The Golden Ratio & How You Can Use it in Your Graphic Design

When it comes to  excellent design, mankind has been discussing it for as long as we've been building things, which is a long time. Many people have strong opinions about what makes for good design, and they are willing to share their opinions on forums, social media, blog posts, and in-person conversations.

Isn't that what distinguishes beautiful design from ordinary design? Everyone is responsible for their own perception. But there’s one thing we can all agree on when it comes to good design, whether we realise it or not. The Golden Ratio. 

The Golden Ratio, often known as the divine proportion, has been known for generations, but it holds its allure even today. This article will teach you how to apply the golden ratio to produce impressive designs  Let’s dive in! 

But what is The Golden Ratio? 

The Golden Ratio is a mathematical ratio that can be found everywhere, in nature, man-made architecture, design, it can even be found in our own bodies and faces. It’s no wonder our brains subconsciously prefer objects and images that use the golden ratio.

When two amounts are split in such a way that their ratios are equal to each other, as well as when their sums are equal to the bigger of the two numbers, they are said to be divided by the Golden Ratio. That number is 1.618, which is also known as Phi.

You must be wondering why we are discussing mathematics with regards to design. 

Don’t worry, we’ll get to the design part soon!

The Golden Ratio (a:b) is calculated by dividing a line into two pieces, with the longer of the two sections being (a): (a) divided by (b) equals 1.618, which is equivalent to (a) plus (b) divided by (a) being equal to 1. You'll find helpful formulas for when you create geometric forms, logos, layouts, and more with this formula.

Where is The Golden Ratio used?

You've most likely come across the golden ratio in nature countless times without even realising what you've seen. In a similar vein, you've certainly come across a slew of classical artworks without realising that they contain elements of the Fibonacci sequence.

Similarly to the underlying universal grid that can be found throughout nature, the golden section performs the same role. 

4 Ways to use the Golden Ratio  in Graphic Design

  1. Start with Typography and Hierarchy

Whenever you are designing a design that incorporates text, think about the hierarchy of your text in the layout. You can utilise the Golden Ratio to influence your typeface sizes, whether it is a poster, a wedding invitation, or a website layout.

You may think of B and A as less and more important text respectively (C). Multiply your smallest C font size (10px) by 1.618 to approximate greater C sizes.

  1. Logo Design 

When it comes to building a successful brand, an effective logo is essential. Within a split second, your logo can provide a simple understanding of your brand's key values and messaging.

Using the Golden Ratio while designing a logo is a good creative consideration, because it helps consumers remember your brand and connect with it at the same time.

Many world-renowned corporations, including Pepsi, Apple, and Twitter, have logos that include the Golden Ratio.

  1. Image Composition

It's always a good idea to stop, take a step back, and re-evaluate your photographs in a fresh perspective. However, if you're in a hurry, consider the Golden Spiral. Use a spiral to organise the parts of your photos, and determine if they work together well. The Golden Spiral can be used to calculate where you want focal points to go, as well as how to create headlines that have the greatest impact, or which aspects you want to move to boost the design's energy. White space is quite obvious when cropping photographs, thus you should be able to remove it easily. To ensure the image remains balanced when you enlarge it, how do you go about that? The Golden Spiral can be used as a visual reference for the image composition.

  1. Designing Layouts & Posters

It's always useful to refer back to the Golden Ratio when trying to combine several pieces into a single arrangement. Centrifugal forces naturally draw the eye to the centre of the spiral, making it a good idea to insert your most important statement in the middle. Designing a  user interface using the Golden Ratio can help you focus attention on the most critical data. For example, a page with a wide block of text on the left and a smaller column on the right illustrates the Golden Ratio's proportions.

The Golden Ratio can be found in a variety of different fields, including nature, architecture, painting, and music, and it is very hard to miss observing it in these fields. When employed in the context of design, it produces a visually integrated, well-balanced, and appealing design.

Get started using the golden ratio in your designs with our easy to use online graphic design software. Get started today.

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