Throughout history, patterns have emerged in countless variations of motifs, colours, and scales. What they all share is a regularity of repetition, which enlivens surfaces with movement and depth. This is evident in the natural world, from flower petals to seashell spirals.

Pattern Design offers over 1,500 illustrations from diverse eras and cultures, organised thematically into chapters on Flora, Fauna, Pictorial, Geometric, and Abstract designs. It also highlights key designers like William Morris and Sonia Delaunay, alongside discussions of distinctive motifs from styles ranging from Baroque to Art Deco.