The term "transitional design" encompasses many types of contemporary rug "looks". At its most basic the term describes a mix of "something old and something new" – a visual bridge between traditional rug design and contemporary rug design that ultimately becomes a unique hybrid of the two styles. Often driven by recent trends in design, transitional rugs are created by a contemporary designer who has looked to the past for inspiration and adapted traditional motifs by subtle pattern alterations plus new colorations and innovative weaving and finishing techniques such as hi and low pile and emphasis on fiber combinations such as wool and silk. New technologies also aid transitional designs as digital drafts (as opposed to the traditional method of hand drawn design graphs) can be altered and improved in infinite ways. Overlaps, glitches, and similar effects are enhanced by physical manipulation of the rug fibers including disintegration where dyes and fibers are manipulated to create dreamlike pools and crevices of color, and pile is sheared in creative patterns to create varied pile heights ("hi and low"). Devices and aesthetic components are often considered proprietary secrets and differ from rug company to rug company. Whether it's called transitional or modernized tradition, the rugs produced in this category are some of the most effective ways to enhance traditional interior design with a reference to the contemporary, and ground contemporary interior design with subtly beautiful references to tradition.