Lesley Jackson is an independent writer and curator specializing in 20th century design. She is the author of many highly-acclaimed books on post-war design, including The New Look: Design in the Fifties (1991), 'Contemporary' Architecture and Interiors of the 1950s (1994) and The Sixties: Decade of Design Revolution (1998). An expert on modern textiles, her recent books include From Atoms to Patterns: Crystal Structure Designs from the 1951 Festival of Britain (2007) and Shirley Craven and Hull Traders: Revolutionary Fabrics and Furniture 1957-1980 (2009). In 2001 she curated the major exhibition Robin and Lucienne Day: Pioneers of Contemporary Design and wrote the book of the same name, held at the Barbican Art Gallery, London. A retrospective celebration of the Days' work was also held this year at the Pallant House Art Gallery in Chicester.

Pattern design flourished throughout the 20th century. From Art Nouveau at the end of the 19th century to computer-generated digital images at the turn of the Millennium, each new generation had their own distinctive approach to pattern design. Tracing the creative cross-fertilization between fashion and interiors, this invaluable book provides a chronological account of the development of pattern design. Highlighting the decisive trends that emerged in each decade, the book draws attention to the achievements of progressive manufacturers and ground-breaking designers, charting the emergence of a series of pattern design superpowers in various countries at different moments in time. From Anni Albers at the Bauhaus in the 1920s and Lucienne Day for Heal's in the 1950s, to Maija Isola for Marimekko in the 1960s, this book combines stunning photographs with informative text to inspire new flights of creativity in pattern design.