The digital revolution

Today's pattern makers work with tools that would amaze those that came before. Digital software allows experimentation with precision that medieval artists could only dream of. Algorithms generate thousands of variations in seconds, while print-on-demand services let designers test ideas without massive upfront investments.

The internet has created a global design conversation. A designer in Tokyo can draw inspiration from ancient Peruvian textiles, collaborate with someone in Stockholm, and reach customers worldwide from their laptop.

And it’s not just print. The long-running exploration of pulling patterns into the 3rd dimensions continues too, with 3D printing now letting us create patterns with actual depth and texture.

When we zoom out and look at our history of patterns, there are remarkable continuities and dramatic changes. The same creative impulse that drove cave dwellers to scratch patterns into stone still motivate digital designers today. Mathematical principles discovered by Islamic artists centuries ago power contemporary software. The democratization that began with the Industrial Revolution continues through online marketplaces and print-on-demand services.

Whether carved in stone or created in pixels, patterns are the expression of our creativity, personality, and culture.

Let’s dive in and discover the core principles of pattern design, how to work with them and make great designs. I hope you join me on this journey!