Grids are used within graphic design to set a
limit/guide to how elements of a design should be positioned. It gives the
design a sense of attachment to the rest of the design. Some designers are even
recognised by the types of grids they use, setting their work amongst others,
such as Romek Marber. When considering the layout of a grid it is important to
give it flow and consistency, although some designers argue against the use of
grids. This is to create a piece lacking structure, which may make it more
visually interesting and allow the audience to do their own visual
investigation to interpret the piece in their own way. Grids are different
depending on each design, the format of a design may mean a grid must contain
smaller or larger content in order to create the desired impact and let the
audience feel comfortable understanding said content.
The golden ratio is an important factor when
creating grid systems. The golden ratio determines the most eye pleasing set of
proportions for a grid, through the use of ‘thirds’. By combining the rules of
the golden ratio with your designs it gives a grid system that feels coherent,
but also aesthetically appealing.
4 types of grid:
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Manuscript Grid |
This is also sometimes referred to as a single
column grid, it is the simplest of structures. It consists of a larger
rectangle that takes up majority of the space that you are working with. The main
use for this type of structure is for a large amount of body text, the system
gives the creator the opportunity to still have space for footnotes, bleed
information, cut marks etc. The margins determine how this grid appears, and it
has become more popular to have a small amount of text and large margins,
giving the outcome a sense of negative space.
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Column Grid |
Column grids are commonly used online as well as in
informative newsprint formats, the guides are made up from multiple columns and
are put in place to present discontinuous information. This allows a designer
to insert place holders for imagery, and continue the information from a
previous point. The wider the gutter on the column the less tension on the text,
therefore the easier the read for the audience.
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The City Talking, Leeds |
An example of how the column grid is used can be
found throughout the latest publication of ‘The City Talking’, although rather
than sticking to its traditional methods of its use; they break the ‘rules’ of
the grid. Through overlaying the grid with the imagery they are defying the very
means of having column grids in the first place, making the layout stand out. Clarity
and modernity within the design is retained through the use of a wide gutter. This
use of a classic grid in a modern light shows how a designer can manipulate
their more traditional tools of design to their format in order to create a
fresh feeling outcome.
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Modular Grids |
Modular grids work in a similar way to column grids
with the added horizontal divisions, rows. The rows and columns intersect each
other giving the designer these modular cells to work with. These are used when
a design is too complex to simply use a column system. Each of the modules can
be used to be assigned to a particular part of information, although they can
also be used to align surrounding content to give a sense of structure and a
consistent use of negative space. This technique is often used throughout
promotional material or products with large amount of content, it allows the
designer to keep a sense of regular and consistent style throughout; helping a
client preserve their brand identity. Designers have linked the use of this
grid to Bauhaus style design, as it celebrates minimalism and order, which are
the basis of the logic behind the modular grid design.
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Hierarchical Grid |
Hierarchical grids are most commonly found in the
field of web design. The customisable nature of the design means that it can be
changed regularly to create a sense of renewability to the content. The technique
often derives from the placement of the content needed for the design, which
then is laid in a particular way depending on the contents needs, in order to
make it coherent.
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Hierarchical Grid Example |
This is an example of a hierarchical grid in use,
digital spu is a website which releases information about digital pop culture. The
content in each of the cells is constantly changing, depending on what stories
the website wishes to push to gain more reach. This is a technique used by many
websites who adopt this gridding method, in order to get the audience to interpret
some stories as more prominent than others.
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