The diagram shows part of the ceramic. $A$ and $B$ are vertices of the outer octagon, which has $O$ at its centre. The lines $OA$, $OB$, two lines which are parallel to $AB$ and lines parallel to $OA$ and $OB$ respectively have been added. As can be seen, these lines divide $\triangle OAB$ into nine congruent triangles.
The shaded portion of triangle has area equal to that of two of the smaller triangles. So $\frac{2}{9}$ of the area of $\triangle OAB$ has been shaded. Now, the area of the outer octagon is eight times the area of $\triangle OAB$ and the area of shaded portion of the design is eight times the area of the shaded portion of $\triangle OAB$. Therefore, the fraction of the octagon which is shaded is
also $\frac{2}{9}$.