William Morris: Father of Modern Design and Pattern surveys Morris's designs for two-dimensional surfaces, primarily wallpaper and textiles. The introductory text by Hiroshi Unno (printed in both English and Japanese) provides an overview of Morris's career and the sources of his inspiration. "What appeals to us even now about Morris's designs," writes Unno, "is not the elegance of abstract patterns but the way in which his patterns make natural beauty come alive on the flat surface." Morris was a passionate observer of nature as well as a voracious student of history, especially medieval garments and tapestries. The range and depth of his inspiration must partly explain the longevity of his own patterns, which designers today still consider classic.