- Finding the right grid for the content is like dating.
You need to look around, try a few out,
let some go, and commit to one.
Unlike the dating world, there are different types.
One grid is just right for the scholarly texts,
but not for a dance club's website.
Classic book grids are often the simplest one column grids.
In this instance, the size of the column
is defined not by the size of the book,
but by the amount of copy that fits on one line.
A good rule of thumb, is to make a column
no wider than about 52 characters
or two alphabets which is easier to remember.
Any longer line length, and the reader will give up.
Corporate communications often use
a multi column grid structure.
This allows more flexibility with content
that may be more varied with images, headlines and text.
Magazines usually use several grids within a single issue.
One grid is used for the main feature stories,
and another for the monthly departments.
A magazine with a rigid grid structure and no variation,
will feel more like an annual report.
Imagine Us magazine designed in the same corporate style
as an annual report for your local bank.
It would be clean and consistent,
but dull as a box of hammers.
Information graphics work best with more complex grids.
This may involve columns of different lengths
or specific zones for information.
It's a good way to organize dense
and hard to understand information.
This also helps the viewer find the content they want.
The rules for website design are always in flux.
A 12 column grid, that is responsive is most common.
But the way we find information remains constant
and the grid structure is just as useful here,
as in a book.
When I design a grid for a website,
I used margin, columns, and hang lines,
as I do with print projects.
Lay out the content to aid the viewers understanding,
but work with square proportions
which translate better in a square pixel environment.
The difference of course is that the website,
includes added aspects such as motion.
Such as this site for a resort in 29 Palms,
that gracefully uses the grid as vertical elevator shafts.
Recognizing specific grid types,
is an essential skill that enlarges your visual vocabulary.
The next time you look at a book, poster,
or website that you like,
find the underlying grid structure,
it's like breaking a code,
and seeing how the designer thought.