Golden Ratio for Designers –Everything You Need to Know!

Is the concept of the golden ratio intimidating? Are you constantly wondering what it is and why it is essential for designers? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you are at the right place. This article will give you an insight into everything you must know about the Golden Ratio.

Every designer has their own style and understanding of art and design. It is subjective because what for one is ordinary can be a masterpiece for another. So, how do you know how close your design is to being ‘picture perfect’?

The Golden Ratio solves this problem by turning your art into an ultimate aesthetic piece. It is a mathematical number that is present in everything around us, be it man-made or natural. Once you know the theory of this ratio, you will be able to notice it everywhere. That is why this number is revered as the Divine proportion.

So, without further ado, let us find the answer to the golden ratio.

What is the Golden Ratio?

It is a mathematical approach devised by the Greeks after noticing a recurring visual pattern in nature. Long answer short, the Golden Ratio equals 1.618 when taken the first three decimal places. You must be wondering on what basis this ratio was reached. This is how the golden ratio formula works.

(Source : Google Images)

Divide a line into two; if their ratio equals their sum to the smaller section, you will get the golden ratio. For example, if you divide a line into ‘A’ and ‘B,’ where ‘A’ is the larger section, it will be in the golden ratio if the ratio of the sum of ‘A’ and ‘B’ to ‘A’ is the same as the ratio of ‘A’ to ‘B’.

Thousands of years ago, researchers noticed a recurring mathematical sequence in everything they saw. From the patterns of leaves to the scales of a pineapple, it was everywhere. Even the human body reflected the principles of the golden ratio.

The golden ratio symbol is represented by the Greek letter ‘Phi’. This number is based on the very famous Fibonacci Sequence. The sequence involves the sum of the previous two numbers. Starting from 0, you can see the arrangement as 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, up to infinity.

Calculating the ratio of the Fibonacci number with the previous digit in the sequence, one can arrive at the value 1.61803… The number can be quite long, so only three digits are taken after the decimal. That is how the golden ratio was introduced!

But why use it in art and design? Why is the golden ratio important?

Why is the Golden Ratio Important?

By now, you must have got the hang of the golden ratio and its arrival. This golden ratio is present in architectural designs, artwork, music, nature, and more, from the Eiffel Tower to the petals of a rose, and also in the very famous painting of Mona Lisa.

(Source : Google Images)

If you look at all the practical examples, you can find one thing in common—the perfect image composition. The golden ratio helps a designer obtain a harmonious piece of aesthetically pleasing art. It helps a designer create a perfect image or design, delightful to the eye.

Effortlessly the golden ratio lets you build focus on the most crucial portion of an art piece. It makes you create a balanced outcome that is pleasing from every angle. While artists have unique capabilities for formulating designs, the golden ratio has become the yardstick of wholesomeness in art.

One of the most significant aspects of this ratio is that it gives you a simple number to achieve perfection. Moreover, it is very easy to incorporate it into your daily work. From lettering to designing, you can use it to enhance your overall output.

Let us get to some of the most common ways of creating these golden proportions.

Practical Use of Golden Ratio for Designers

The Greeks used it to design buildings of perfect dimensions. Leonardo Da Vinci created the Last Supper by extensively applying this ratio. That is not all. It is believed by many that even the Great Pyramid of Egypt was constructed with the help of the golden ratio!

When all the great artists and designers have religiously incorporated this mathematical number, nothing should stop you from doing so.

How to Use the Golden Ratio in Designing?

You can best understand its use by learning to form the basic shapes with the help of this ratio. The most commonly-used golden shapes include rectangles, triangles, circles, and spirals.

Here is a step-by-step guide to creating a rectangle with the help of the golden ratio. Once this is clear, making other golden shapes will be a piece of cake.

How to Create a Golden Rectangle?

Step 1: Draw a square of your preferred size. You must note that this square’s size will determine the rectangle’s breadth.

Step 2: Draw a vertical line right at the center of the square. It will divide the figure into two halves. Now, you have two rectangles of equal size.

Step 3: Draw a diagonal line in one of the rectangles. The line should be straight, connecting two opposite corners of one of the figures.

Step 4: Rotate the diagonal line such that it touches the bottom. Extend the breadth of the current rectangle to touch the curve. You will get a quarter of a circle or a curved figure.

Step 5: With the help of this extended line, create a new rectangle. The horizontal line will be the breadth of the new rectangle, while the original rectangle’s side will be the common length.

If you notice the entire figure, you have three small rectangles or a big one enclosing all three. Voila! Your golden rectangle is ready!

There is another way to get the same result.

Step 1: Draw a small rectangle of any size, then draw a square of the same size right on top.

Step 2: You will get a bigger rectangle. Now draw another square on the right side of this figure. The new square’s dimensions should be the sum of the small square and rectangle.

Step 3: Draw another square at the bottom, with its dimensions equal to the current figure. Similarly, draw another square on its left, top, and right side until you get the following figure.

Your golden rectangle is complete. As you see here, its dimensions have been taken with the help of the ratio 1:1.618. When you divide 1000 pixels or 1000 cm by 1.618, you get 618. That is the dimension of the biggest square here.

How to Create a Golden Spiral?

Using the above figure, you create a golden spiral.

Step 1: Once the figure is ready, draw an arc dividing the smallest rectangle. Next, draw another arc in the smallest square.

Step 2: Similarly, draw an arc in every square, creating a growing spiral. You may use a compass to draw the bigger arcs. Here is the final figure.

Your golden spiral is complete!

How to Create a Golden Circle?

Using the previously drawn golden rectangle, you can create a golden circle.

Step 1: Create a golden rectangle.

Step 2: Draw a circle in each of the squares.

Congratulations! You have successfully drawn the golden circles. Now that you have the basic knowledge let us see how you can use them in designing. Here are a few ways to how you can use the golden ratio in your designing work.

1.      Golden Ratio in Logo Designing

The logo is the reflection of your brand. It is used to deliver your company’s core message and create a brand identity. That is why it is essential to create a logo design that will sit in the minds of your customers at first look. With the help of the golden ratio, you can construct a logo that is pleasant to the eyes.

(Source : Google Images)

Some of the greatest brands, such as Pepsi, Apple, and many more, have followed the same rule to create logos. It has helped these brands connect to their audience almost instantly.

Don’t believe it? From the bitten Apple logo to Twitter’s blue birdie, their logo design process incorporates the golden ratio as a standard benchmark.

Golden ratio logo examples can be found in places where you can least imagine. The golden ratio helps logo designs get the right proportions and ideal positioning every single time.

2.      Golden Ratio in Layouts

A layout is a significant tool when it comes to graphic design. It helps you arrange elements on a page by determining their positions and giving it a proper structure. With the help of layouts, you can design a page that clearly communicates your message.

(Source : Google Images)

By incorporating the golden ratio here, you can determine the correct dimensions of panels. For example, you can use the golden spiral to place your images in the correct spot. Additionally, you can use the golden rectangle to divide your page into sections of content and images.

These are just two examples. You can do much more to enhance your layout with the help of the golden ratio. By dividing a layout’s width by the ratio 1:1.618, you will get the focal point for your main content. It will be more pleasing and attractive to your viewers.

3.      Golden Ratio in Typography

Not only shapes, but you can also use the golden ratio to find out the ideal size for your text. Typography is one of the most vital aspects of delivering your message pleasantly. If your text is too small, it will be a big turn-down for the reader resulting in skipping your page.

(Source : Google Images)

On the other hand, if your text is too big, it will look distorted and unorganized. The same goes for uneven sizes. You can get the correct size hierarchy for your content using this mathematical ratio. It would result in an outcome that seems easy to read and attractive to the eyes.

For example, if the body text of your page is 12 pixels, you can multiply it by 1.618 to get 19.4. Therefore, your optimum heading size would be 18-19 pixels. If your title is 28px and you want the correct size for your body text, divide it by 1.618. The result is 17.3. Thus, you can choose 17 or 18 for your text.

The golden ratio isn’t always one of the critical elements of an appealing design, but it can definitely act like a cheat code sometimes.

4.  Golden Ratio for Images

Images are the center point of any page. They can deliver your message even before the viewer reads the title or the content. It is the first thing that your customer will notice. Therefore, getting the right image size, composition, and position is paramount.

(Source : Google Images)

You may resize your image or change its position. How do you know the correct position that grabs your viewer’s attention? Use the golden spiral technique! All you must do is place the spiral on top of the image.

If the main or focal point of the image falls right at the center of the spiral, consider the size correct. The same method can be used to place the image on the page correctly. Centralizing the picture will add more energy to the overall look.

Golden Ratio Tools

Do you now realize the significance of the golden ratio in designing? Even though you may have understood its use, putting it into practice may seem a little complicated. So, what’s the solution?

Multiple tools can help you incorporate the golden ratio in your design work. Here are a few of them

  • Golden RATIO is an app that helps designers create layouts, websites, and more with the golden ratio. It also fixes the ratio in logo design.
  • Golden Ratio Calculator is a tool that allows you to figure out the golden ratio by measuring the dimensions.

(Source : https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/math/goldenratio.php)

·         Golden Ratio Typography calculator helps you optimize your page by giving the correct font dimensions.

Does the golden ratio feel a bit like magic? Wait until you experience the magic of a subscription workforce.

Endnotes

The golden ratio has a plethora of uses for designers, irrespective of their work. Be it a small or big project, it can help you level up by creating designs with harmonious proportions and consistency. The golden ratio can dramatically enhance your work, from minor editing to creating large designs!

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