My interest about design and science is the reason to post another article about patterns. Please take a peep. Thank you!
Cynthia




http://www.wellcomecollection.org/exhibitionsandevents/exhibitions/fromatomstopatterns/index.htm

This exhibition rediscovers the intriguing work of the Festival Pattern Group. This creative conglomerate of X-ray crystallographers, designers and manufacturers was inspired by the patterns discovered in crystal structures to create an eclectic array of textiles, wallpapers, carpets and more for the 1951 Festival of Britain.

X-ray crystallography was one of the most exciting branches of post-war science, with far-reaching applications in chemistry, physics, biology and mineralogy. By studying X-ray diffraction photographs of crystals, scientists could calculate arrangement of atoms within molecules. The resulting diagrams were the inspiration for the Festival Pattern Group's work.

Stored away for over 50 years in the vaults of the Victoria and Albert Museum, this is the first time that the group's creations have been reunited en masse. This unique collaboration between Britain's leading post-war scientists and manufacturers offers a glimpse into the optimism of an exciting moment in the history of design and science. The avant-garde designs elucidate the intricate data produced in X-ray crystallography while also standing as vibrant graphic testaments to the era.

This exhibition is free.

(picture) Max Perutz at his diffractometer
Image: Cambridge Newspapers Ltd

Insulin wallpaper designed by Robert Sevant for John Line and Sons
Crystallographer: Dorothy Hodgkin
Image: V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum