Researching Grids

Grids are one of the most important parts of a double page spread. The grid allows the designer to construct their layout in a way that is clear, consistent and that guides the reader through the article from start to finish. For my layouts I will need to consider what type of grid I want to use in order to achieve certain results.

To do this I rented a copy of 'Making and Breaking the Grid'. A book all about the concept of using grids in design with explanations and examples. I scanned some of the pages I found particularly useful and wrote took down some notes whilst reading them. This information will is really useful as I can apply these theories of grid design when designing all four of my spreads.

This page shows a diagram explaining the basic components of a grid layout. This helped me learn some of the terms that I weren't already familiar with. It then goes on to explain the four main types of grid structure.

Manuscript Grid

• Simplest of grid structures
• Large rectangular area that takes up most of the page.
• Designed to accommodate extensive continuous text like a book or long essay
• Developed from hand written manuscripts that led to book printing
• Must be careful in using wide paragraphs as the reader can get lost and find it difficult to find the next line beginning
• Creating visual interest is important to constantly engage the reader, since the type acts as one grey block of text
• Adjusting the proportions of the margin is one way of introducing visual interest. Wider margins help focus the eye and create a sense of calm or stability. Narrow lateral margins increase tension because the live matter is in closer proximity to the format edge.
• Asymmetrical structures introduce more white space for the eye to use as an area of rest. Also provides place for notes, spot illustrations, or other editorial features.

Column Grid

• Information that is discontinuous benefits from being organized into an arrangement of vertical columns.
• Column grids are very flexible
• Can be used to separate different kinds of information
• The goal is to find a width that accommodates a comfortable number of characters in one line of set type size.
• Margins that are wider than the gutter focus the eye inward easing tension between the column edge and the edge of the format.
• Flowlines are horizontal lines that define the vertical width between the edge of the format and the top of the article. Additional flowlines in the middle or bottom can establish areas that are image only or are for a different type of text like a pull-quote.

Hierarchical Grid

• These grids conform to the needs of the information they organize.
• Based on more intuitive placement of alignments and proportions
• Column widths and intervals between them tend to vary.
• Webpages are examples of hierarchical grids. Webpages require the design to consider how browser windows can be resized which eludes the strict modular approach.
• This kind of grid is an almost organic approach to the way information is ordered.

Modular Grids

• Extremely complex projects require a degree of control beyond what a column grid will offer.
• Essentially a column grid with a large number of horizontal flowlines that subdive the columns into rows
• Creates a matrix of cells called 'modules'.
• Each module defines a small chunk of informational space, grouped together these are called spatial zones.
• A modular grid lends itself to the design of tabular information like charts, forms, schedules, or navigation systems
• Aside from practical uses the modular grid has developed a conceptual aesthetic image that some designers find attractive.
• Between the 1950s and 1980s the modular grid became associated with the idea social and political order. These ideals have their roots in the rationalist thinking of the Bauhaus ands Swiss international Style which celebrate order and clarity of form.