Accidental design

"...we must be prepared for a journey of discovery, we must start without any preconceptions; most of all, we must be open to the beauties of fortuity."
                                                                                                Hannah Hoch, A Few Words on Photomontage

Sometimes you're unexpectedly struck by the beauty of everyday, accidental design, as I was the other day when walking the Thames-side path between Fulham and Hammersmith. Just look at the satisfying geometrical patterns in this metal gate leading to a pier:

It reminded me of a textile design I saw in the Danish Design Museum in Copenhagen on my short visit there last December:

Writer Alexandra Horowitz says that we miss the possibility of being surprised by what is hidden in plain sight right in front of us. In her book about everyday observation, On Looking, she explains that we forget our daily journeys to and fro because we fail to pay attention to the journey to begin with - we're too busy talking on the phone, listening to a playlist, planning dinner - and "we miss the world making itself available to be observed". Her dog inspired her to consider how these journeys can be done better. In researching the book, she took a walk around the block with several different experts, including her dog and ten others who have a distinct perspective on what they see (or smell) around them. The walks re-awakened her sense of wonder at her surroundings, something I think we could all do with from time to time.