The golden ratio is also called the golden mean or golden section. Other names include extreme and mean ratio, medial section, divine proportion, divine section, golden proportion, golden cut, and golden number.

Some twentieth-century artists and architects, including Le Corbusier and Dalí, have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio—especially in the form of the golden rectangle, in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter is the golden ratio—believing this proportion to be aesthetically pleasing. The golden ratio appears in some patterns in nature, including the spiral arrangement of leaves and other plant parts and even the human body.

THE GOLDEN RATIO = 1.61803398875, or basically 1:1.6

But what’s the use of the golden ratio or why should it even be discussed? Those who have been designing for quite a while now are certainly familiar with this term. It’s an important number but it’s difficult to explain why. To summarize it, let’s just say, “Everything beautiful has the golden ratio in it.”

Using this ratio in your design can make even the simplest design beautiful. Human brain has a tendency of decrypting the golden ratio as beautiful.

Examples

Google

If you look closely, you’ll find the golden ration in google’s logo. The size of the capital G, the small g, the o—all are in proportion.

Even the new logo, which is basically a circle, is following the golden ratio. The proportion of the outer and inner circle is 1.6.

Here are some more famous logos that have the golden ratio in them.

It’s surprising and amazing how often you’ll see golden ratio if you look for it. From flower petals to the shape of your nose, the painting of mona lisa, the pyramids, shellfish—the list goes on and on. It’s everywhere. It’s up to you how creatively you can apply it in your design to beautify it.