Patterns by Dan Funderburgh

31 Jul 2006 Category: Features, Illustration, Worldwide

Dan Funderburgh is into patterns! When I stumbled across his works online, I experienced one of these happy moments when I actually manage to stop and look at things. After I send him a bunch of questions, I felt slightly reconfirmed finding a deep understanding and love for patterns in Dan’s reply. Enjoy his varied designs and what he thinks makes a pattern a good pattern.

Written by Uleshka

Dan, what do you like about patterns? Why did you decide to start designing them in the first place?

Originally, it was out of necessity. I worked a clothing company and learned to make repeats. Because it was a company with a limited creative vision, pretty much every decent pattern I made got shelved. And I got to keep those and use them again. I also made several terrible ones that I would never put in my website…

Eventually, through positive encouragement and tutelage from creative directors Kimou Meyer and Pete Christopherson I built my portfolio with focus on patterns and illustrative type.

What makes a pattern a good pattern in your opinion?

A good concept. Plenty of kids can make pretty patterns, but to me a good idea is always far more attractive. Marian Bantjes is a good example for quality.

Another aspect that I look for is an element of imperfection. Especially in a field so exacting and repetitive, organic shapes, the hand drawn, and human error are a critical part of giving a pattern a personality. Ideally the pattern would be completely handrawn, no part would perfectly mirror any other, every element would fit in to every other, and yet each would be unique.

For my personal work this has led me away from strictly repeating patterns towards modular decorative elements. The tessellations in Moorish tile work that can be found in the architecture of Turkey and the Middle East are the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. I did a piece for the Riviera Gallery in Brooklyn with silkscreen and spray paint on ceramic tiles.

Is there a trick when it comes to designing more complex, un-symmetrical patterns? I mean, sometimes there are patterns where it takes a while to figure out that the shapes actually DO repeat themselves. How do you design those?

There is a little geometry involved. And a lot of pushing pieces around until they fit.

What about color? Do you enjoy changing colors as you go along, or is there a special color coding you consider when designing patterns?

The colors are the last stage, but totally critical. I fear sometimes I use colors as a crutch, but I can take a design I detest, flip the colors and end up liking it.

Who is generally interested in your patterns? What are your clients?

My clients include PRPS, Upper Playground, OM Records, Zoo York, 5Boro Nyc, and AKA 12oz Prophet. Also a couple more no-fun corporate clients to pay the rent.

Right now I work mostly for the small clothing companies and smaller galleries. I would love to do more custom installations of actual wallpaper. As a grown-up graffiti nerd, the instinct to leave my mark on walls remains deeply ingrained. (Here is a piece Dan did on a Brooklyn roof top a while back using a simple cut stencil for the fill.)

I’m still looking for a good partner to help me with the production and distribution of actual factual wallpaper.

I designed an interior for a Brooklyn jewelry and clothing boutique called SAVED, but it remains to be installed. The aesthetic of the store is heavily indebted to the British Arts and Crafts movement, so I built a traditional three part wallpaper with a frieze and dado in the style of Christopher Dresser. The elements are traditionally all flora and fauna, but I made them interact with elements of jewelry and industrial design that could be found in the store to give it a more contemporary feel.

And to what final products are they turned in the end?

Mostly for apparel and skate companies. All over patterned sweatshirts are still pretty popular right now in the U.S. at the time of me writing this. Thank you, Nigo.

How long does it take you to design one pattern normally?

A good idea can take weeks to come up with. Sometimes naps are the answer. Execution is normally a couple of days unless it’s an especially baroque style. This is a sketch and finished version of a wallpaper for Waiting Room Magazine, a magazine about youth and cancer.

Ever looked at Japanese patterns?

Of course! Japanese and Arabic patterns are some of the biggest influences. I have a book of one color kimono prints that I look at all the time. I love the simplicity and the organic quality of woodblock prints. For PRPS I recently created a camouflage based on Gyotaku fish printing.

Thanks a lot, Dan! I would very much like YOU to design my wallpaper one day… ;-)

11 Comments

1. Word Up To Your Designs!

   Posted by: EJurado on August 1st, 2006 at 10:26 am

2. [...] El panita Dan entrevistado en pingmag…Uno de mis diseñadores favoritos [...]

   Posted by: r-ev.net | Noticias on August 1st, 2006 at 12:08 pm

3. How are you going continue all of these patterns if there is a black out today? If there is we should make turkey burgers and you can teach me to draw!

   Posted by: A! on August 1st, 2006 at 10:17 pm

4. I love Camouflage pattern so much.. Subarashii desu ne!

   Death from Above is super cool! I did similar stuff before. This was somehow similar to ARS 06 Kiasma expo here in Finland

   Posted by: ヤーッコ on August 2nd, 2006 at 5:30 am

5. nice work!!!

   Posted by: lopez on August 2nd, 2006 at 6:57 pm

6. can i have a date?

   Posted by: fan on August 3rd, 2006 at 4:42 pm

7. Bravo! Wonderful work. Keep us informed about new designs. They are amazing. Glad you’re part of our clan. . .

   Posted by: Linda on August 13th, 2006 at 10:17 am

8. dan! contact us!
   dixrita@gmail.com
   manueladeombreiras@gmail.com

   Posted by: rita/ manu on August 26th, 2006 at 9:37 am

9. Nice patterns–Nice color work — wow.. cool too.

   Posted by: Lou Patrou on September 4th, 2006 at 11:47 pm

10. So many great things here.. wow..

    Posted by: Lou Patrou on September 14th, 2006 at 4:53 am

11. awesome

    Posted by: Anonymous on July 11th, 2007 at 9:59 pm

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