• It is a common mathematical ratio found in nature that can be used to create pleasing, natural looking compositions in design. It is called as Golden ratio. 
  • It is also known as Golden mean.
  • It is represented by Greek letter 'phi'.
  • The golden ratio is probably best understood as the proportions 1:1.618.
  • The ratio itself is derived from the Fibonacci sequence, a naturally occurring sequence of numbers.
  • From the Fibonacci sequence, the Greeks developed the golden ratio to better express the difference between any two numbers in succession within the sequence.
  • The total width of the fixed layout is 960 px. You divide this into a content area and a sidebar. The content area is the longer of the two areas.
  • If you divide the total width of 960px by 1.618, you get 593 px. You then assign this length to the content area.
  • You assign the remaining 367 px to the sidebar.

   Golden shapes for use:
  • The most used golden shapes in design are Golden Rectangles, Golden Circles, and Golden Triangles.

   Golden ratio used in logos design:
  •  For many successful businesses, their logo is a visual shorthand to connect to customers and immediately convey their mission. The golden ratio provide a can’t-miss way to create a logo that supports your brand and captures the attention of all who see it. After all, your logo is often the first thing consumers remember about a company.
 

  Golden ratio used in designing websites:
  •  Site’s layout is, one of the clearest ways to use design to draw in customers. A golden spiral -- as it sounds, a circular representation of the golden ratio can help you divide the space in a visually pleasing way. 
  • Golden rectangles can even be used as division points for the various visual elements you may incorporate into your layout. 
  • One simple way to apply the golden ratio to your site is to maintain the proportions between the body of your site and the sidebar.

Golden ratio used in architecture:
  • Red – Vertical height of base at ground level : Top of first level : Top of second floor
  • Blue – Vertical height of base of second level : Top of second level : Top of third level
  • Green – Horizontal width of outside of left top section : Inside of top right section : Outside of top right section:
Notre Dame in Paris illustrating golden ratios

  • In India, it was used in the construction of the Taj Mahal, which was completed in 1648.
taj-mahal-golden-ratio

taj-mahal-entry-golden-ratio
  • The CN Tower in Toronto, the tallest tower and freestanding structure in the world, has contains the golden ratio in its design. The ratio of observation deck at 342 meters to the total height of 553.33 is 0.618 or phi, the reciprocal of Phi.