Kelly Tucker
49 // Kelly Tucker is a designer based in Chicago, Illinois. She studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Columbia College Chicago. Kelly is often inspired by the geometric patterns that she sees in daily life – floor tiles, bricks, clothing, etc. – and uses these as a starting point for her designs. She is always on the lookout for unexpected colour combinations. Kelly is obsessed with op art and loves creating patterns that vibrate off the page. As a side project, she keeps a blog called The Cosby Sweater Project, where she draws patterns based on sweaters from each episode of The Cosby Show. Kelly designed a textile collection in 2014 and would love to see her work used on wallpaper and giftwrap. As her work is usually rather small, she thinks it would be fun to do something on a much larger scale in the future.
Design Heroes: Heinz Edelmann, Josef Albers, Zika Ascher
One Two Three
Stepped diamonds are stretched across this piece, each one more detailed than the one above it. Thin stripes are used to add texture.
Pyramid
Simple watercolour triangles arranged in a pyramid formation are filled with intricate patterns to add texture and interest and show the hand of the artist.
Boardgame
Most of Kelly’s patterns are hand drawn with markers, watercolours, and pen and ink, although she will occasionally digitally manipulate or repeat elements of her drawings. Here watercolour chevrons are decorated with detailed stripes in black marker.