So where did this sequence come from? Some of you are probably ahead of me: it originated in nature. The advantages of the ratio are numerous, including a well-balanced composition and the ability to lead the viewer’s eye around the page following the sweeping arc of the spiral. The golden ratio was the driving force behind the grid system in Swiss Style compositions-including those by Josef Müller-Brockmann, one of the pioneers of Swiss Style-and is commonly used today in logo, product and layout design. A visual translation of this sequence results in the golden ratio, providing an iconic spiral you might recognize. Beginning with zero and 1, each subsequent number in the sequence is determined by the sum of the two preceding numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc. It is known by many names, including the golden ratio, divine proportion, divine section, the golden mean and the golden number. The ancient Greeks considered it to be the most beautifully proportioned ratio. Perhaps one of the first lessons graphic designers learn in a Swiss-based degree program is the Fibonacci sequence, in which we inevitably think to ourselves, “If I had wanted to do math, I would have pursued a different career.” To our surprise, the ratio derived from this mathematical sequence has a significant bearing on aesthetics. Biomimicry seeks to learn these lessons and emulate them in our products, processes and systems to bring about a more sustainable future. Species that have learned over time the strategies necessary to survive for the long haul, a lesson we humans would do well to learn. The organisms that surround us are champion species. “Bio-” meaning life and “-mimicry” meaning the action of imitating, biomimicry is the act of consciously emulating nature’s genius to create conditions conducive to life.

While it is a brand-new official field of study, biomimicry has been around for as long as mankind has existed. If you’re like most people, you’ve never heard the term “biomimicry” before.

Nature's fibonacci sequence