Pattern design: A book for students, treating in a practical way of the anatomy, planning and evolution of repeated ornament

by Lewis Foreman Day

Take any form you choose and repeat it at regular intervals, and, just as repetitive sounds produce rhythm or cadence, you have pattern. However, the use of pattern in design is no haphazard matter, but a disciplined activity in which the artists must impose a pleasing order and structure on the whole to achieve an aesthetically satisfying end product.This classic guide, revised and expanded by Amor Fenn three decades after its publication, teaches artists to do just that. Surveying a multitude of applications, from architectural detail to decorative textile printing and typographic patterns, Day provides insight into the geometric foundations of all repeating patterns, and treats in a practical way the anatomy, planning, and evolution of repeated ornament. He demonstrates the extent to which pattern is the essence of the ornamental arts, and offers a wealth of technical information for the student and designer.Generously illustrated with more than 270 designs ranging from old Japanese, Persian, and Arabian patterns to early 20th-century motifs, Pattern Design will stimulate the imaginations and advance the skills of novices and experts alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Reference, Design

286 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

Lewis Forman Day was an artist and designer who was influential in the Arts and Crafts movement. He produced several books on design.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really useful and interesting book for anyone interested in pattern design. Everything is logically laid out, with chapters on making patterns with specific shapes e.g. squares, triangles, circles, and tips and techniques on how to make repeat patterns flow without getting unexpected lines in your work that detract from the actual design.
It even includes some other information on making borders and how to make use of a grid and lines which I found quite interesting.

The only thing about this book is that it was originally written in the early 1900's so the language gets a bit tedious and sometimes I lose track of what he's talking about, but even though this was written quite a while ago, before the age of modern graphic design and computers, I have found that the information is still relevant and is like the foundation of modern design.

I recommend this to anyone who is into pattern design.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lewis Day took a complicated subject and dove right in. Once I got a handle on the geometric interplay that occurs in designing patterns, I was much better able to understand the depth of the subject which he describes. He is intelligent, well-spoken, open, thorough, and includes a wealth of design instruction here. Although the book was first published in 1903, and Day writes in a somewhat romantic form typical of the time, his knowledge and practicality on the topic places him solidly in the present. I did have trouble with his occasional racial comments though; he was clearly a product of his time and the statements were startling when I came across them. The material is dense and this is no quick read, but it's a treasure trove of information.

[Naomi Toftness · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got about 100 pages in and decided to quit when this got weirdly racist? According to the author, Greek patterns are the best and everyone else who works off of tradition is unskilled and/or a savage. There's a world of better books in the world to spend my time on.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's fine for a backgrounder on how patterns are designed, although it often reads more as an instruction on how to understand how a pattern might have been designed rather than how to design your own.

Also...there is some random and unexpected racism.