SIRI GUSDAL

First Signs of Spring:
Wallpaper Design

2023

:

01. PROJECT OVERVIEW
First Signs of Spring is part research project into the history of wallpaper, and part visual exploration of floral pattern making. My research gave me a strong sense of the social contexts in which different styles of wallpaper were developed and popularized, and helped me articulate what aesthetic principles make certain patterns either appealing or off-putting to me. I was drawn to the flat, stylized motifs of William Morris the Arts and Craft era, which ended up being a major influence for my own design. There is a strong sense of rhythm and symmetry within a lot of these designs, that allows the pattern to be detailed and intricate without becoming overwhelming.

02. WALLPAPER DESIGN PROCESS

I based my design on spring in Vancouver, and chose to focus on daffodils and snowdrops as the primary motifs in my design because of their distinct forms and because I was seeing them everywhere around the city. Wallpapers were originally printed on individual sheets of paper that were then aligned on the wall to form a repeating pattern. Despite not having this technical limitation, I designed my pattern the same way as a nod to the historical process. I hand drew the design, then vectorized it on Adobe Illustrator, making it infinitely scalable.

LOCAL FLORAL MOTIFS

SKETCHBOOK

PATTERN EXPLORATIONS

COLOURWAYS

03. FINAL OUTCOME
The final design comes in seven colourways, each designed to be distinct from each other and push the pattern in different directions. I took inspiration from the theme (spring, flowers blossoming among dead leaves left over from fall), the historical wallpapers I’m referencing, as well as modern trends. For example, dark statement wallpapers are quite popular at the moment, as well as interior design trends from the 1970s, which inspired the funkier brown and orange colourways.

FINAL WALLPAPER TILES

MOCKUPS

First Signs of Spring: Wallpaper Design

First Signs of Spring:
Wallpaper Design