Ensign

Undulating lines, reminiscent of sine and cosine curves, and complementary alternating patterns of chevrons and polka dots comprise Barbara Brown’s Ensign design for Heal’s Fabrics. The pattern exemplifies Brown’s work of the mid 1950s-1970s, which often incorporated optical illusions and employed mathematical references to produce a sense of motion and three-dimensionality. Brown’s bold and thoughtful design sensibility attracted the attention of Heal’s Fabrics, who purchased designs from Brown prior to her graduation from the Royal College of Art. Brown worked for Heal’s exclusively and the firm proclaimed her the “golden girl of Heal’s Fabrics” in a 1967 promotional brochure. Three of her textile designs for Heal’s, Complex, Spiral, and Automation, won awards from the British Council of Industrial Design.