Imagine you have a piece of string. Now, you cut that string into two parts: a short part and a long part. The golden ratio happens when the relationship between the short part and the long part is the same as the relationship between the long part and the whole string.
So, if you have a yummy pizza, and you cut it into two pieces - a big piece and a small piece - the golden ratio is when the big piece is about 1.6 times bigger than the small piece, and the whole pizza is about 1.6 times bigger than the big piece.
This special number, the golden ratio, is about 1.618, and it makes things look really nice and balanced. People find it in art, nature, and even in buildings. It's like a secret math recipe that makes things pretty!
Five ways to apply the golden ratio in graphic design:
- Layout and composition You can use the golden ratio to create a balanced layout for your design. Divide your canvas into a grid using the golden ratio, and then place your design elements accordingly. Example: The Twitter app's layout uses the golden ratio to organize its interface elements, making it more visually appealing and user-friendly. Source: https://www.toptal.com/designers/ui/golden-ratio-in-ui-design
- Typography The golden ratio can be applied to choose the right font size for headings, subheadings, and body text. Multiply the body text font size by 1.618 to get the size for subheadings, and multiply the subheading size by 1.618 to get the size for headings. Example: In Apple's website design, the golden ratio is often used for the typography to create a harmonious relationship between different text elements. Source: https://www.canva.com/learn/what-is-the-golden-ratio/
- Logo design You can use the golden ratio to create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing logo. Example: The Apple logo was designed using the golden ratio, which can be observed in the curves and proportions of the apple and the leaf. Source: https://www.logo-designer.co/apple-logo-the-golden-ratio-design/
- Image sizing and cropping When resizing or cropping images for your design, you can use the golden ratio to create a more visually appealing result. Crop your images using the golden rectangle (a rectangle with a golden ratio aspect ratio) to create a composition that feels harmonious. Example: National Geographic often uses the golden ratio to crop their images for the magazine covers and layouts. Source: https://www.canva.com/learn/what-is-the-golden-ratio/
- Color harmony The golden ratio can be used to create a harmonious color palette. You can apply the golden ratio to determine the proportions of different colors in your design. Example: In web design, you can use the golden ratio to create a color palette with a main color, a secondary color, and an accent color, each occupying a proportion according to the golden ratio. Source: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/color-theory-for-designer-part-3-creating-your-own-color-palettes/