Dazzle camouflage

One of Tokyo’s most important fashion and design exhibitions, rooms, took place again this week. JAPANESE STREETS picked a few favorites

US Navy, 80 ft Elco mosquito boat (PT-170) sporting dazzle camouflage paint scheme utilized in the Mediterranean. It was thought this type of camo confused enemy gunners.

A great demonstration of the false prow effect

The general goal of camouflage is to be invisible. Back during World War I, however, hundreds of Allied ships went to battle painted in bright geometric designs that were anything but subtle.

In the latter half of WW1, a new type of ship camouflage was developed to thwart German U-boats — "dazzle".

These are two British dazzle-camouflaged ships from World War I. At first glance they may appear to be two photographs of the same ship, partly because of position of course, or even two prints of one photo. On closer look, it becomes apparent that not only are these two distinctly different photographs, the two ships and their camouflage schemes are also different. The one at the top is the SS Empress Russia, while shown below that is the SS Osterley. An original print of the top photograph…

Overview 17 Patterns and British designer, Nosca Inc, deliver an on-trend interpretation of the geometric art form, Dazzle. During World War I, Dazzle camouflage was painted onto military ships to make it difficult for enemy fire to estimate a target’s range, direction and speed. Dazzle art has since inspired both global fashion and graphic design industries alike. The 17 Patterns Dazzle collection features compellingly-dynamic shapes which interrupt and intersect each other in four…

The brilliantly coloured contemporary Dazzle Ships docked on the rivers of Liverpool and London have been some of the most striking symbols of the commemoration...