Welcome to a new year of Designer Desktops! If you’re new here, here’s the scoop: every month, we team up with designers, artists, and brands to bring you a free downloadable desktop wallpaper. Think you’ve got a design that deserves to be seen (and downloaded) by thousands of readers? Drop us an email or slide into our DMs – we’re always on the hunt for fresh, creative talent!
Kicking off 2025, we’re thrilled to introduce Ribbon, a vibrant collaboration between Designtex, a leader in applied materials for the built environment, and UK-based artist Sophie Smallhorn. Inspired by a snuffbox she stumbled upon in a museum, Smallhorn combined her lifelong love of ribbons with her expertise in color and composition to create this lively, dynamic pattern. Her starting point? A childhood favorite: collaging. Using paper and colored acetates, she played with shapes and layers, then fine-tuned the scale to perfection. “The idea was to create a playful, meandering, linear composition and to utilize the layering of transparent colors, which is a common theme in my print work,” Smallhorn explains.
The final result captures the fluid motion of ribbons, with a subtle gridded texture adding extra depth. This collaboration highlights the transformative power of integrating art into functional design – seamlessly merging Smallhorn’s vibrant aesthetic with Designtex’s expertise in bringing innovative materials to life. Whether as a textile, wallcovering, or your new desktop backdrop, Ribbon brings an uplifting burst of energy to any space.
Download the wallpapers for free with the links below for all your tech devices today!
DESKTOP: 1024×768 1280×1024 1680×1050 1900×1200 2560×1440
MOBILE: iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPad Pro
Check out some of Sophie Smallhorn’s other work:
Learn more about Sophie Smallhorn here and Designtex here.
View and download past Designer Desktops here.
