Electronic
Design (GD2433)
Art Institutes International : Fall 2007
James O'Brien, instructor
Grid: a grid consists of a distinct set of alignment-based relationships that act as guides for distributing elements across a format. Every grid contains the same basic parts, no matter how complex the grid becomes. Each part fulfills a specific function; the parts can be combined as needed, or omitted from the overall structure at the designer's discretion, depending on how they interpret the informational requirements of the material.
Working with a grid depends on two phases of development. In the first phase, the designer attempts to assess the informational characteristics and the production requirements of the content. This phase is extremely important; the grid is a closed system once it is developed, and in building it the designer must account for the content's idiosyncrasies, such as multiple kinds of information, the nature of the images, and the number of images. Additionally, the designer must anticipate potential problems that might occur while laying out the content within the grid, such as unusually long headlines, cropping of images, or dead spots left if the content in one section runs out.
The second phase consists of laying out the material according to the guidelines established by the grid. It's important to understand that the grid, although a precise guide, should never subordinate the elements within it. Its job is to provide overall unity without snuffing out the vitality of the composition. In most circumstances, the variety of solutions for laying out a page within a given grid are inexhaustible, but even then it's wise to violate the grid on occasion. A designer shouldn't be afraid of his or her grid, but push against it to test its limits. A really well-planned grid creates endless opportunities for exploration.
Every design problem is different and requires a grid structure that addresses its particular elements. There are several basic kinds of grid, and as a starting point, each is suited to solving certain kinds of problems. The first step in the process is to consider which type of basic structure will accommodate the project's specific needs.
Columns are vertical alignments of type that create horizontal divisions between the margins.
Modules are individual units of space separated by regular intervals which, when repeated across the page format, create columns and rows.
Margins are the negative spaces between the format edge and the content, which surround and define the live area where type and images will be arranged.
Flowlines are alignments that break the space into horizontal bands. Flowlines help guide the eye across the format and can be used to impose additional stopping and starting points for text or images.
Spatial zones are groups of modules that together form distinct fields. Each field can be assigned a specific role for displaying information; for example, a long horizontal field might be reserved for images, and the field below it might be reserved for a series of text columns.
Markers are placement indicators for subordinate or consistently appearing text, like running heads, section titles, folios (page numbering), or any other element that occupies only one location in any layout.
(Samara, Timothy. Making and Breaking the Grid. Gloucester MA: Rockport Publishers, 2002.)
(above image: Krause, Jim. Layout Index. Cincinatti: North Light Books, 2001.)