In the world of design principles, several numeric relationships are pleasing to the eye. These include the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci Sequence.
Golden Ratio
The Golden Ratio is a ratio between two sections of a greater whole and is approximately equal to 0.618. It repeats itself regularly in nature, for example in seashells. Mankind uses it in architecture (Stonehenge), art (Mondrian), and even the Stradivarius violin.1
Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci Sequence grows through adding two number together to get the next number in the sequence, such as 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etcetera. Classic poets (Virgil), musicians (Mozart), and architects (Le Corbusier), used the Fibonacci Sequence in their creations. 1
Thee I Trust
The digital line art, Thee I Trust, is named for two reasons. It represents my trust of the Golden Ratio, which I use as the basis for some creations and to contribute in part to others. The second reason is the placement of the two cones with one leaning upon the other for support.
Cone Construction
Thee I Trust began as a game to combine the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence in a series of concentric circles to create the illusion of movement. I continued to multiply the discs in pursuit of this goal. It failed, but rather than toss away all that work, I used them as construction pieces to build a cone. After considerable experimentation, I came up with the cone in Thee I Trust.
The Discs
The concentric circles are purple and green. The change in the diameters of the purple circles increases in proportion to the Golden Ratio for halfway then decreases again. The same applies to the green circles, using the Fibonacci Sequence.
The compounding of discs occurs with the Golden Ratio rounded off to whole numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18.
The Cone
The discs sit at even intervals along a straight base with the Golden Ratio curve guiding their sizing. The number of each disc used follows the Fibonacci Sequence: 1 x 18 discs, 1 x 11 discs, 2 x 7 discs, 3 x 4 discs, 5 x 3 discs, 8 x 2 discs, and 13 x 1 disc.
In the final collation, the cone is replicated. The discs of one cone graduate from the smallest to the largest, the other in reverse. They are positioned with one cone standing and the other resting on it. Hence, Thee I Trust is created.
1 Lidwell, William, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler. 2010. Universal Principles of Design. Beverly Massachusetts: Rockport Publishers.