Through my research collaboration with design scholar Ron Eglash, author of “African Fractals,” I discovered that the design style that undergirds much of the graphic design profession today – the Swiss design tradition that uses the golden ratio – may have roots in African culture. The divine proportionThe golden ratio refers to the mathematical expression of “1: phi,” where phi is an irrational number, roughly 1.618. It’s also reflected in nature, architecture and design – and it forms a key component of modern Swiss design. The Swiss design style emerged in the 19th century from an amalgamation of Russian, Dutch and German aesthetics. It’s been called one of the most important movements in the history of graphic design and provided the foundation for the rise of modernist graphic design in North America.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 16, 2021 12:10 UTC