The Swiss passport, introduced in the fall of 2022, bears the signature of Geneva-based design studio RETINAA. Created in collaboration with Thales and Orell Füssli under the commission of the Swiss Federal Police Office, the project transforms the document into a true design object, blending aesthetics and security at the highest level.
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At first glance, the passport’s primary red cover might suggest a minimalistic and straightforward graphic approach. However, upon opening it, one enters a visual universe that challenges the concept of negative space. A refined horror vacui fills the pages with geometric patterns, multicolored watermarks, cartographic illustrations, and naturalistic references. Perhaps the most striking element of this project is its use of UV light: under ultraviolet exposure, hidden details emerge, revealing new layers of meaning.
At first glance, the passport’s primary red cover might suggest a minimalistic and straightforward graphic approach. However, upon opening it, one enters a visual universe that challenges the concept of negative space. A refined horror vacui fills the pages with geometric patterns, multicolored watermarks, cartographic illustrations, and naturalistic references. Perhaps the most striking element of this project is its use of UV light: under ultraviolet exposure, hidden details emerge, revealing new layers of meaning.
One of the most iconic examples is the identification page, which features Pizzo Rotondo, a peak in the Gotthard Massif, at its center. Under UV light, topographic curves appear, emphasizing the mountain’s relief. In another double-page spread, an aerial view of the Alps is enriched with Swiss crosses that conceal architectural landmarks and other geographic structures, visible only under ultraviolet light.
The passport’s inner cover also follows this design philosophy. The front side features a hydrological map of Switzerland, while the back expands to a global vision, representing oceans, currents, and major rivers. A nod to movement and connectivity, fitting for a passport that ranks among the most powerful in the world in terms of mobility.
But innovation goes beyond aesthetics. As RETINAA explained in an Instagram post, the new passport incorporates biometric data and meets the highest security standards. The isoline patterns revealed under UV light are not just decorative; they form a network that physically and symbolically protects the document holder’s information.
With this project, RETINAA demonstrates how design can go beyond aesthetics, becoming a language that merges security, visual storytelling, and national identity. A passport that does more than certify an identity—it tells its story through an innovative graphic language.
