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Decoding Design by Maggie Macnab How Design Books
DESIGN OBSERVER - Maggie Macnab founded Macnab Design in 1981 and received highest honors from the American Advertising Federation ADDY for logo design in 1983. She has continued to receive national and international recognition for creating design that focuses on meaning, beauty and usefulness. Her unique approach integrates symbolic information into design to create effective and accessible visual communications that translate into any language and any culture.
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Wooden Books |
 | Recommended Reading this week are the beautifully illustrated titles by the Wooden Books imprint, of which there are currently over 60. They publish a wide range of short taster books on sacred geometry topics and related subjects. Plus the beefier 'Quadruvium' and 'Sciencia' pictured here. Wooden Books specialises in 'age-old' topics. It won Best Non-Fiction Series at the 2007 New York Book Fair. It's series of titles continues to grow. Most of the books are written by John Martineau, founder of Wooden Books. His MA project focussed on geometry and harmony in the solar systems. It was then the basis of his 'Book of Coincidence'. |
Cymatics by Hans Jenny
MACROmedia Press
978-1-88813-807-8
MACROmedia Press
978-1-88813-807-8
Recommended Read this week is 'Cymatics' by Hans Jenny (1904 - 1972). It is a primer for understanding the history of the field of cymatics (physics of sound), the geometry within sound waves and their creative influence. Probably best to read this first before last week's Recommended Read 'Interference Theory'.
Even our early ancestors knew that sound and its impact on us at a cellular level were highly important. Our depth of our understanding of the science of cymatics grows every day. The significance of sound in the creative process and its influence on us is becoming more mainstream since Jenny's early work. John Stuart Reid's cymascope has contributed significantly to this field.
I have included a couple of YouTube videos at the end of this blog for those of you who are new to the subject. These stunning geometric patterns are like animated mandalas.
This original hardcover edition now seems to be a collectible item and secondhand copies are quite expensive. It is currently reprinting and is due out March 2022 - Floris Books.
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Interference: A Grand Scientific Musical Theory by Richard Merrick
published by Richard Merrick
978-0-615-20599-1
published by Richard Merrick
978-0-615-20599-1
 | Recommended Read this week is Richard Merrick's book "Interference Theory", which falls into the field physic's cymatics, the science of sound. He analyses how our auditory system recognises sound as simple shapes. His Harmonic Interference Theory supports the view that sound and its geometry are the creative force; that matter is essentially crystallised harmonics, founded on geometry. A fairly technical read. Reminds me of John Stuart Reid's research into how dolphins communicate using sonic sound bubbles using his cymascope. Sound and silence in general (natural sound, musical, harmony, etc) is a fascinating subject area, notably its link to geometry. |
The Power of Limits: Proportional Harmonies in Nature, Art and Architecture
by Gyorgi Doczi
Shambhala Publications Ltd
978-1-59030-259-0
by Gyorgi Doczi
Shambhala Publications Ltd
978-1-59030-259-0
 | 'The Power of Limits' by Gyorgi Doczi (1909 - 1995) is a staple textbook for sacred geometry fans. With a emphasis on the recurring and ever popular Golden Mean spiral. There is no interpretation of the meaning of geometry, rather a detailed study of patterns and order in nature, art and architecture. Doczi main interest is harmony and so he looks closely at the important link between music (sound) and form. |
György Doczi (1905 - 1995) practiced architecture in Hungary, Sweden, Iran, and the United States. He initiated a permanent exhibit on form in nature and art at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, and was a founder of the Friends of Jungian Psychology Northwest.
Crystal & Dragon: A Cosmic Two Step by David Wade
Destiny Books, US
978-0-89281-404-6
Destiny Books, US
978-0-89281-404-6
This week's Recommended Read goes into pattern sharing in depth! "Crystal and Dragon" by David Wade is fascinating. A great supplement to my The Hidden geometry of Life since I summarise pattern sharing in two chapters. Similarly he is an artist and sculptor living in the UK. On my list of kindred souls I would like to meet.
David has also written about patterns for Wooden Books.
Exploring the interplay of form and energy, David Wade takes the reader on a journey through the world of successive ages from Plato's conception of the ideal form and the ancient Chinese philosophy of change to the modern scientific view of structure and indeterminacy as embodied in the laws of physics.
Numerous times I have had conversations about how worthwhile it would be to teach children the significance of mathematics using examples of geometry around us in Nature. In fact, using examples everything we interact with and the many fun ways in which we use it - as in our games, clothes, music and so many other relevant ways that a child can easily relate to, and understand it.
Sometimes I dabble with the idea of producing a book for children describing the richness of the language of numbers. Maybe I will do one day, but in the meantime I searched around to see if anyone else had already done so.......and discovered.....
Sometimes I dabble with the idea of producing a book for children describing the richness of the language of numbers. Maybe I will do one day, but in the meantime I searched around to see if anyone else had already done so.......and discovered.....
This Disney animation, "Donald in Mathmagic Land" was recommended to me. It is an example of how much more interesting, and memorable, mathematics could be made using visual, real examples from around us.
"The Greedy Triangle"....and several books that were already showing how fun the world of geometric shapes can be for the younger audience. In fact there were DOZENS approaching geometry-shapes and colours from different 'angles'!
Books on geometric shapes for young readers
"The I Hate Mathematics! book" by Marilyn Burns - '....a way of looking at the world and that it can be relevant to everyday life (Street maths) and fun'.
"Shapes, Shapes, Shapes" by Tana Hoban - 'Whenever you are - inside or outside - there are shapes to discover.'
"Shapes, Shapes, Shapes" by Tana Hoban - 'Whenever you are - inside or outside - there are shapes to discover.'
Spring flowers
Where better to see sacred geometry, colour, the Elements and pure creative intent - the components of alchemical art - than in Nature. Spring flowers provide us with a feast for our senses and overtly display the use of sacred geometry and colour to perfection. As living yantras they can be used for meditation and reflection. And it is not surprising that we have given flowers additional symbolic meanings, then presented as gifts to convey these meanings in an intimate and personal way.
Personally I could look at flowers for hours as they are fascinating as well as beautiful - within them we can find all the rules of the geometric blueprint, colour combinations reflecting harmonious musical notes, pattern making, fractals, stimulating scents...and so much more. But mostly because it is such a pleasant experience to be with flowers.
Personally I could look at flowers for hours as they are fascinating as well as beautiful - within them we can find all the rules of the geometric blueprint, colour combinations reflecting harmonious musical notes, pattern making, fractals, stimulating scents...and so much more. But mostly because it is such a pleasant experience to be with flowers.
It came to me to do this post while wandering through my garden, enjoying the spring flowers and taking the photographs below. Until using them in a gallery I hadn't realised how all except one (the red one at the end) include the colours purple, yellow and white. Something I will reflect on...
Keith Critchlow's -sacred geometry of flowers
Keith Critchlow's book "The Hidden Geometry of Flowers - Living rhythms, form and number" is a masterpiece of work examining the sacred geometry within flowers and also flowers as the original source of human life. To hear more listen to his presentation on the youtube video below.
The concept of Bio-Architecture emerged from Roger Green's 'International Sacred Geometry and Ecology' conferences. It is a term coined by Dan Winter who inspired many architects to use the geometry seen in nature's creations and integrate it into 'living' architecture. These principles are also incorporated into other environmental designs such as the Bloom the Desert projects.
| Beautiful examples of bio-architecture can be found at Michael Rice’s website. Mike is considered to be the leading bio-architect and has completed over 400 projects, including houses, meditation huts and community spaces. He is an award winning architect and member of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland. His stunning buildings blend nature, humanity and space. And are constructed using sacred geometry, designs of nature and feng shui. Naturally, ecology and the materials also are an important elements of the structures. | |
'Dreamfield' by bio-architect Mike Rice
Mike approaches his designs with the intent that everything is alive, interconnected and conscious. In essence a building is a living form! Being within such structures is invigorating, life sustaining, up-lifting....life enhancing.
Bio-Architecture conferences have been held in Budapest (2007) and South America. As a general theme, the merging of nature and man in designs is increasingly significant.
Phyllotaxis is the arrangement of leaves around a stem. When these patterns use one more spirals, as shown, the results are stunning. Yet all leaf growth patterns are incredible as plans have evolved to ensure that every leaf is touched by the sun's rays, minimising shadows and maximising space. Water collection is optimised as it flows down to the plant's roots.
In Costa Rica they have designed an orchard using the principles of sacred geometry. Trees are planted on a spiral formation around a central core, mimicking the plants own growth patterns
AuthorSharing my passion for archetypal symbolism, especially sacred geometry, in nature, the Arts, sciences, philosophy and society. |
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