Some claim that the design of the United Nations headquarters building in New York City exemplifies the application of the golden ratio in architecture. Debunkers of the golden ratio say no, that this is just another groundless myth to be dispelled. Let's look at the history of its design, the sources of the claims and mathematics of the dimensions. Perhaps we can come to a … [Read more...]
Golden Ratio Myth, Fact and Misunderstanding: The missing evidence
There are many misconceptions and misrepresentations about the golden ratio. Some look too fervently for patterns and say it exists where it really doesn't. Some whose goal is to debunk golden ratio myth say it doesn't exist where it really does, missing the obvious and often not stating what proportions appear instead. People on both sides often just repeat what they've heard … [Read more...]
Da Vinci and the Golden Ratio – Las Vegas style
Elvis Presley, Celine Dion, Penn & Teller, the Rat Pack and many others have found their way to Las Vegas. Now Leonardo Da Vinci and the Golden Ratio are headlining. Is it a sequel to "The Da Vinci Code," or one more crazy Las Vegas movie like "The Hangover" or "Last Vegas?" No, it's actually quite different from that, and quite a bit more educational and … [Read more...]
Phi and Geometry
Phi (Φ) was described by Johannes Kepler as one of the "two great treasures of geometry." (The other is the Theorem of Pythagoras.) Phi appears in many basic geometric constructions. 3 lines: Take 3 equal lines. Lay the 2nd line against the midpoint of the 1st. Lay the 3rd line against the midpoint of the 2nd. The ratio of AG to AB is Phi, the Golden Ratio. (Contributed by … [Read more...]
Logo Design using the Golden Ratio
Phi is often applied in product logos. From Renaissance artists of the 1500's to graphic artists of today, phi is recognized for its ability to give a sense of aesthetic appeal in balance and harmony of design. Product logos represent an image that must make a positive and memorable impact on the conscious and subconscious minds of consumers, so it is no surprise to find phi … [Read more...]
Product Design and Marketing applications of the Golden Mean
Phi is used in the design of many consumer products. Phi has been used to bring beauty, balance and harmony to some of the world's greatest art and architecture. It is also used to add style and appeal in the marketing and design of everyday consumer products. The applications are endless, but are illustrated by a few of the products below. Click on the image for a … [Read more...]
Aston Martin, James Bond and the Golden Ratio
What do James Bond, Aston Martin and the Golden Ratio have in common? James Bond, also known as 007, drove an Aston Martin DB5 in the movies GoldFinger and GoldenEye, and Aston Martin is now boasting its application of the Golden Ratio in the design of its latest DB9 and Rapide S automobiles. The Aston Martin Rapide S is described as: "Breathtaking Proportions - The ‘Golden … [Read more...]
Golden Ratio in Art Composition and Design
"Without mathematics there is no art," said Luca Pacioli, a contemporary of Da Vinci. Just as the Golden Section is found in the design and beauty of nature, it can also be used to achieve beauty, balance and harmony in art and design. It's a tool, not a rule, for composition, but learning how to use it can be a great Art 101 lesson on laying out a painting on a canvas. For … [Read more...]
Phi in the 23rd Century – Design of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise
Artists and designers have used for the golden ratio for elegance, balance and aesthetics in design since at least the Renaissance, and possibly even as far back as ancient Greece and ancient Egypt. If the vision of Gene Roddenberry for Star Trek continues on course, the design of future starships will also be based on the unique and timeless proportion of Phi, 1.618, the … [Read more...]
Seurat and the Golden Ratio in Art Composition
Georges Seurat (1859–1891) was a French Post-Impressionist painter, who according to Wikipedia, "is noted for his innovative use of drawing media and for devising the technique of painting known as pointillism." It continues, "His large-scale work A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884–1886) altered the direction of modern art by initiating … [Read more...]
