British Design 1948-2012:
Innovation in the Modern Age
British design is back in the spotlight. This stunning new exhibition at the V&A London is, as its name suggests, a celebration of the very best of British craft and design during a period of extraordinarily fertile creativity. Curated by the V&A, and sponsored by Ernst and Young, it’san an unmissable exploration of a half century of innovation and talent. In celebration of the exhibition, we’re delighted to collaborate with the V&A in unearthing a beautiful selection of rarely-seen gems from the world of textiles. Drawing from their unrivalled national collection, Surface View and the V&A chose twelve patterns by leading textile designers of the period, including Barbara Brown, Karen Williger, Natalie Gibson and Eddie
Squires, to name a few. Ranging in style from bright poppy waves and patchwork through subdued florals and foliage, to naïve designs, the collection reflects not only the plethora of markets that were being catered for at the time, but also how versatile, imaginative and constantly evolving were the fashions in pattern design during this period.
Catch the exhibition at Kensington from 31st March to 12th August and you’ll also see more Surface View at play. Part of the Surface View collection is featured within the V&A Pattern book series which focuses on British designers and the firms Heal’s, Liberty & Co and Sanderson, all three of which were leaders in the furnishing textile arena. Patterns from these books, as well as archive imagery, will be wrapped by Surface View onto the columns of the V&A Shop; a project to celebrate both the British Design 1948-2012 exhibition and our collaboration with the remarkable V&A Museum.
Sponsored by Ernst and Young.
Where: V&A Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL.
When: 31st March - 12th August, 2012.
How: find out more - www.vam.ac.uk
