The Festival of Britain held in 1951 provided new opportunities for textile design and manufacture. Two very distinct types of pattern emerged at this event: one was inspired by scientific,crystal-structure diagrams drawn to record arrangements of atoms in such substances as haemoglobin, insulin and chalk; the other based on abstract forms and organic shape, the so-called 'Contemporary' style. Mark Hartland Thomas is credited with the development of the textile designs derived from crystal-structure diagrams. When setting up the Festival Pattern Group in 1949, he stated that 'we are at a stage in the history of industrial design when both public and leading designers have a feeling for richness in style and decoration, but are somewhat at a loss for inspiration'. The idea for this project was perfect for the scientific theme of the Festival, which had been planned as a 'combined exhibition of science, technology and industrial design'. The crystal patterns were deemed particularly appropriate for use in textile design because of their repetitive symmetry and natural beauty.