<

10 beauti ful spi rit bottle labels

Uni versity websi te is a cut a bo ve the co mpeti ti on

>

(/spirit-bottle-labels-1131545)

(/html5/university-website-cut-above-12121547)

>

GRAPHIC DESIGN FEATURE

Designer's guide to the Golden Ratio

Jan 27, 2014 13:56 pm >16 comments (/design/designers-guide-golden-ratio-12121546#comments-list) 2,405
Tw eet

2.4k
Like

171

185
Share

The Golden Ratio is a simple theory that can help make your designs pleasing on the eye. We explain how to use it.
There's a common mathematical ratio found in nature that can be used to create pleasing, natural looking compositions in your design work. We call it the Golden Ratio, although it's also known as the Golden Mean, The Golden Section, or the Greek letter Phi. Based on the Fibonacci Sequence x We use cookies on this website. By using this site, you agree that (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number) (which you may we may store and access cookies on your device. Find out more and set your preferences here remember from either your school mathematics lessons or Dan Brown's (http://www.futureplc.com/cookies-policy/)

novel The Da Vinci Code), the Golden Ratio describes the relationship between two proportions. Fibonacci numbers, like many elements found in nature, follow a 1:1.61 ratio - this is what we refer to as the Golden Ratio, and as it forms such a common sight in nature, it feels pleasing to the eye when we use this same ratio in our design work.

> The Golden Ratio is the relationship between two numbers on the Fibonacci

Sequence...

> ...and plotting the relationships in scale provides us with a spiral that can

be seen in nature all around us

It's believed that the Golden Ratio has been in use for at least 4,000 years in human art and design, but it may be even longer than that some people argue that the Ancient Egyptians used the principle to build the pyramids. In more contemporary times, the Golden Ratio can be observed in music, art, and design all around you.

>

Examples of use
Use of the Golden Ratio is well documented in art and design throughout history, and can be seen in everything from architecture to the grand masters. By applying a similar working methodology you can bring the same design sensibilities to your own work. Here are just a couple of examples to inspire you:

The Parthenon

Ancient Greek architecture used the Golden Ratio to determine pleasing dimensional relationships between the width of a building and its height, the size of the portico and even the position of the columns supporting the structure. The final result is a building that feels entirely in proportion. The neo-classical architecure movement reused these principles too.

The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci, like many other artists throughout the ages, made extensive use of the Golden Ratio to create pleasing compositions. In the last supper, the figures are arranged in the lower two thirds (the larger of the two parts of the Golden Ratio), and the position of Jesus is perfectly plotted by arranging golden rectangles across the canvas.

>

Examples in web design 2010 Twitter redesign

> Twitter didn't leave its 2010 redesign to chance

Twitters creative director Doug Bowman posted this screengrab on its Flickr page to explain how the company used the golden ratio in its 2010 redesign. "To anyone curious about #NewTwitter proportions, know that we didn't leave those ratios to chance," he teased.

Apple iCloud

> The iCloud icon design wasn't just a random sketch...

The design of Apple's iCloud icon was firmly based on the mathematics of the Golden Ratio, as Takamasa Matsumoto explains in this blog post (http://stam-design-stam.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/law-of-beautyhidden-behind-icloud-icon.html) (original Japanese version here (http://stam-design-stam.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/icloud.html)) and demonstrates in the annotated image shown below:

> ... but clearly based on the Golden Ratio

>

Examples in nature

> The Golden Ratio can be seen in nature all around us, from seashells to

flowers

There are numerous examples of the Golden Ratio in nature - you can observe the ratio all around you! Flowers, sea-shells, pineapples, and even honeycombs all exhibit the same principle ratio in their make-up. So using the Golden Ratio in your design work is both appropriate and foreshadowed in our everyday environment.

>

How to construct a Golden Ratio rectangle

Creating a Golden Rectangle is pretty straightforward, and starts with a basic square. Follow the steps below to create your own Golden Ratio:

Step 01

Draw a square. This will form the length of the 'short side' of the rectangle.

Step 02

Divide your square in half with a vertical line, leaving you with two rectangles.

Step 03

In one rectangle, draw a line from one corner to the opposite corner.

Step 04

Rotate this line so that it appears horizontally adjacent to the first rectangle.

Step 05

Create a rectangle using the new horizontal line and original rectangle as guides.

>

Use the Golden Ratio in your design work

Using the Golden Ratio is simpler than you might think! There are a couple of quick tricks you can use to estimate it into your layouts, or you can plan a little more and fully embrace the concept!

The quick way

If youve ever come across the 'Rule of Thirds' youll be familiar with the idea that by dividing an area into equal thirds both vertically and horizontally, the intersection of the lines will provide a natural focal point for the shape. Photographers are taught to position their key subject on one of these intersecting lines to achieve a pleasing composition, and the same principle can be used in your page layouts, web mockups, and poster designs. Although the rule of thirds can be applied to any shape, if you apply it to a rectangle with proportions approximately 1:1.6, you get very close to a Golden Rectangle, which makes the composition all the more pleasing to the eye.

Full implementation
If you want to fully implement the Golden Ratio into your design, you can do so easily by ensuring that the relationship between your content area and sidebar (in a website design, for example) adheres to the 1:1.61 ratio. Its okay to round this up or down by a point or two to make the numbers worth with pixels or points - so if you have a content area of 640px, a sidebar of 400px will match the Golden Ratio well enough to

work, even though its actually a ratio of 1:1.6.

> Using the Golden Ratio in a web-page layout provides a natural, eye-

pleasing result

Of course, you can also sub-divide the content and sidebar areas up using the same ratio, and the relationship between a webpages header, content area, footer and navigation can also be designed using the same basic Golden Ratio.

>

Golden Ratio tools 01. goldenRATIO (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goldenratiotool-for-every/id485258055?mt=12)

> GoldenRATIO's favourites feature stores your settings for repetitive tasks

GoldenRATIO is an app providing an easy way to design websites, interfaces and layouts according to the golden ratio. Available in the Mac App Store for $2.99, the app features a built-in calculator with visual feedback, a 'favourites' feature that stores you screen position and settings for repetitive tasks, and a 'Click-thru' mode which means you can use it as an overlay in Photoshop and still work on the canvas.

02. Golden Ratio Typography Calculator (http://www.pearsonified.com/typography/)

This calculator from Pearsonified helps you to create the perfect typography for your website in line with Golden Ratio principles. Just enter a font size, content width, or both into the field on the website, and click the Set my type! button. If youd like to optimize for characters per line, you can enter an optional CPL value.

03. Phicalculator (http://www.thismanslife.co.uk/projects/phiculator/

> Phicalculator does one job, and it does it very well

This simple but useful free app is available for both Mac and PC. Give it any number and it will calculate the corresponding number according to the golden ratio.

04. Atrise Golden Section (http://atrise.com/golden-section/)

> Atrise's tool lets you design visually according to the Golden Ratio

This on-screen ruler and grid software saves you all that messing about with calculations and allows you to design using the golden section proportion visually. You can see and change the harmonious forms and sizes, while being directly in the process of working on your project. A regular license costs $49, but you can download a free trial version that's good for 30 days. Words: Sam Hampton-Smith (http://twitter.com/samhs)

Also read:
Underrated web design tools (http://www.creativebloq.com/webdesign-tips/underrated-web-design-tools-1232782) The best tools for choosing a colour scheme (http://www.creativebloq.com/colour/tools-colour-schemes-12121430) Great online collaboration tools (http://www.creativebloq.com/designtools/10-great-online-collaboration-tools-designers-912855) for designers The best wireframing tools (http://wireframing%20tools) for designers

Have you seen a great example of the Golden Ratio in use? Let us know in the comments below! Tags: Graphic design (/tag/graphic-design), Web design (/tag/web-design), Illustration (/tag/illustration), Feature (/tag/feature)

BEST FROM AROUND THE WEB

(http://bijansabet.com/post/657216787/sanebox-a-better-gmail-experience) (http://www.titan-seo.com/NewsArticles/seo-terms.html)

If You Have Gmail, You Need This

(bijansabet.com)

10 Essential SEO Terms Artists on Artists | You Should Know Richard Tuttle on (Titan SEO) Frederic Remington, Purveyor of Wild West Nostalgia
Recommended by

16 COMMENTS

Donald duck in math magic land

(/users/r4ltman) r4ltman December 17, 2012 at 22:01 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/816?destination=node%2F1546)

i've always used the Golden Ratio when designing. The other way to make a Golden Ratio guide (mine is more of a (/users/alan092177) alan092177 December 18, 2012 at 00:46 ruler though) is by: 1) In your vector graphic editor (Illustrator / CorelDRAW / etc.), make an artboard with the a width of 12".

2) Make a horizontal line equivalent of the artboard. 3) Place a short vertical line at the 7" mark of the horizontal line. 4) Save as .EPS 5) Resize by constraining the proportions. More or less that's how I created mine. Above instructions originally appeared on the book Design Basics Index of designer Jim Krause. http://www.jimkrausedesign.com/books.html (http://www.jimkrausedesign.com/books.html) http://www.jimkrausedesign.com/dbi_1.html (http://www.jimkrausedesign.com/dbi_1.html) Report abuse (/future/report/comment/818?destination=node%2F1546)

How convenient this article popped up just before I started a mathematics based design project (/users/charries) charries (http://primordialwaters.wordpress.com/wpadmin/) December 18, 2012 at 17:55 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/822?destination=node%2F1546)

sorry, in my earlier post, i indicated that the artboard and the line should be 12" and that the golden ratio marker should be at 7". i (/users/alan092177) alan092177 December 18, 2012 at 21:42 was wrong, the width of the artboard and the line should be 13" and the marker should be at 8". The other way to make a Golden Ratio guide (mine is more of a ruler though) is by: 1) In your vector graphic editor (Illustrator / CorelDRAW / etc.), make an artboard with the a width of 13". 2) Make a horizontal line equivalent of the artboard. 3) Place a short vertical line at the 8" mark of the horizontal line. 4) Save as .EPS

5) Resize by constraining the proportions. More or less that's how I created mine. Above instructions originally appeared on the book Design Basics Index of designer Jim Krause. Report abuse (/future/report/comment/823?destination=node%2F1546)

I am trying to find examples of the Golden Ratio in nature and insects, anyone got any tips? Great article! (/users/stories2wear) Stories2Wear December 21, 2012 at 18:07 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/852?destination=node%2F1546)

Stories2Wear: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aeonium_tabuliforme.jpg (/users/alan092177) alan092177 January 02, 2013 at 00:55 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aeonium_tabuliforme.jpg) the swirling pattern on the shell of snails are said to be a good example of the golden ratio. i just couldn't find where i read/saw

that. Report abuse (/future/report/comment/879?destination=node%2F1546)

Great post. Thanks for sharing!

(/users/applexdesign) applexdesign (http://applexlogos.blogspot.it) January 12, 2013 at 09:52 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/960?destination=node%2F1546)

Is it just me, but when I find articles about the Golden Ratio, it always creeps me out a little :L (/users/patriotdesigns) Patriotdesigns March 19, 2013 at 16:10 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/1434?destination=node%2F1546)

Amazing. I feel I have always used this technique a little anyway, it (/users/voxie) voxie March 21, 2013 at 14:47 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/1457?destination=node%2F1546) just didn't have a name. Thanks for highlighting this, I'll research more into it and use it more!

It's dynamics-led, the static spatial forms we see are the condensates from thermodynamical, temporal processes, for the (/users/asynsis) ASYNSIS March 25, 2013 at 06:11 geometric signatures of these in time, for a new paradigm of Form follows Flow: Cosmomimetic Design in Nature, Consciousness & Culture - Asynsis Principle-Constructal Law Seminar: Shanghai University-Nantes L'ecole de Design wp.me/p1zCSP-2i via @ASYNSIS Report abuse (/future/report/comment/1492?destination=node%2F1546)

Great article, I use the Golden Ratio all the time, it always provides a pleasing proportions. (/users/peterwooster) PeterWooster March 29, 2013 at 10:50 One error, it's the Parthenon in Athens, not the Panthenon. The Pantheon (only one n) is in Rome.

Report abuse (/future/report/comment/1541?destination=node%2F1546)

The fibonacci sequence is not the same as the Golden Ratio - it is an approximation. Each pair of sequential numbers in the fibonacci (/users/danielflippance) danielflippance June 17, 2013 at 03:08 sequence has a different ratio: 1:2 = 1:2 2:3 = 1:1.5 3:5 = 1:1.6666666 5:8 = 1:1.6 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/2534?destination=node%2F1546)

My appreciation for the Golden Section started my first year in architecture school and to this day still amazes how intuitively we (/users/kennethhart) Kennethhart August 06, 2013 at 14:35 respond to the proportional system in both the natural and manmade environments. A great brief but to the point article! THX! Ken

Report abuse (/future/report/comment/3120?destination=node%2F1546)

Technically, not 1.61. Ratio is 1:1.618 (1.618033988749895), i.e. closer to 1.62. (/users/timgcreative) timgcreative August 07, 2013 at 17:25 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/3136?destination=node%2F1546)

danielflippance you're right the fibonacci sequence is not the Golden ratio - but I (/users/ychampo) ychampo October 25, 2013 at 10:05 believe no-one made that claim. However, the two are closely related. The growth rate in the Fibonacci sequence, for example, tends toward the Golden Ratio (the two would meet "toward inifinity" if that were possible); and that has always filled me with

awe. Report abuse (/future/report/comment/4263?destination=node%2F1546)

Hi, might want to check out these t-shirt designs: http://www.dsyfa.com/product/spiral-tee/ (/users/cleverthinkingmedia) cleverthinkingmedia January 30, 2014 at 16:05 Report abuse (/future/report/comment/5596?destination=node%2F1546) (http://www.dsyfa.com/product/spiral-tee/)

Log in to Creative Bloq with your preferred social network to comment

or log in with your Creative Bloq account

Username

Password

Log in

Forgotten your username or password? (/user/password)

Don't have an account?

Join now. It's completely free and takes seconds

Join (/user/register)

Advertising (/Advertising)

About Us (/About-Us)

Contact (/Contact)

Future is AOP & PPA Digital Publisher of the Year and BMA Media Company of the Year. Creative Bloq is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. We produce content across five core areas: Technology Entertainment Music Creative

Top

TechRadar (http://w w w .techradar.com/) CVG (http://w w w .computerandvideogames.com/) MusicRadar (http://w w w .musicradar.com/) Digital Camera World (http://w w w .digitalcamera

T3 (http://w w w .t3.com/)

PC Gamer (http://w w w .pcgamer.com/) Guitarist (http://w w w .musicradar.com/guitarist) Mollie Makes (http://w w w .molliemakes.com/)

Mac|Life (http://w w w .maclife.com/)GamesRadar (http://w w w .gamesradar.com/) FutureMusic (http://w w w .musicradar.com/futuremusic) Photography Week (http://photographyw eek.dig

Gizmodo UK (http://w w w .gizmodo.co.uk/) Total Film (http://w w w .totalfilm.com/) Rhythm (http://w w w .musicradar.com/rhythm) The Simple Things (http://w w w .thesimplethings

More... (http://w w w .futureplc.com/w More... hat-w(http://w e-do/portfolios/technology/) w w .futureplc.com/w More... hat-w(http://w e-do/portfolios/entertainment/) w w .futureplc.com/w More... hat-w(http://w e-do/portfolios/music/) w w .futureplc.com/w hat-w e-do Sport & Auto BikeRadar (http://w w w .bikeradar.com/) Cyclingnew s (http://w w w .cyclingnew s.com/) Football Week (http://w w w .thefootballw eek.net/) TriRadar (http://w w w .triradar.com/) More... (http://w w w .futureplc.com/w hat-w e-do/portfolios/sport-and-auto/)

About Future (http://w w w .futureplc.com/about/)

Jobs (http://w w w .yourfuturejob.com/)

PR (http://w w w .futureplc.com/new s/)

Advertising (http://w w w .futureplc.com/w hat-w e-do/advertising-solutions/)

Digital Future (http://advertising.digitalfuture.com/)

Privacy Policy (http://w w w .futureplc.com/privacy-policy/)

Cookies Policy (http://w w w .futureplc.com/cookies-policy/)

Terms & Conditions (http://w w w .futureplc.com/terms-and-conditions/)

Subscriptions (http://w w w .myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/)

Investor Relations (http://w w w .futureplc.com/investors/)

Contact Future (http://w w w .futureplc.com/contact/)

Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.