This new series of pattern books from V&A Publishing presents the range of the V&A’s appeal. Beautifully designed, accessible and informative – perhaps a little quirky – they are a repository of ideas for designers of all kinds, but also a collection of desirable gift books. Commercial designers looking to license patterns and individual motifs from the collection can use these books as a starting point for research. To this end, each book includes a CD of all of the images shown within – to be redrawn or reworked.

The first group of four titles focuses on some of the museum’s core groups of patterns, while including some recent acquisitions. The first four titles in the series are William Morris, Digital Pioneers, Indian Florals and The Fifties.

Carefully branded to draw on the V&A’s pre-eminent status and market recognition, the series will encourage readers to collect the entire range. The first books will be available in a beautiful special-edition slipcase.

The V&A is the world’s greatest museum of art and design. For the past 150 years its collection has been an inspiring resource for designers, reflecting a breadth and depth that represents over 3,000 years of artifacts from all over the world.

The first four titles are: