London Design Festival 2015: Patternity has turned its monochrome graphics into a 3D installation at Somerset House, which the London studio described as a "giant patterned playground" (+ slideshow).
The Connected by Pattern project started when Patternity created a limited-edition collection of stationery covered with black and white shapes for digital invitations company Paperless Post.
The studio – founded by Anna Murray and Grace Winteringham – designed six black-and-white graphics for the Paperless Post's electronic invites, then used the same motifs to cover and fill a room in Somerset House.
"Paperless Post connects people in the digital world into real life experiences, whether its through parties, housewarmings, gatherings," Murray told Dezeen. "We wanted to use our take on pattern to explore connectivity."
"We've brought them into the 3D realm, creating a place where people can come and sit and experience the space in a playful way," added Winteringham.
A black wall with shapes cut out provides peeks into the space as a visitor enters.
Once fully inside, surfaces are patterned with stripes, dots and grids. Mirrors along one side extend the patterns and the black floor is also reflective to pick up the graphics around the space.
Although the elements dotted around the space look solid, some of the blocks are made from foam so can be sat on or thrown around.
"We wanted something super tactile that wasn't just something to look at but something that people can actually get involved with and move things," said Murray. "It's a giant patterned playground, celebrating human interaction."
As the invitation designs are customisable, so too is the installation. Frames filled with strings can be rolled around on wheels, and the foam furniture pieces can be picked up and moved about so visitors can "build their own set".
The installation forms part of the 10 Designers in the West Wing exhibition, which opened today at Somerset House in central London as part of London Design Festival 2015. The exhibition also includes installations by Faye and Erica Toogood, Ross Lovegrove, and Barber and Osgerby – this year's London Design Medal winners.
At the same venue, the Bouroullec brothers are launching their Serif TV for Samsung, which we featured exclusively last week.
The festival runs from 19 to 27 September 2015 and includes a range of product launches, exhibitions and installations across the city – check Dezeen's guide for what not to miss.
Photography is by Luke Hayes.