Crossword Genius

Designs in the past involved a bird (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patterns

'designs' is the definition.
('pattern' can be a synonym of 'design')

'in the past involved a bird' is the wordplay.
'in the' indicates putting letters inside.
'involved' indicates anagramming the letters.
'a bird' becomes 'tern' (tern is a kind of bird**).
'past' is an anagram of 'pats'.
'pats' placed around 'tern' is 'PATTERNS'.

(Other definitions for patterns that I've seen before include "Repeated decorative designs" , "Guides for making something" , "Models for making things" , "'Models, blueprints (8)'" , "Designs, shapes" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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