In Defense of the Grid System
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- ratzmaru
A question for all you designers and wanna be designers...
I'm analyzing the current design of a site, and it does not utilize a proper grid system. Example: One row of text is broken up into three uneven columns (looks like 40-30-30) and the row below it is two even columns (50-50). I can pretty much say that grid systems create a visual harmony and provides a foundation for the page. It allows a user to read a page in a way that flows smoother.
Is there a better way to say this? What is your defense of the grid system?
- jevad0
OMG SOMEBODY BROKE THE GRID!
- jevad0
But yes...funstion follows form....
- skelly_b0
my boss often uses the grid to explain what he dislikes about my work.
Example:
"This is too gridded."
- jevad0
There is no such thing as too much grid. You can looen, and tighten your grid...but there is never too much.
Just like often, there is never enough cowbell.
- g3kk0k1d0
defense of grid system: works for some people
- jevad0
IMHO...design fails with no visual hierarchy, structure, balance or typography, which is only obtainable through the use of a grid
- skelly0
I think it has to do with having a reason as opposed to random sloppiness.
If items are on a grid there's automatically a reason things are where they are (ie because they are part of a system).
I things are not on any gride, and more random, there should be some reason they are where they are other than just randomly placed about the page (often there is not a reason).
- gramme0
I once bit a grid's ear off because it looked at me wrong.
Seriously, depends on the project at hand. I always use some sort of grid, though I never use the golden section or anything.
(insert your inappropriate comments about GoldenSection™)
- Jnr_Madison0
I love the grid but the problem is the grid hates me.
- winter0
starting from from the principle you may (or may not) have come to the right place for this discussion, one must immediatly question:
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I think it has to do with having a reason as opposed to random sloppiness.skelly
(Jan 23 06, 16:33)
-----------------------------That's a steady remark. But the grid philosophy belongs to the bauhaus and swiss principles, which may not suit the grungy state of affairs, which reports to individuality and sense, as opposed to a structural view of things. The worst part is that the renewal of the Grid was about fashion and not about graphic thinking.
Although any grid system seems more balanced it doesn't respond exactly to the variety of viewers these days, so that's why there's many people trying to break it.
Since design draws to the crowd and stopped being a development discipline and resigned to fashion and money (imho) the questions about the valour of the Grid is not so pertinent as it was some years ago.
A division must be made between experimental work that pushes the creative boundaries, and that sort of mix work that deals with a communion which is not profitable esp. to creative output.
money fucks everything (that is the stupid morality of my post)
- shilohous0
grids are great for newspapers and cat fancy magazine.
good typographic design isnt only obtainable through a stodgy grid.
- winter0
btw, i'm getting too many strikes from the qbn temple gods over my views about design.
I don't like that limits, because this is a hardy discipline, and a discussive one from my training, and you must take some critics down your plumming apparel without limiting people.
I am not a troll.
I'm just here for discussion and not to piss people off. If my views collide with the major trendy views I don't really know how to condole. but I'm here for the word-fight.
abide or shoot me in in the back. I want to know what the limits are.
Thank you.
- spongebob0
hey winter... speak to uberdesigner.
as his name suggests, he knows everything and because he is so perfect, he cannot come up with a webbie.
- ratzmaru0
I guess I should have added more context. Specifically, I am referring to the usability of a grid system in terms of making it easy to search and scan content. It is the corporate site of a company that sells medical and pharmaceutical software. Very niche.
- spongebob0
grid is good.
adds familiarity.
greed is good.
breeds contempt.
- JackRyan0
Personally, if you're not going to use a grid...just throw in some tits, solves any design problem every time.