Geometry of Design

Kimberly Elam's study of proportion and composition explains, in terms anyone can follow, the mathematics behind how visual art works. She examines a wide range of 20th-century design, architecture and illustration, from Georges Seurat's paintings and the Barcelona chair to a Braun hand blender and the Conico kettle, and uncovers the geometric structures beneath their compositions. Alongside classic proportioning systems such as root rectangles and the golden section, she covers less familiar ones, including the Fibonacci series. Detailed diagrams and techniques of visual analysis make these relationships visible and show how they inform the design process. It was published in 2001.

Web designer Marius Ciuchete Paun included it in his list of books for young people interested in his career path.