GMD121 Design Process 1

March 8, 2023.
Jules Hayward

William Morris Research Paper

Who is your subject, and what about their work makes them noteworthy?

William Morris was a designer who created textiles and wallpaper inspired by nature
and Britain’s countryside. He was also a poet and a political activist with Socialist
views and beliefs. But most importantly, he kickstarted the Arts and Crafts movement
in Britain as a revolt against modern industrialization.

What was the time frame (approximate year or years) of your subject’s
importance in the world of design? Describe the historical and cultural context
of that period.

William Morris designed a lot of textiles in the mid-1800’s. He was even

commissioned to design a wallpaper and tile design for the Royal Family. His most
popular designs, however, were created during the 1860s to the 1880s specifically.
His designs were… unusual, and not all enjoyed or supported his unique style.
During the 1800s, fashion and art were focused on hyper-realistic and flat French
designs in the conservative Victorian style. His complex and pretty designs were full
of lavish foliage, 3D concepts, and intertwining foreground, middle ground, and
background. This original type of design clashed with what was popular at the time.

What was the influence of your subject on future designers? Was there a
paradigm shift in the design as a result of your subject’s contribution? What
was the impact? Be specific.

William Morris held great value in patterns and in creating aesthetically pleasing and
artfully arranged designs. He despised the modern industrialism of the Victorian Era
and sought to maintain the traditions and cultures of Britain. He revolutionalized the
graphic design world with his attention to detail while creating designs that were both
beautiful and functional. These standards continue to influence designers to this day.
Did your subject do something unique, important, pivotal, or revolutionary at a
certain point in history? What? When?

Even from a young age, William Morris was inspired by classic Gothic art styles. By
the 1860s, this fed into his design career for the rest of his life as he sought to create
patterned floral designs that were pieces of art themselves rather than just fading
into the background or left forgotten on a wall. He did this with the personal goal of
reviving the British Arts and Crafts movement, and his efforts were greatly
successful, to the point that his designs and views are still popular today. His life was
dedicated to combining design and art and focused on how it was produced,
preferably all-natural and handmade.

Deconstruct the signature work of your subject and speculate on what devices
and methods you’d use to create something of your own in a similar vein.

William Morris was gifted with the ability to see patterns in everything and be very
detail-oriented while still being able to “zoom out” his perspective to ensure that his
designs worked together well. He was also heavily influenced by medieval art styles.
He believed in doing everything from scratch, but I would use a grid and geometric
tools to ensure proper spacing and hierarchy were achieved. I am also
detail-oriented and tend to see in straight lines instead of patterns, but I believe this
works in my favour as a graphic designer. As I improve my skills, I will be able to
eyeball design elements better, but for now, I tend to rely heavily on guides and
grids.

Conclusion
William Morris was a passionate designer, poet, political figure, activist, and father.
He believed in doing everything well, and in doing it from the heart. He hated how
cold the industrial age was, and how it distanced everyone from culture, heritage,
traditions, and originality. His views may be considered extreme by some, but I
believe there is sound logic in what this iconic designer was trying to achieve. Ther
needs to be a reason for what we do, for what we make and bring into this world.
And it should be a worthy reason, not just focusing on trying to make money or to
find a better, faster way of making things. This is truer now than it ever was, in this
hectic fast-paced world we live in. William Morris took the time to sit down, and learn
how to weave, learn how to sew, learn how to paint, learn how to dye with natural
colours. He learned how to create all these hands-on textiles, then passed these
skills on to others, especially young men who had no jobs. Aside from bringing
textiles and handcrafted goods back to Britain, William Morris also brought valuable
design techniques to the creative world that resonates to this day.

Sources:
1. https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/william-morris
2. https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/william-morris-and-wallpaper-design
3. https://librarysearch.centennialcollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_CENTENN/1foa57n/cdi
_askewsholts_vlebooks_9781780429892
4. https://www.historyhit.com/who-was-william-morris-and-why-was-he-important/
5. https://www.britannica.com/event/Victorian-era#ref343825