Design drawing 1878 - 1888

This 'Design Drawing' on paper by Christopher Dresser presents a study in applied ornament. Note how Dresser uses a limited colour palette to create patterns that are both visually appealing and structurally sound. The two horizontal bands showcase repeating floral and foliate motifs against a deep red background, creating a sense of rhythm and continuity. The stylized flowers and leaves, rendered with flat colours and bold outlines, demonstrate Dresser's interest in simplifying natural forms into decorative elements. Beneath, the design transitions into geometric abstraction, where the same colour language is reinterpreted through angular shapes and radiating lines. Dresser's work here exemplifies the late 19th-century aesthetic interest in the synthesis of art and design, and in the application of formal principles to everyday objects. The interplay between organic and geometric forms destabilizes traditional notions of ornamentation, reflecting broader shifts in design thinking towards functionalism and abstraction. It encourages us to see design not just as surface decoration, but as a fundamental aspect of structural order and visual language.