Design Principles: Grids and Divine Proportions

Fibonacci Sequence:

Fibonacci Sequence

• Sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89....
• Related to page sizes within Graphic Design- Ratio 8:13
• Creates proportions that were made up within nature, like in flowers- produces a perfect swirl and highlights the natural beauty of the human figure.
• The higher numbers in the sequence works for column widths whereas smaller numbers in the sequence works for margins, line heights and font sizes. 

Rose with Fibonacci Swirl

Mona Lisa with Fibonacci Swirl

Layout of Twitter follows this Pleasing Aesthetic

From this, we made our own examples of producing the Fibonacci sequence.

Fibonacci Sequence

This reflects in Text

• 55 point title is complimented by a 34 point body copy by applying Fibonacci Sequence
• Keeps relation to text size and value equal

Dividing the Page

• Golden Section- Rectangle in which page length to width is divided
• Froms the basis of paper sizes
• 1.62 is the Golden Number- This is the number that you divide the length by to get your proportions. This comes from the dividing of 2 numbers next to each other in the Fibonacci sequence with the difference between the 2 usually being 1.62
• Achieving balance within Design and aesthetically pleasing results

Example of how the Golden Section Calculation works

From this, we made our own examples of producing a balanced layout using the Golden Section. This produced the same layout as it did with the Fibonacci sequence.

Golden Section

The Rule of Thirds:

• The placement of points of interest in a scene
• When divided into thirds, your eyes will notice more around the middle
• The eye is more likely to comfortably view
• This is broken down further into Information Points which add more important things
• Makes it easy to the eye and draws people to the key pieces of information

The way the Rule of Thirds is Set Out

From this, using the different magazines, we were to find an article and identify the rule of thirds within the page

The Rule of Thirds

Then we went onto dividing the pages some other pages from the magazines in regards to their grids. We had to identify areas such as Columns, Headers, Images and Sub-headings.

Dissecting the Grids of Different Magazines

Then, we had the opportunity to make our own experiments by manipulating the different grids to produce new layouts.

Experimentation of Layouts

These experimentations show how differently some magazines are made up and the ways that they appeal to their select audience.

Study Task:

We had to look into the Fibonacci Sequence and the way paper is proportioned. I managed to find some relative design work that fits in with this:

"A Poster" (2013) by Purpose

Purpose (2013) "A Poster" [Internet] Available from http://www.purpose.co.uk/news/purpose-launch-online-shop/ (Accessed 15th February 2013)

This informative and useful piece of design presents the various proportions for each size of paper, making an info-graphic that makes use of the space and scale of the paper stock to maximise the effect of the information on it. The monochrome colour choice makes the poster seem classic and makes sure that the information and message is at the forefront of the poster, with the layout reflecting its purpose.

"Persona Brand Identity" (2013) by Miguel de la Garza

de la Garza, M. (2013) "Persona Brand Identity' [Internet] Available from http://migueldelag.com/Persona (Accessed 15th February 2013)

The brand identity of the brand Persona uses the Fibonacci sequence and layout, even to the degree that it includes the spiral which highlights the appealing layout and spacial awareness of the overall design. The monochrome colour scheme makes the most of the need to have a professional brand as it seems sterile and business-like in aesthetic.


Using the Fibonacci Sequence that we produced, we need to make a custom page size that is random, e.g.. 3cm x 5cm. It is to be about A3- A2 size maximum and big enough to fit a double page spread.

First of all, I tried some of the possible custom sizes I could use. I just did this on some A3 Squared paper and to a rather small scale of the Fibonacci Sequence just to test out the shapes and sizes that would come out from the imbalanced proportion sizes.

Fibonacci Sequence Custom Page Experiment Design Sheets

The scale which I felt was the most successful on a small scale was the 3cm x 2cm as it created a nice square shape as a small scale sequence therefore I wanted to see whether it would have the same effect as a larger scale custom page.

3cm x 2cm on a Large Custom Scale

I produced the large scale version on a A2 sized paper and has produced a square outcome which I think would create a nicely shaped grid for a custom publication layout. This would mean that, if it was used as a double page spread, it would provide an interesting narrow page layout.