The Golden Ratio and Design Principles

The golden ratio has been used throughout history to compose art in a visually pleasing manner, and is even found in many places in nature. I find this correlation interesting, as perhaps it is the cognitive process of pattern recognition that makes it such an effective way to compose a design or artwork.

I created more point and line exercises, this time with a focus on using the golden ratio for a greater aesthetic quality, I also overlapped lines of varying thickness, which created the illusion of depth in a three dimensional space, only using two dimensional elements. Again I also used negative space to create shapes through the empty spaces in the background, similar to the principles of gestalt, where a simple shape cut from the background can appear as a complex form due to the brain’s capability to fill in the gaps.

This quote from Confucius is created according to the Fibonacci sequence, with the font sizes being given the numbers of the golden ratio. I also used tight line spacing, in order to make the words appear to fit together as a puzzle.

I find the gestalt principles highly interesting, as it is a fantastic example of the effectiveness of minimalism, using the brain’s functions to create universal meaning in simple forms. For example, using proximity to group objects together, figure and ground to create complex shapes from simple ones, and common fate to give the illusion of passing of time, while remaining confined to a static, two dimensional frame.

Figure and ground- these hexagons create the illusion of a three dimensional sphere.

Proximity and similarity- the rings are touching, and are the same size and shape, so are viewed as one logo, while the larger Japanese sun is a different colour and size, so has much less similarity, making it seem less connected with the group.

Common fate- the dots appear to be moving towards one common point, giving a sense of movement in time and position.