Uncover the widespread history of the Celtic knot, and learn how you can include these intricate patterns in contemporary design projects.
Symbolic of eternity and connection, Celtic knots are one of the most ancient and widespread visual designs in the world. Balancing simplicity of form with intricate detail, Celtic knots are enduringly beautiful and captivating.
Different knotwork designs can have widely different meanings and symbology, making Celtic knots as much a language as a visual design form. Read on to discover the meaning and origin of knotwork and how you can use it in graphic design.
What are Celtic Knots and Where Do They Originate?
Celtic knots are an example of knotwork design that have their roots in ancient Celtic civilization. This particular style dates back to around the 2nd Century AD, but possibly as early as 500 BCE. Historians have suggested that Celtic knots originated in Northern Italy and the southern part of Gaul (Gallia), before spreading to Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.
Knotwork designs in the Celtic style can also be seen in Roman and, later, early Christian art, such as mosaics, monuments, tapestries, and illuminated manuscripts. However, some historians believe that Celtic knots pre-date the Celtic peoples’ contact with the Romans. This suggests deep origins to these beautiful and intricate designs.
The Triskele or “Spiral of Life” is a Celtic knot design that is made up of three interconnected spirals. It is one of the oldest Irish Celtic symbols in existence, and is thought to represent the three worlds in Celtic mythology—the celestial, physical, and spiritual. License these images via Bourbon-88 and Babich Alexander.
More broadly, examples of knotwork, or basketweave, designs can be seen in different cultures around the world. Knotwork designs are amongst some of the oldest visual symbols. It appears in ancient Nordic art (which often features the valknut, or Odin’s knot, a triangular knot design said to symbolize the god’s ability to bind and unbind) and Old Germanic art.
Celtic knots may trace some of their roots to these other examples of knotwork. But, Celtic knots are distinctive in the endless appearance and intricacy of the woven strands in the design. A Celtic knot is recognizable in the way that the end of the plaits are usually unidentifiable, merging continuously into one intricate, never-ending design.
What is the Symbolism of Celtic Knots?
On ancient monuments, Celtic knots may appear as simply decorative patterns. However, they are in fact encoded with layers of symbolism. Celtic knots have a wide range of meanings, with different designs and contexts resulting in different meanings.
At a broad overview, Celtic knots symbolize the union of two individuals, or an individual to a higher sacred power, and the endless intricacy of the plaits in the knot symbolizes the eternity of this connection.
Different knot designs can designate protection, family, parenthood, kinship, love, or power. One of the most recognizable knot designs is the Triquetra, or Trinity Knot. This popular design represents the soul as it passes through the three stages of life—life, death, and rebirth.
Over the centuries, more variations on the ancient Celtic knots have been created to symbolize romantic love or friendship, among other things. For example, a Celtic oval knot, also known as a love knot, is symbolic of the love of two people. Meanwhile an Aegis knot, which is a plaited design within a heart-shaped shield, is symbolic of protection.
Celtic Knots in Contemporary Design
The powerful symbolism of Celtic knots has endured throughout the centuries. It has also migrated across the world as a visual symbol of Celtic and Irish culture.
Today, Celtic knots are often used in romantic or team contexts, or to symbolize a connection to Celtic culture. They are commonly used in jewelry design, wedding stationery, textile design, sports team logos, or tattoo designs.
A refreshed brand identity for one of France’s oldest soccer clubs, Stade Rennais, created by Clément Tondoux. The rebranded crest revisits the Celtic origins of Brittany, where the club is based, with the inclusion of a Celtic knot detail in the center of the design.
Celtic knots have also made their mark in high-end fashion and graphic design. Fashion designers like Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane have used Celtic knots in their collections as a nod to their Scottish ancestry. Meanwhile, design house Altuzarra, among others, has sent iterations of cable knitwear—a traditional garment that features Celtic knot designs—down the runway in recent seasons.
Clockwise, from top-left: Contemporary cable-knit sweaters on the runway at the Altuzarra show in 2017. A model walks the runway during the Alexander McQueen show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2016. Aran knitwear featuring Celtic knotwork patterns. License these images via FashionStock.com, WH_Pics and FashionStock.com.
Knotwork designs also feature in some of the most widely-recognized logo designs from across the world. Film production company Legendary uses a knotwork-inspired branded design for their logo. Meanwhile, Woolmark uses a three-strand knotted logo, designed by Milanese designer Franco Grignani in a 1963 competition to create a global graphic identity for wool.
You can also notice that the Command key on an Apple keyboard uses a symbol in the same form as a Bowen or “true lover’s” knot, a Celtic knot design originating from Wales. Although the specific reason for its use here is unknown, this is likely to be connected to the historic use of the Bowen knot as a commanding heraldic symbol.
Top: The Bowen knot, a traditional Welsh knotwork design, makes a surprise appearance on the Apple keyboard. License these images via Tamisclao and Morphart Creation. Bottom: The knotwork-inspired logos for movie production company Legendary and clothing quality standard Woolmark.
How to Use Celtic Knots in Your Designs
Designing with Celtic knots can make a nod to Celtic culture, while knotwork designs can generally give your designs a sense of heritage or craft. While it’s advisable to always be sensitive and considerate when using culturally-derived designs, Celtic knots have become such a widespread feature of contemporary culture that you can use them with confidence when creating designs for brands or products that are Irish or Celtic in origin.
As a pattern, Celtic knot designs create beautiful frames, backgrounds, or accents, bringing ornate interest to photography or typography. Celtic knots can have a geometric or organic arrangement, making them adaptable for a range of shapes and layouts. Try using a braided pattern around the border of a flyer design, or update knotwork frames for website designs with neon colors or 3D effects.
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Brand designers increasingly turn to Celtic knots to give logos a sense of craft, establishment, or Celtic provenance. Intricate knot designs can be simplified into a minimalist logo for a simple and stylish design. Or, in the case of knitwear brand Herdwear, a knotwork logo can give the brand a sense of artisanal heritage.
One of the beautiful aspects of Celtic knots is that they balance intricate complexity with simple symmetry. This is what ultimately makes them the perfect choice for elegant logo designs.
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For a Celtic brand, such as a brand with Irish provenance, Celtic knots also allow the designer to incorporate meaningful symbology into a logo or other marketing design. Many of the Celtic knot arrangements have particular meanings, which as discussed above could include references to eternity, protection, or connection.
Therefore, a jewelry brand might choose an eternity knot in their logo design to emphasize a romantic connection. Or, a sports brand might choose a knot design that references teamwork or strength.
Celtic knots can be used to create contemporary designs for packaging, signage, branding, and websites, as in the examples of Celtic Cask (left), a limited-edition whiskey brand, and Mama Tere’s Kitchen (right) by Kenny Lesmana.
The logo design for knitwear company Herdwear uses a knotwork design to suggest heritage and craft in the brand’s messaging.
Celtic knots and other knotwork designs are a natural companion to imagery and typography that reference history, heritage, or slow living. If you want to tap into to the wholesome Cottagecore aesthetic or the FarmTok trend, use designs with a basketweave element to transport your viewers to rural settings and outdoor activities. For social media designs, pair knotwork with rustic photography or handwritten fonts to conjure an instant homespun mood.
License these images via Stock story, Lana Nikova and Vitalino11.
Celtic Knots: From Ancient Origins to the Contemporary Design World
Celtic knots are amongst the oldest visual designs in the world. What’s more, through their diverse symbology and meaning they also act as a pictographic language, denoting spiritual beliefs or relationships with others. While the origins of Celtic knots are ancient, they have translated remarkably well to contemporary settings. Today, you’ll see Celtic knots or knotwork designs used to denote Celtic origin as well as in more commercial settings, across brand identities, websites, and packaging designs.
In your own work, it’s always wise to use Celtic knots with sensitivity, particularly knot designs that have specific meanings related to Celtic culture. However, abstracted knotwork designs can be used more freely to bring a sense of heritage, craft, and elegant beauty to your projects. Knotwork is a wonderful way to integrate a sense of history into contemporary designs, and their ornate beauty also has the ability to elevate designs instantly, giving them an artistic and intricate style.
License this cover image via Bourbon-88.
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Uncover the widespread history of the Celtic knot, and learn how you can include these intricate patterns in contemporary design projects.
