Human Design Types
Type is the first thing a Human Design chart shows. It is determined solely by which centers are defined and how they are connected; you can find your type in the chart calculator.
What is a type
According to the system, type describes how a person uses energy and how they best enter into activities and relationships. Four things are tied to each type. Strategy is a simple rule of behavior. Signature is the feeling that life is on track. The Not-Self theme is a signal that the person is acting against their own mechanics. Aura is how others perceive their presence.
Type does not describe character, abilities or destiny: two Generators can be completely different people. It is unrelated to profile and cross: all that matters is which channels are complete and which centers they connect.
How type is determined
A center is defined if at least one defined channel ends in it. After that, two questions matter: is the Sacral Center defined, and is there a path from a motor to the Throat Center? The motors are four centers: the Sacral Center, the Heart (Ego), the Solar Plexus and the Root Center.
| Sacral Center | Motor connected to the Throat | Type |
|---|---|---|
| defined | no | Generator |
| defined | yes | Manifesting Generator |
| undefined | yes | Manifestor |
| undefined | no | Projector |
| no center defined | — | Reflector |
“Connected” means you can get from the motor to the Throat along defined channels. The path can be direct, like channel 20-34 from the Sacral to the Throat or 21-45 from the Heart. It can also be longer: the Root has no direct channels to the Throat and reaches it through the Spleen, the Solar Plexus or the Sacral.
The number of defined centers doesn’t affect the type. A Projector can have eight of nine centers defined, while a Generator can have just two.
The five types
| Type | Share | Strategy | Signature | Not-Self theme | Aura |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | ~36 % | wait to respond | satisfaction | frustration | open, enveloping |
| Manifesting Generator | ~31 % | wait to respond, then inform before acting | satisfaction | frustration and anger | open, enveloping |
| Projector | ~22 % | wait for the invitation | success | bitterness | focused, penetrating |
| Manifestor | ~10 % | inform before acting | peace | anger | closed, repelling |
| Reflector | ~1 % | wait a full lunar cycle | surprise | disappointment | sampling, reflective |
Shares are based on our calculation over 4,000 random dates. Jovian Archive gives similar figures: about 70% Generators together with Manifesting Generators, 20% Projectors, 9% Manifestors and 1% Reflectors.
Each type in brief
Generator. The Sacral Center is defined, but no motor reaches the Throat. According to the system, the Generator has a constant supply of working energy, best directed by response: an inner “yes” or “no” to what comes from outside.
Manifesting Generator. The Sacral is defined, and a motor is connected to the Throat. It is said to move quickly from response to action, juggle several tasks at once and sometimes skip steps. Before acting, it is advised to inform those who will be affected.
Projector. The Sacral is undefined, and no motor is connected to the Throat. According to the system, its strength is seeing people and processes and suggesting how to improve them. In major matters it is advised to wait until its abilities are recognized and it is invited.
Manifestor. The Sacral is undefined, but a motor is connected to the Throat. According to the system, it is the only type that needs no outside cue to start. The strategy is to inform those who will be affected by its actions.
Reflector. No center is defined. It is said to reflect the people and the place around it, so its environment matters more than anything, and it waits about a month before major decisions.
Type and authority
A type’s strategy tells you how to enter a situation. Authority tells you how to make a decision within it. It is determined from the same centers, but in its own order: Solar Plexus, Sacral Center, Spleen, Heart, G Center; if none of these is defined, the authority is Mental, and for a Reflector it is Lunar. That is why type limits the options:
| Type | Possible authorities |
|---|---|
| Generator | Emotional, Sacral |
| Manifesting Generator | Emotional, Sacral |
| Projector | Emotional, Splenic, Self-Projected, Mental, Ego Projected |
| Manifestor | Emotional, Splenic, Ego Manifested |
| Reflector | Lunar |
By our calculation, Emotional authority is found in 52% of people and occurs in every type except the Reflector. In that case the system adds one more rule to the strategy: don’t decide at the peak or the low of your feelings; give the decision time.
An Honest Look at the Method
Human Design was created in 1987 by one person — Ra Uru Hu — who combined astrology, the I Ching, Kabbalah and the chakra system. The system’s claims about types and strategies have not been scientifically tested. We calculate your type precisely by its rules and describe what the system holds, not what a person is really like.
Related in This Section
Frequently asked questions
Which type is the rarest?
The Reflector — about 1% of people. For this type, none of the 36 channels may be completed, which is a rare coincidence. The next rarest is the Manifestor, about 9–10%.
Can your type change?
No. According to the system, your type is set by your birth chart and stays the same all your life. Transits temporarily complete channels, but that doesn’t change your type.
What is the difference between a Generator and a Manifesting Generator?
Both have a defined Sacral Center, but in the Manifesting Generator a motor is also connected to the Throat. According to the system, it moves into action faster, so a step is added to responding: informing before acting.
How do I find out my type?
You need your date, time and place of birth — you enter them in the chart calculator. For the type, a time accurate to within a couple of hours is usually enough; if you don’t know the time, the calculator will show which types are possible on that day.