When maths and design cross paths
In the Brio office recently, an interesting conversation led not only to some confusion but also to the concept of what happens when math and design cross paths. It was all sparked by the recent release of GoogleLab’s “Julia Map” project, a tool for exploring fractals using the Julia set numbers, a HTML 5 and JavaScript renderer and the computation of some interesting mathematical equations.
For those of you who don’t know what a Fractal is, Dictionary.com defines it as:
“–noun Mathematics, Physics .
A geometrical or physical structure having an irregular or fragmented shape at all scales of measurement between a greatest and smallest scale such that certain mathematical or physical properties of the structure, as the perimeter of a curve or the flow rate in a porous medium, behave as if the dimensions of the structure (fractal dimensions) are greater than the spatial dimensions.”
At even the most intellectual time of day can be a difficult definition to get your head around. Thankfully, these structures can be visualised or graphed (which helps those of us who are less number-driven get a pretty good grasp on the concept without having to pull out some math textbooks), they can even be used in design. What? How? Brain explosion?
To help illustrate just how well math and design play with one another, here are a few examples prepared earlier (click on the Artist/Title/Image to visit their source).
Yours in mathematical-design fusion,
Lee
Astral Rainbow – Warm by VolantKnave
Colourful Dragon by Goldey–Too
Oriental Illusions by Anna Kirsten
