At a lecture in London in 1919, Hambidge explained his theory of design types which included “Static” design, the kind that is found in “crystals, cross-sections of seed pods, and in natural mosaic forms” and is contrasted by “Dynamic” design, which is observed in “man and the plant, the five regular solids of geometry, and Greek and Egyptian art, particularly the former.” Hambidge did not use the word “symmetry” in the traditional sense of dividing an object in half along an axis but instead in the sense of proportion, “the proper or due proportion of the parts of a body or whole to another in regard to size and form; excellence of proportion.”
After publishing two books about Dynamic Symmetry, Dynamic Symmetry and the Greek Vase and Dynamic Symmetry and the Greek Parthenon, many prominent contemporary artists began to include Dynamic Symmetry in their art work. Some of which included Robert Henri and George Bellows. Henri learned about Hambidge and his theory after reading an anti-cubism article in which Hambidge used Dynamic Symmetry to argue that Dynamic Symmetrycubism was “not radical, but blindly, haltingly conservative.” Henri and Bellows began to regularly attend Hambidge’s lectures on Dynamic Symmetry and were intrigued by Hambidge’s unique take on design and how “the history of design shows is beyond questions that symmetry and rhythm are consciously used by artists who are real masters of composition.” Henri’s homage to Hambidge's theory is a piece titled “ Fay Banter as the ‘Image’ in the ‘Willow Tree”.
Although Jay Hambidge is not know as one of the great artists of the 20th century, his re-discovery of Dynamic Symmetry influenced countless artists in almost every discipline. The idea of Dynamic Symmetry has found it’s way out of the art world and into enterprise as well. Companies such as Tiffany’s use it in the designs of their jewelry, Chrysler used it in the designs of their cars, and it’s even found it’s way into the 21st century with tech companies using it the design of their logos and software applications.
