Grids create order. A good grid is invisible. It is flexible as it allows for multiple layouts. Grids provide consistency and coherence to a design. A grid can be of several types.
They are:
• Manuscript grid (used in classical texts like the Bible),
• Column grids,
• Modular grid,
• Hierarchical grid and
• Grids for the web.
But one should remember, while designing, it is best if the grid is hidden or not so obvious. That is while looking at a book, if we keep noticing its two column grid then the grid has not been used properly. This means, priority should always be given to the content. And at times, if the content demands breaking of the grid, one should not hesitate. Of course it is important to learn rules, before breaking them. We should make ourselves familiar with the designers who popularized the use of grids in their work.
They are:
- Jan Tschichold
- Max Bill
- Emil Ruder
- Hans Erni
- Celestino Piatti
- Joseph Muller Brockman
- Hans Rudolf
- Wolfgang Weingart
- Wim Crouwel
- Massimo Vignelli
- Karl Gerstner
- Richard P Lohse
- Armin Hofmann
- Hans Neuberg
- Carlo Vivarelli
- Alberto Konghi
- Mark Boulton
- Koi Vinh
Image sources:
• http://www.blueprintmagazine.co.uk/index.php/graphics/wim-crouwel-a-few-thoughts/
• http://www.designboom.com/interviews/massimo-vignelli-designboom-interview/
• http://www.linotype.com/609/jantschichold.html
• http://www.thinkingform.com/2012/05/10/thinking-josef-muller-brockmann-05-09-1914/
• http://www.aiga.org/medalist-arminhofmann/
• http://www.lohse.ch/entrye.html