When designers talk about grids and ratios, most of the time they are talking about the Rule of Thirds or the Golden Mean. In this article, I will tell you about the Golden Mean and how it is used in Art and Design, and how you can incorporate into your own designs. Stay tuned to the Magnific Blog for a future article on the Rule of Thirds.
Nature and Numbers
If you have ever seen a seashell or a pine cone, you have been a witness, albeit maybe unconsciously, to the natural mathematical phenomenon of the Golden Mean, or Golden Ratio. At a ratio of 1:1.61… the Golden Mean is the mathematical solution of explaining how plants grow, how new leaves place themselves on the plant, and even how bees reproduce.
The number behind The Golden Ratio is Phi, the Greek name for the irrational and never-ending number 1.6180339…., also called the Golden Number. Convergently, all shapes that follow this 1:1.618 ratio are called “Golden”.
In the Middle Ages, an Italian Mathematician named Fibonacci studied the golden number Phi and a series of numbers that when divided through a mathematical formula always resulted in a very close approximation of Phi. This number sequence is called the Fibonacci Sequence and it relates directly to the Golden Mean.
When the Golden Mean is applied to design, it’s like gifting the design with a special natural capability of looking better, of getting the message across more efficiently, of being more attractive and relatable. The Golden Mean, while mirroring nature, is used to organize objects in a frame following the lines and spaces that the Golden Mean delineates.
Visualizing the Golden Mean
The best way to visualize how the Golden Mean works is to start with a rectangle, a golden rectangle to be exact. A perfect golden rectangle would measure 1000 x 618. This is a golden rectangle because it follows the Golden ratio of 1:1.618.
If you add a square inside that measures 618 x 618, the remainder of the shape is another golden rectangle that measures 618 x 382. Do it one more time and add another square that measures 382 x 382. Now you have another golden rectangle. This cutting away can continue forever and what it creates for us visually is the memorable spiral that we refer to as the Golden Mean or Golden Spiral. Yes, this concept has many names!
The Golden Mean in Nature and Art
Artists have been using the Golden Mean to create art for centuries. Mathematicians and artists alike have proven how the Golden Mean is present everywhere, from flowers to the human ears and even to the proportions of how things grow, plants and animals alike.
Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci used the Golden Mean in all his artwork, most famously on the Mona Lisa.
How to apply the Golden Mean to your designs
Graphic Designers, Fine Artists and Photographers alike can use the Golden Mean to create engaging compositions that are ultimately more pleasing to the viewer.
The most important “rule” for using the Golden Mean in design is to remember that it’s not a strict rule, but rather a guide. The Golden Mean or Golden Proportion as it used to be called during the Renaissance is a way of guiding your composition towards a more pleasing visual effect. Using the Golden Mean as a strict rule in every design can end up dampening your creativity because you won’t be thinking “out of the box”. This is why designers need to take The Golden Mean as a guide and not as a rule set in stone.
Some of the most famous Renaissance artists, especially Leonardo Da Vinci used Golden Proportions in most of their art, sometimes down to very small details. Leonardo Da Vinci also spent years perfecting one painting, designers don’t have time for that!
Getting Practical
Try placing a golden mean as a base in your design, or have it on your workboard ready to be placed on top of your design. If you look at the Mona Lisa for example, the Golden Mean is not flush to the sides of the painting, it only applies to the area that encompasses her body, actually if you dig deeper, every aspect of her face can fit inside a Golden Mean. This is what I mean by using The Golden Mean as a guide, even Leonardo who was an “addict” of the Golden Proportion used it in different ways.
The main idea behind the Golden Mean is proportions, so it can be applied to the entire design or also to sections of the design. A social media post for example that needs to have a photo of a person and some text can use the Golden Mean as a guide for where to place the person and where to place the text. You can also turn whatever photo into a golden rectangle.
Use this nifty calculator to turn any rectangle into a golden rectangle. Just add either the width (a) or the height (b) and it will automatically calculate what the size of the other side needs to be for it to be a golden rectangle.
Golden Rectangle Calculator
Golden Rectangle Calculator Golden Rectangle Calculator by OmniLet’s get GOLDEN!
I am going to use this photo and create a design that follows the golden mean.
Here is the result:
The first thing I did was crop the rectangle to convert it into a golden rectangle. Also as you can see I used the Golden Mean twice to compose the woman’s body in the frame. The large spiral rests on her legs and the smaller spiral that is positioned inside the golden rectangle section to the right rests on her face. The text is aligned with the curve of the larger spiral, meaning that it’s inside the bottom golden proportion of the entire rectangle.
Here is the final design without the Golden Mean guides.
Do you feel that the elements in the design are pleasingly positioned? That is up to you to decide. Some designers use The Golden Mean all the time, and others stay away from it. No way of knowing it if helps you if you don’t try using it right?
Using Golden Proportions on any shape
Not every design you make will be a Golden Rectangle or Golden Shape, but every design can be separated into sections according to the Golden Proportion. Let’s say you are creating an Instagram post, which is square.
Let’s say you are creating it at 1000 x 1000. The way to find the golden proportion in that square would be to divide 1000 / 1.68 which is 595. Create a rectangle inside the square that measures 595 on one side and 1000 on the other and separates the area. Now you have a square divided into golden proportions. Do not be mistaken though, this square is NOT a golden square, it has only been separated into golden proportions.
Once you have separated your shape into golden proportions you can compose your graphics according to the spaces created.
The same can be applied to a header which is more rectangular and flat. Let’s take a rectangle that is 600 x 200 and separate it into golden proportions.
Do you use the Golden Mean or Golden Ratio in your designs? Do you use Golden Proportions, also sometimes called the Phi Grid?
Here is a bonus video for you to dig deeper into the mysteries of the Golden Mean. Happy Designing!
