A Creative Dive into Art Deco Design
My Art Deco inspired ‘Deco Flower’ design
I've recently been working on an Art Deco–inspired group of designs. The initial spark came from a Spoonflower design challenge prompt, which led me down a bit of a Pinterest rabbit hole exploring Art Deco styling. That exploration made me realise it was worth digging a little deeper—not just collecting motifs, but learning more about the history and context of the design movement itself.
above is a screenshot from my ‘Art Deco Love’ Pinterest board. Pinterest is usually my 1st stop to gather inspiration & ideas.
Art Deco, short for the French Arts Décoratifs (decorative arts), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first appeared in Paris in the 1910s, just before World War I. It gained widespread popularity across Europe and the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. The style is known for its geometric shapes, clean lines, rich colours, and ornate detailing. Art Deco expressed a sense of luxury and glamour, reflecting the optimism and enthusiasm of the post–World War I era. It combined traditional craftsmanship with the excitement of new technologies and industrialisation. Its influences were broad — from ancient Egyptian and Aztec motifs to traditional Japanese art, Cubism, and the streamlined elegance of modern machines.
The Art Deco aesthetic made its mark across all areas of design, from grand architectural landmarks and sleek automobiles to elegant furniture, graphic design, fashion, and textiles. Its bold, stylised forms continue to inspire artists and designers today — myself included!
Above are pages from my sketchbook.
Here are some of my original Art Deco–inspired designs, developed through the research and sketching process I’ve shared above. The featured design was created using motifs and illustrations straight from my sketchbook.
All of these designs are available through my Artisan Fabrics, Cloth Cuts, and Spoonflower shops — you’ll find links to each on my Contact page.
I hope you enjoyed this little deep dive into Art Deco styling! Thanks so much for reading. If you'd like to stay in the loop with my latest designs, behind-the-scenes updates, and creative news, I’d love you to sign up for my newsletter — there's a link on my Welcome page.