December 31, 2002
#150...
The Life & Times of 3
Alumni of my Creative Layout Techniques workshop will always remember the "Rule of Threes". I spend some time describing and demonstrating why the 'Rule of Threes' naturally makes a photograph or layout more appealing, and more effective. But this is by no means a new idea. The rule of 'Threes' has held special significance throughout all time.
Classics built on 3
Examples of the use of triangles, or 'threes' abound in ancient art, and the art of the Masters.
Viewing such sculptures as "The Laocoon Group" from 1st century Italy, or Giovanni Bologna's "Abduction of the Sabine Woman" (1583) illustrate that the triangle makes for a more exciting composition. Michelangelo fashioned his famous Peita based on three distinct triangles. If you squint at the sculpture they become apparent. In the 1871 painting of his mother, artist James Whistler utilized a very obvious triangle to bring the viewer's eye always back to her face.
Today, graphic designers know that building a layout around three major visual elements makes the layout more dynamic and more interesting to look at. "Two" is balanced and leads to no place (is boring), and four is static and rests too easily. The triangle is more exciting, less balanced, less static.
Civilization built on 3
Architects and structural engineers build the strongest and most durable buildings based on threes, or triangles, better known as trusses. Why? The are far stronger than the square or circle. Buckminster Fuller used the rule of three to develop his geodesic principle, providing a building method which utilizes the least number of individual elements, to enclose the most possible cubic feet of volume into the strongest possible structure -- building with triangles rather than right-angles. NASA uses the truss and geodesic rules to build the lightest weight, highest strength space components.
Society built on 3
Through the ages, 'threes' have suggested that some condition or some situation is special. For some reason, the number 3 has worked its way into virtually all areas of society, sometimes with an obvious meaning -- and sometimes not so obvious.
- Why do we have three lights in a stoplight?
- Why three strikes in baseball? (Why not two, or four?)
- Who decided there would be Three Musketeers or Three Horsemen of Apocalypse?
- Why does the Genie grant us three wishes?
- Why did the founders of both our highway system and the international signing system decide on three-sided signs to indicate danger or caution?
- Of thirty species of snakes in Virginia, why are only three poisonous?
As children we sang about Three Blind Mice, and later watched the Three Stooges, My Three Sons and "Three's Company". The American Flag has three colors, the Boy Scout salute holds up three fingers, pledging the three most important traits: physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
We have three meals a day, and are invited to drink Dr. Pepper at three different times of the day. In the frigid north countries a particularly cold night was called a "Three Dog Night" because you would need to sleep with three of your dogs to keep warm.
Most computer users know there are three colors on their screens: Red, Green and Blue. Graphic designers think about the three primary colors of light: Cyan, yellow, and magenta. Expectant mothers think about trimesters, poets think about triolets, and authors about trilogies.
Faith built on 3
Since the earliest dawn of humanity, the concept of "three" has played a significant role in the religious and spiritual beliefs of people. Early civilizations dieafied the three elements Earth, Wind and Fire as gods. Throughout the generations, native Americans held sacred the three properties of the Great Mother (Earth): earth, water and air. In Greek mythology, Poseidon, God of water and the seas (later known as "Nautilus") wielded a three-pronged pitchfork (called a "Trident") also seen in many depictions of Satan.
The early Christians based their belief on the "Trinity" -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and promised a selection of three possible final resting places. All through the history of Christianity, the theme of three was used to illustrate important points like: the three signs used to convince the Pharaoh that Moses wasn't kidding; Three denials by a friend which gave way to three wounds, three crosses, and ultimately, the rising on the third day.
We also remember the everlasting story of three wise men who traveled afar to deliver three precious gifts to one of three very special people spending the night in a stable.
Tomorrow built on 3
Enter year two thousand and three
Will the fact that it is the "third" year of the second millennium mark some unique occurrence or change? Will the third year of the third millennium have even greater significance? I haven't heard any predictions, have you?
My opinion is that the time we have is what we make of it. It will be a banner year -- if, and only if we make it one. Everyone always has an infinite number of possibilities and opportunities; it's what you make of them that determines the present and the future.
So try this experiment: do something good for someone else on the third day of every week. Then, do something extra special for others on the third day of the third week of every month. In December of 2003 we'll meet back on this subject and see if we all agree it was, indeed, a better year because of our own actions.
Go forth, be creative, and make sure that 2003 is a wonderful year.
Postscript: What famous "Threes" come to mind for you? Are there significant "threes" you know of that are not included above? Sure there are. We'd love to hear and share your views on the number '3' and the concept of "Threes." Send them in and we'll keep a running list.
After writing this article, I decided to Google the concept of "Threes" and arrived at Michael Eck's wonderful web site "The Book of Threes." Michael has been thinking about threes for nearly 15 years, and he presents that esoteric interest in his web site with an invitation for you to participate.
But Michael isn't the only one -- try the
UMKC.edu list of threes -- and, if you're into Tarot, you may enjoy the story of "Threes" and the Daughters of the Moon.
The Boy Scouts of America can be found at: www.scouting.org
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Fred Showker is a designer, consultant, writer and speaker. He has published 60-Second Window and DT&G Magazine online since 1990, and is director of The Graphic Design Network which includes The Design & Publishing Center at www.Graphic-Design.com. (1994) He was a co-founder of both The User Group Forum on America Online (1987), The User Group Network at www.User-Groups.net, (1994) and the Designers' Bookshelf (1996) He originally founded Showker Graphic Arts & Design in 1972, has been an avid computer activist and supporter since 1984.
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