Graphic Design + Golden Mean

Also known as the Golden Ratio or the Fibonacci sequence, this equation is said to have fascinated intellectuals and artists for at least 2,400 years. Mathematicians in Ancient Greece first studied what we now call the golden ratio because of its frequent appearance in geometry. Artists and architects are said to have turned to the resulting proportions as a result of its prevailance in nature. When a project needs a compositional jump-start, the Fibonacci Spiral is a good place to start.

Once you’ve become familiar with it, the Golden Mean can be found almost everywhere.

The Golden Mean informs many of nature’s proportions.

The Golden Mean informed many of the great works of art.

The Golden Mean minus its spiral.

The Golden Mean can be found in many modern designs.

also known as the Fibonacci Spiral

Any reference guide worth looking at will at least mention it.

The Fibonacci Spiral can be found everywhere in nature.

When it came time to design the poster for the 2015 Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship, turning to the Golden Mean made for a solid strategy. The plan was to not focus on a specific martial artist, as was done in previous years, but instead feature the number and variety of competitors this event attracts. Below is a selection of images depicting the gradual evolution of the Championship poster.

Initial design for the 2015 Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship

Second round, design 1 of 2. It features alternate color scheme and revised competitor choices.

Second round, design 2 of 2. It features alternate color scheme and revised competitor choices.

The size of photo-frames are informed by the Golden Mean while the Fibonacci Spiral guides the eye.

The poster’s color scheme continues to evolve while the fundamental composition remains solid.

Third round design, 1 of 2 features more competitor photos.

Third round design 2 of 2, the poster’s color scheme continues to evolve.

Dispite the increase in the number of photo-frames, their proportions and composition remain informed by the Golden Ratio.

The Final Poster design.

A view of the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Spiral behind the design.

This later variation was designed as the cover to the tournament’s registration booklet.

The Key Fibonacci Spiral remains largely the same with minor changes to text and logo elements.

This same design motif was also applied to the event’s online presence: TigerClawElite.com.

The same visual motif as applied to the event website.

Background image for TigerClawElite.com