V&A Commissions William Morris-Themed Video Game

The V&A Museum in London has commissioned a computer game inspired by the 19th century textile designer and poet William Morris, The Independent reported.

Morris’ popular pattern Strawberry Thief (1883), which is on display in the V&A’s Britain 1500-1900 gallery and depicts a bird stealing fruit from a garden, acted as a starting point for the game. The design has previously decorated curtains, wallpaper, and Dr Martens Boots.

Designed by award winning games designer Sophia George, each portion of the pattern transforms from a pencil sketch to a colored pattern as the player drags their finger across the surface of the iPad. The game is accompanied by a rousing soundtrack recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

George told The Independent: “With Strawberry Thief, I wanted to show that games are an incredibly artistic, creative medium that can excite, inspire and even relax the player.”

Phillip Long, director of V&A Dundee, said: “It’s wonderful to see the way in which Sophia has responded to the V&A’s historic design holdings in creating her Strawberry Thief game. Taking inspiration from design of the past to produce new innovative design is at the heart [of] the V&A.”

Strawberry Thief is available for free from the App Store on iPad – or here.

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