A / Define
Make a clear unit.
A square with one corner arc is enough to begin. Notice its filled area, its empty area, and the edges that could meet another unit.
ONE SHAPE + ONE BOUNDARY
A creative field guide / Shape, repeat, rearrange
STUDY 01 — THE SQUARE AS A STARTING POINT
Small shapes.
Big possibilities.
Start with a simple unit. Turn it, repeat it, give it a rule. A hands-on collection of geometry ideas for making patterns and small modular projects on paper.
Make your first paper study01 / Learn the visual vocabulary
One unit can do
more than one job.
B / Turn
Change the relationship.
Keep the unit and rotate it. Four corner arcs can meet as a circle; turn one tile away and the same pieces begin a different rhythm.
SAME UNIT + NEW ORIENTATION
C / Repeat
Let a rule become visible.
Repeat a turn, a colour, or an interval. A pattern gives the eye something to expect, which makes a deliberate change easier to notice.
A RELATIONSHIP + A REPEAT
02 / A useful creative constraint
Keep one thing.
Change one thing.
When everything changes at once, it is difficult to see which choice created the result. Give a study a simple rule so the comparison stays clear.
The aim is not to restrict the project forever. A constraint gives you a small area to explore before deciding which direction deserves more room.
Choose a rule for your studyA three-version experiment
- Keep
- The same four square tiles and the same two colours.
- Version A
- Turn the arcs inward so the filled corners meet.
- Version B
- Turn every second tile by a quarter turn.
- Version C
- Choose one tile and point its arc away from the group.
An original paper exercise. Compare the arrangements before adding more pieces or colours.
03 / Move from looking to making
A small study.
A real thing to rearrange.
Paper makes the choices visible and easy to revise. You can turn a piece, try a different neighbour, and return to an earlier version without rebuilding the whole project.
Open the paper project guide-
01
Prepare matching squares.
Use four equal pieces of paper. Keep their size consistent so the edges can meet cleanly when you compare arrangements.
-
02
Repeat one corner shape.
Draw the same arc or diagonal on each square. Fill the same side of the line so orientation becomes the main variable.
-
03
Arrange, then describe.
Try a two-by-two arrangement. Name the relationship you see: a circle, a direction, a pair, a gap, or a repeated edge.
-
04
Keep a record before changing it.
Sketch the arrangement or take a reference photo for yourself. Change one tile and compare what happens to the whole.
04 / Give the pattern another dimension
What changes
when the page stands up?
A flat arrangement can become a small accordion study. Use a folded strip as the structure, then draw a module on each panel.
Turn the strip, open the folds, and notice which shapes disappear or meet from a new viewpoint. The same pattern can now have a front, a back, and a changing silhouette.
Try a folded variation05 / Review the relationships
Ask the pattern
a better question.
A useful review tells you what to try next. Describe the arrangement before deciding whether you like it.
Where does the eye begin?
Look for the strongest contrast, the most complete shape, or the one tile that interrupts the repeat.
Which edges belong together?
Notice where lines continue, where they stop, and where a small gap changes a larger form.
What single change is worth testing?
Choose a turn, a colour swap, or a new spacing. Make the next version answer a specific question.
The next arrangement
Make an idea
you can hold.
The practical guide takes you from four paper tiles to a comparison you can explain, with an optional folded variation to keep exploring.
Start the modular paper study