Golden Ration

Golden ration is a common mathematical ratio existing in the nature that is used to construct compositions in design work. The Golden ratio describes the perfectly symmetrical relationship between two proportions. It has been in use since many years and can be observed in music, art, design and nature itself. The golden ratio is an irrational mathematical constant, approximately 1.6180339887.

The field of graphic designing has always been intriguing and interesting to me. In my Visual Arts lecture in school, I came across the golden ration present in many paintings, after which I reached about it further, coming across various logo’s, photographs that use the golden ratio to add symmetry and focus of the design. On researching I came across 2 types in which golden ratio can be used: the golden spiral and the golden rule of thirds. For my IA, I have chosen, the cover of a VOGUE India magazine to show the golden spiral and the W magazine cover to show the golden rule of threes. I chose this topic to understand golden ratio which I can use in future in the field that I will opt for, i.e. designing.

The golden ratio, also known as the divine proportion, golden mean, or golden section, is a number often encountered when taking the ratios of distances in simple geometric figures such as the pentagon, pentagram, decagon and dodecahedron.

Around 1200, mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci discovered the unique properties of the Fibonacci sequence. This sequence ties directly into the Golden ratio because if you take any two successive Fibonacci numbers, their ratio is very close to the Golden ratio. It is denoted j, phi.

Two numbers are in the golden ratio if the ratio of a larger number to a smaller number is the same as the sum of the two numbers to the larger number.

In simpler terms, take the two numbers A and B, where A is the larger number and B is the smaller number. This number has also been called the divine ratio, divine proportion, golden cut, and golden number. Ancient mathematicians first studied the golden ratio, astounded by its frequent appearance in geometry. They found that the golden ratio is found in a pentagon, tetrahedron, dodecahedron, and cube, no matter how the dimension’s change.

Phi is considered the most beautiful number in the world – when used to proportion buildings and paintings, the ratio is aesthetically pleasing. Architects have constantly used the golden ratio in the layouts of their creations. The Parthenon, pyramids of Egypt, the UN Building in New York all exhibit the golden ratio.

Works Cited:

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4. Kaufman, A. (2018, January 17). Director Greta Gerwig on the making of 'Lady Bird'. Los Angeles Times.
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