Entries Tagged 'LEARNING' ↓

The golden ratio and it’s occurrences in nature, math, geometry and art is interesting stuff. As far as math goes, the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio are so easy to wrap your head around:

In mathematics and the arts, two quantities are in the golden ratio if the ratio between the sum of those quantities and the larger one is the same as the ratio between the larger one and the smaller. The golden ratio is approximately 1.6180339887.
A distinctive feature of this shape is that when a square section is removed, the remainder is another golden rectangle, that is, with the same proportions as the first. Square removal can be repeated infinitely, which leads to an approximation of the golden spiral.

It’s said that aesthetically people prefer shapes that employ the golden ratio for proportion. I’ve never tried using this number in design, but last week I came across the Phiculator, it’s a simple flash application that does the math for you. You enter in a dimension and it will calculate the corresponding dimension based on the golden ratio. I know it’s not hard math to do (divide your larger side by 1.618), but the calculator makes it funner.

Sites I visit regularly to keep me current and interested in design:

I love Typography - Informative and well written articles about all aspects of typography, design, usage, classification. I’ve possibly learned more from this blog than I did in some of my type classes.

Design Observer - Hundreds (thousands?) of well written articles by a variety of qualified designers. This has been going on for 5 years now. Their sidebar is also a great place to browse as it contains an extensive list of resources: books, links, contributors, etc.

Typophile – This is a fancy looking forum for type designers and enthusiasts. A good place to search if you have a specific question regarding typography.

The Serif – There are an endless number of design gallery/inspiration sites popping up everyday, so I will only post one – my favorite, The Serif. I can’t credit the author because I don’t know who is responsible for this thing.

A Brief Message – Short form.

Typographica – Another type website, they do an annual best of list.

AIGA – “The Professional Association for design”

Click Opera – Momus is a connoisseur of design, art and culture.

Our generation has no choice but to indulge in a revised futurism beyond the historically-anchored concept of Futurism. Uninhibited time-shifting and multi-directional time-travel are more advanced than constantly pushing the seams of forward progress. With no new territory, we cannot simply be the New Adventures of Lewis and Clark to etch our names in heavy tomes. We must move back and forth, side to side in our honest attempt to break new ground.

-W. David MARX, Neojaponisme Manifesto

Despite it’s narrow color scheme, Neojaponisme covers a wide range of topics in depth. I love essay blogs, even if this one calls my blog content into question … “#5. We refuse to abandon the Net to hollow carbohydrates!” Also see it’s less formal companion, Meta no Tame.

I bought this British Fashion magazine, Lula, mostly for the font on the cover. I say mostly because I probably could have figured it out in the store (the font is Kursivschrift with modifications). Gripes: The thing is, it’s really self indulgent, overly hip and feminine, and doesn’t tell me about anything new. The interviews are set in this difficult typeface that makes me think they don’t want you to read!

I will probably buy it again, the photos are really nice.

The “official” cover / my cover (bootlegged??? haha)

Also hip and feminine: These paper dolls by Amy Earles.

On Saturday Dan and I visited the Cousteau Society “mini-museum”. It’s a one room space near the Air and Space Museum in Hampton. The place was pretty haphazardly put together – half the items weren’t labeled and it felt too awkward to take any pictures inside because were the only people there. They had: a cross section model of The Calypso (complete with little beanie clad explorers), a shark diving tank, a few tiny strange submarines, metallic diving suits, and a ton of interesting photographs.

Jacques Cousteau’s internet presence is much like this museum, I couldn’t find any information or proper websites with the exception of Cousteau Society (worthless) and some articles about the Calypso rotting away. We decided Jacques Cousteau would make a good Halloween costume, but that people will just assume you are Steve Zissou.