives of the Secretariat of State for Finance, and professionals, developed the new graphic identity taking into account the "specific characteristics of the service" and enhancing the concepts of "discounting, savings, and circularity," highlighted through the use of specific graphic elements.
"It was an interesting challenge," they commented, "especially since we use the SMaC every day. The goal was to give it a youthful, fresh look, without completely overhauling it." The message, therefore, includes "the return of convenience that's not just financial but also benefits the well-being and interests of everyone: retailers, users, and government agencies."
Massimo Brignoni, director of the Master's Degree in Design, expressed his satisfaction: "Besides being an initiative that fulfills the University's third mission, focused on collaborations and projects for the local community, this was undoubtedly the most participated competition in the history of our program."
Secretary of State for Finance, Marco Gatti, speaking at the presentation, stated that "the aim was to create a new SMaC capable of providing more digital and innovative services, thus better suited to the needs of today's consumers. Among the key innovations will be the ability to make payments directly from your smartphone via an app. The new card will be made of completely recyclable material, with special attention to the environment. For this innovative process, we decided to leverage the University's resources and, together with them, launch a project to give the SMaC a fresher, more youthful look."
We didn't expect so many students to take up this challenge. We had to choose from so many projects, all worthy, and it wasn't easy to identify the winner. I would therefore like to thank everyone who participated in the competition. I hope to soon be able to initiate new collaborations between the Government, and more specifically between my Office of the Secretary of State, and the University.
