Hunting for the Golden Ratio

Does the golden ratio exist in the world of art, architecture and design? Or is it a myth?

The golden ratio is regarded as a way to define something beautiful. Great artists such as Salvador Dalí is said to have used the number sequence in some of his painting. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece the Mona Lisa and even the Apple logo may all contain the golden ratio also know as the Fibonacci Sequence.

Flickr user Sébastien Bertrand

What is the golden ratio?

It is a math term that describes a ratio that is commonly found in nature 1 to 1.618 (1.6180339887… the decimal points go on forever). Two objects are in the golden ratio if their ratio is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities.

The golden ratio is found in nature in flowers, plants, pinecones, and fruits and vegetables. Nature’s way of packing the petal in flower helps the plant to absorb as much sun as possible. Tree branches form or split off the trunk creating a sequence (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55). Spiral galaxies follow the golden ratio and so does snails nautilus, and the human cochlea.

Logically nothing can strictly follow the golden ratio since it is an irrational number (a number that cannot be expressed as a ratio of a fraction). So the match is always going to be a little off.

The Golden Section Finder is a device that can be used when you walk around the city or on a nature walk. Spotting a potential golden ratio design is easy with this pocket-sized device. The golden section finder is an instrument or lens that helps our brains to capture patterns in our environments.

Admittedly many designers do not use the golden ratio and it is tricky to back the idea up with science, nevertheless, the golden ratio is fascinating. It is our way of searching for patterns that could lead us to see things that are not really there (go here to read The Golden Ratio: Design’s Biggest Myth).

Why not make your own golden rectangle. Draw something using the proportion. You can find templates for the golden ratio here.

We were inspired by golden ratio parrots.

What animal do you think could fit into the golden rectangle?

A whale or a . . . Go here or here to check out som stunning animal logos based upon the golden ratio.

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