Vaudrez

Vaudrez is a term used in decorative arts and graphic design to describe a family of repeating geometric patterns characterized by interlocking shapes and a strong sense of rhythm. Patterns labeled as vaudrez often employ tessellation and symmetry to create intricate, scale-like textures that can appear to shift when viewed from different angles. The term is not tied to a single canonical style.

Origin and usage: The use of vaudrez appears in late 20th- and early 21st-century design discourse, particularly among independent textile studios and digital artists. There is no widely accepted definition or lineage, and etymology remains uncertain. Some accounts suggest it is a neologism coined to categorize a set of related motifs rather than a historical movement.

Design features: Common vaudrez motifs rely on basic geometric units—diamonds, squares, hexagons—repeating to form seamless tilings. Patterns may exhibit four- or six-fold rotational symmetry and may use high-contrast black-and-white or rich color palettes. Techniques include digital tiling, woodblock-style repeats, and weave-like textures that emphasize surface interest rather than pictorial content.

Applications and reception: Vaudrez patterns appear in textiles, wallpapers, product packaging, and digital illustrations. They are valued for their visual complexity and ability to convey movement without figurative imagery. Because the term lacks formal scholarly definition, practitioners may describe vaudrez patterns differently in catalogs or portfolios.

See also: tessellation, geometric pattern, op art, tiling.