The figure-ground relationship is one of several principles referred to as Gestalt principles of perception. 

Figure-ground refers to the shapes, space or forms within a composition. In simplest terms, the figure is what we notice 
and the ground is everything else.
The figure also known as the postie space, refers to the images that are visually dominant on the ground.
The ground, sometimes referred to as the negative space or background, is the surrounding area that figure is placed upon.

This project, I crated a black and white compositions from a object of knife and fork. Then I used this black and white figure/ground unit form 
to create a pattern with adding color. 
For more details click here. 

I chose the end of the fork, knife and the plate to create a composition to communicate the concept of alternating figure/ground
Looks like a plate and a pair of chopstick, isn't it? :)

A new pattern design that created from the alternating figure/ground unit form.

Three new patterns colored from the black and white patterns

a mockup from one of the colored pattern