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2011 Edition
Luke Tucker’sTYPOGRAPHY
PORTFOLIO
Luke Tucker’s TYPOGRAPHY
PORTFOLIO
luke tuck·er, n. [look-tuhk-er]-noun1. a design student currently enrolled at University of Idaho2. the youngest of three sons born to a carpenter and an accountant3. someone intersted in reservation, subtlety, bright colors, and swiss layout in designOrigin:1990; < Hillsboro Oregon, equivalent to Portland Metro Area (see; a map)
ty·pog·ra·phy, n. [tahy-pog-ruh-fee] –noun1. the art or process of printing with type.2. the work of setting and arranging types and of printing from them.3. the general character or appearance of printed matter.Origin: 1635–45; < Neo-Latin typographia, equivalent to Greek týpo ( s ) type + graphía –graphy
port·fo·li·o, n. [pawrt-foh-lee-oh]–noun, plural -li·os.1. a flat, portable case for carrying loose papers, drawings, etc.2. such a case for carrying documents of a government department.3. the total holdings of the securities, commercial paper, etc., of a financial institution or private investor.
proj·ect 1, v. [pruh-ject-wuhn]-verb1. an assignment to create a typeface wiith no prior work, (see; from scratch)
luke tuck·er’s proj·ect one, n. [look-tuhk-ers proj-ekt wuhn]-noun1. a bitmap typeface using a hybrid capital and lower case which emphasizes sharp angles and geometry (see; example 1a)
Project 1
Project 1
example 1a
proj·ect two, v. [pruh-ject too]-verb1. an assignment to create a wordmark using only typog-raphy, while puyting emphasis on the concept behind the word mark fitting the word used. After creating the wordmark develop a businesss identity for the wordmark using the same concept
luke tuck·er’s proj·ect two, n. [look-tuhk-ers proj-ekt too]-noun1. a clean and simple wordmark focusing on the word clue as a basis. 2. a wordmark that has pairs of letters lending clues to the next letter based off of the typeface helvetica. (see; example 2a)3. the business identity keeps the concept by giving clues to the wordmark. (see; examples 2b, 2c, 2d)
Project 2
example 2a
CONCEPTUAL CONSULTING
www.clue.com
CONCEPTUAL
1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
562-353-1630
Albert M. Becker
CONSULTING
www.clue.com
1548 Reynolds Alley, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Conceptual Consulting
562-353-1630
Conceptual Consulting
Clue Conceptual Consulting, LLC1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
Project 2
example 2b
example 2c
example 2d
CONCEPTUAL CONSULTING
www.clue.com
CONCEPTUAL
1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
562-353-1630
Albert M. Becker
CONSULTING
www.clue.com
1548 Reynolds Alley, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Conceptual Consulting
562-353-1630
Conceptual Consulting
Clue Conceptual Consulting, LLC1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
CONCEPTUAL CONSULTING
www.clue.com
CONCEPTUAL
1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
562-353-1630
Albert M. Becker
CONSULTING
www.clue.com
1548 Reynolds Alley, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Conceptual Consulting
562-353-1630
Conceptual Consulting
Clue Conceptual Consulting, LLC1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
CONCEPTUAL CONSULTING
www.clue.com
CONCEPTUAL
1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
562-353-1630
Albert M. Becker
CONSULTING
www.clue.com
1548 Reynolds Alley, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Conceptual Consulting
562-353-1630
Conceptual Consulting
Clue Conceptual Consulting, LLC1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
Conceptual Consulting
Clue Conceptual Consulting, LLC1548 Reynolds AlleyLos Angeles, CA 90017
proj·ect 3, v. [pruh-ject three]-verb1. an assignment to create a typographical poster about an event in history without the use of extrenuous visual elements.
luke tuck·er’s proj·ect three, n. [look-tuhk-ers proj-ekt three]-noun1. a typographical poster for the space race as of 1961 designed to hint at the next stage of the international compition.2. a poster inspired by the colors and style of early con-structovist propoganda.3. a poster designed with textures to have the look of faded and dirty paper (see; example 3a)
Project 3
Project 3
example 3a
proj·ect 4, v. [pruh-ject fohr]-verb1. an assignment to design a calendar while keeping typography and its use in mind and have explanations for each use.
luke tuck·er’s proj·ect 4, n. [look-tuhk-ers proj-ekt fohr]-noun1. a three-dimentionsal fold-up twelve month calendar designed for atop the desk or mounting on the wall, the days are kept track of by being perforated so they can be removed. (see; example 4a, 4b)2. a calendar using a san serif type face that is rounded to offset the geometrical aspect of the calendar when as-sembled. (see; example 4c)
Project 4
example 4a
MAY
tuesday wednesday thursday
friday saturday sunday
monday tuesday wednesday
thursday friday saturday
sunday monday tuesday
wednesday thursday friday
saturday sunday monday
tuesday wednesday thursday
friday saturday sunday
monday tuesday wednesday
thursday
2012
Project 4
example 4b
example 4c
MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MMAYM AY MAYM AY MAYM AY M
MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAYMAY MAY MAY MAY MAY MAY
proj·ect 5, v. [pruh-ject fahyv]-verb1. an assignment to design a twelve page booklet with five full spreads with a theme of the students choice.
luke tuck·er’s proj·ect 5, n. [look-tuhk-ers proj-ekt fahyv]-noun1. a booklet with a the theme of spreading the knowledge of using a grid system for design. 2. a booklet focused on using a grid system in ways that do not tie to the idea that it has to look like a grid design.
Project 5
example 5a
GRID IS GOD.GRIDS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
GRID IS THE FUTURE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
article author page #
musings on the relationship of grids and guides
grids: recondite stuctures of design
myths and misconceptions about grid systems
matt ward
alex villegas
anthonio carusone
3
5
7
2
MUSINGS ABOUT THE RELATION-SHIP BETWEEN GRIDS AND GUIDES Matt Ward G
rid
s:R
eco
nd
ite
Str
uct
ure
s o
fD
esig
n of s
yste
ms
that
div
ide
spac
e w
ith t
he
Gol
den
Ratio
). G
rids,
how
ever
, see
m t
o ha
ve a
ver
y lo
w p
riorit
y in
tod
ay’s
visu
al d
esig
n,
espe
cial
ly f
or w
eb d
evel
oper
s. It
is a
sh
ame
beca
use
com
mon
pr
ogra
m-
min
g la
ngua
ges
such
as
HTM
L an
d CS
S ac
tual
ly
call
for
a gr
id-li
ke
stru
ctur
e th
e on
ly th
ing
mis
sing
is th
e in
telli
gent
use
of s
uch
a st
ruct
ure.
Thi
s is
ve
ry
impo
rtan
t be
caus
e on
line
cont
ent
assi
mila
tion
and
rete
ntio
n dr
amat
ical
ly
incr
ease
w
hen
typo
- gr
aphi
c gr
ids
are
used
. Ye
t th
e co
mm
on
tren
d,
even
fo
r hi
gh-e
nd
web
site
s, is
th
e “t
able
s”
men
talit
y,
whe
re e
very
ele
men
t on
the
pag
e is
pl
aced
w
ithin
in
divi
dual
m
odul
es
(with
th
e co
nten
t of
ten
cent
ered
Al
ex
Vil
le
ga
s
Myths & Mis-conceptions about grid systems
Grids are a design trend.
Grids have been in use long before graphic design became a discipline. During the 13th– and 14th-centuries, scribes used the Villard Diagram to organize their handwritten manuscripts. In the 15th-century, Gutenberg and others divided their pages using the Van de Graaf canon.The use of a grid is not a trend, it’s a funda- mental skill that designers should possess. Grids have been around a very long time and are an important part of the design process.
A few myths and misconceptions about grids exist in the design com-munity that can be detrimetal, espe-cially to designers who are new to the subject. I recently read an article, which is no longer online, claiming that grids have disadvantages and it listed the reasons why. As you can guess, I very much disagreed with the entire article and felt that it was pro-viding a lot of bad information on grid systems. All of the listed “disadvan-tages” were distortions derived from the lack of understanding on how a grid works and functions. In response to that article, here’s my attempt at clearing up this mess.
his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.”
Another outrageous claim is that grids are confining. When used properly, a grid will never limit or confine a design, it will grow and adapt to your liking. If someone tells you a grid gives you no freedom, that person doesn’t fully understand the purpose of a grid or how it should be used. Grids of possibili-ties.
Graphic designer and writer Ellen Lupton explains:
“To say a grid is limiting is to say that language is limiting or typography is limiting.”
Where people get confused is with the notion that a design utilizing a grid should look “grid-like”, giving a clear indication of columns. Fortunately, that isn’t true, and this poster by Brockmann is a great example. The text clearly falls on a grid but the concentric shapes have more of an organic feel, making the grid invisible.
Grids only benefit certain design.
A grid can be used for ALL designs. I’ll repeat that. A grid can be used for ALL designs. To suggest that only certain designs can benefit from using a grid is to suggest that a structural foundation can only benefit a certain type of building or that grammar is only useful for a certain style of writing. A grid is a foundation, and like with any archite- ctural structure it’s a vital part of the process.
Grids also do not satisfy a specific aesthetic. They do not require the use of Helvetica or the omission of
ANTONIOCARUSONE
7
images. A grid can be applied to any style of design, no matter if it’s scrapbooky, or clean and minimal. You don’t have to design like Brockmann to use a grid.
Grids require a lot of content.
The amount of content in no way dictates whether a grid is required or not. A design needs to visually communicate an idea or message, whether it’s a 250 page story, or a 5 word sentence and an image. A grid helps achieve that goal through structure, organization and hierarchy.
Grids slow down the design process.
The opposite is actually true. A well designed grid, used by a competent designer, can help solve a design problem in less time. A fully designed grid system will also provide a consis-tent structure and organization across a multi-page design, like a web site, making the process more efficient.
Grids only work in a fixed layout.
This is specific to web design. Many people believe that a grid needs to be fixed and as a result can only generate a fixed layout. Not true. A grid can be designed to be fluid and change with the viewport size, scaling itself proportionately. Hopefully this article has helped clear up a few myths and misconceptions about grids, and has allowed you to better understand the purpose of them and how they hould be used.
FALSE
9
bib
lio
gr
ap
hy
Carusone, Antonio. "Myths & Misconceptions About Grid Systems | AisleOne." AisleOne - Graphic Design, Typogr-aphy and Grid Systems.
30 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.aisleone.net/2009/design/myths-misconceptions-about-grid-systems/>.
Villegas, Alex. "Grids: Recondite Structures of Design « NoeticFront." NoeticFront. 22 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.noeticfront.com/blog/2010/01/22/grids-recondite-structures-of-design/>.
Ward, Matt. "Musings on the Relationship Between Grids and Guides :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog." Home :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog.
26 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://blog.echoenduring.com/2010/06/26/musings-on-the-relationship-between-grids-and-guides/>.
10
3 4
8
Project 5 GRID IS GOD.GRIDS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
GRID IS THE FUTURE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
article author page #
musings on the relationship of grids and guides
grids: recondite stuctures of design
myths and misconceptions about grid systems
matt ward
alex villegas
anthonio carusone
3
5
7
2
MUSINGS ABOUT THE RELATION-SHIP BETWEEN GRIDS AND GUIDES Matt Ward G
rid
s:R
eco
nd
ite
Str
uct
ur e
s o
fD
esig
n of s
yste
ms
that
div
ide
spac
e w
ith t
he
Gol
den
Ratio
). G
rids,
how
ever
, see
m t
o ha
ve a
ver
y lo
w p
riorit
y in
tod
ay’s
visu
al d
esig
n,
espe
cial
ly f
or w
eb d
evel
oper
s. It
is a
sh
ame
beca
use
com
mon
pr
ogra
m-
min
g la
ngua
ges
such
as
HTM
L an
d CS
S ac
tual
ly
call
for
a gr
id-li
ke
stru
ctur
e th
e on
ly th
ing
mis
sing
is th
e in
telli
gent
use
of s
uch
a st
ruct
ure.
Thi
s is
ve
ry
impo
rtan
t be
caus
e on
line
cont
ent
assi
mila
tion
and
rete
ntio
n dr
amat
ical
ly
incr
ease
w
hen
typo
- gr
aphi
c gr
ids
are
used
. Ye
t th
e co
mm
on
tren
d,
even
fo
r hi
gh-e
nd
web
site
s, is
th
e “t
able
s”
men
talit
y,
whe
re e
very
ele
men
t on
the
pag
e is
pl
aced
w
ithin
in
divi
dual
m
odul
es
(with
th
e co
nten
t of
ten
cent
ered
Al
ex
Vil
le
ga
s
Myths & Mis-conceptions about grid systems
Grids are a design trend.
Grids have been in use long before graphic design became a discipline. During the 13th– and 14th-centuries, scribes used the Villard Diagram to organize their handwritten manuscripts. In the 15th-century, Gutenberg and others divided their pages using the Van de Graaf canon.The use of a grid is not a trend, it’s a funda- mental skill that designers should possess. Grids have been around a very long time and are an important part of the design process.
A few myths and misconceptions about grids exist in the design com-munity that can be detrimetal, espe-cially to designers who are new to the subject. I recently read an article, which is no longer online, claiming that grids have disadvantages and it listed the reasons why. As you can guess, I very much disagreed with the entire article and felt that it was pro-viding a lot of bad information on grid systems. All of the listed “disadvan-tages” were distortions derived from the lack of understanding on how a grid works and functions. In response to that article, here’s my attempt at clearing up this mess.
his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.”
Another outrageous claim is that grids are confining. When used properly, a grid will never limit or confine a design, it will grow and adapt to your liking. If someone tells you a grid gives you no freedom, that person doesn’t fully understand the purpose of a grid or how it should be used. Grids of possibili-ties.
Graphic designer and writer Ellen Lupton explains:
“To say a grid is limiting is to say that language is limiting or typography is limiting.”
Where people get confused is with the notion that a design utilizing a grid should look “grid-like”, giving a clear indication of columns. Fortunately, that isn’t true, and this poster by Brockmann is a great example. The text clearly falls on a grid but the concentric shapes have more of an organic feel, making the grid invisible.
Grids only benefit certain design.
A grid can be used for ALL designs. I’ll repeat that. A grid can be used for ALL designs. To suggest that only certain designs can benefit from using a grid is to suggest that a structural foundation can only benefit a certain type of building or that grammar is only useful for a certain style of writing. A grid is a foundation, and like with any archite- ctural structure it’s a vital part of the process.
Grids also do not satisfy a specific aesthetic. They do not require the use of Helvetica or the omission of
ANTONIOCARUSONE
7
images. A grid can be applied to any style of design, no matter if it’s scrapbooky, or clean and minimal. You don’t have to design like Brockmann to use a grid.
Grids require a lot of content.
The amount of content in no way dictates whether a grid is required or not. A design needs to visually communicate an idea or message, whether it’s a 250 page story, or a 5 word sentence and an image. A grid helps achieve that goal through structure, organization and hierarchy.
Grids slow down the design process.
The opposite is actually true. A well designed grid, used by a competent designer, can help solve a design problem in less time. A fully designed grid system will also provide a consis-tent structure and organization across a multi-page design, like a web site, making the process more efficient.
Grids only work in a fixed layout.
This is specific to web design. Many people believe that a grid needs to be fixed and as a result can only generate a fixed layout. Not true. A grid can be designed to be fluid and change with the viewport size, scaling itself proportionately. Hopefully this article has helped clear up a few myths and misconceptions about grids, and has allowed you to better understand the purpose of them and how they hould be used.
FALSE
9
bib
lio
gr
ap
hy
Carusone, Antonio. "Myths & Misconceptions About Grid Systems | AisleOne." AisleOne - Graphic Design, Typogr-aphy and Grid Systems.
30 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.aisleone.net/2009/design/myths-misconceptions-about-grid-systems/>.
Villegas, Alex. "Grids: Recondite Structures of Design « NoeticFront." NoeticFront. 22 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.noeticfront.com/blog/2010/01/22/grids-recondite-structures-of-design/>.
Ward, Matt. "Musings on the Relationship Between Grids and Guides :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog." Home :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog.
26 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://blog.echoenduring.com/2010/06/26/musings-on-the-relationship-between-grids-and-guides/>.
10
3 4
8
GRID IS GOD.GRIDS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
GRID IS THE FUTURE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
article author page #
musings on the relationship of grids and guides
grids: recondite stuctures of design
myths and misconceptions about grid systems
matt ward
alex villegas
anthonio carusone
3
5
7
2
MUSINGS ABOUT THE RELATION-SHIP BETWEEN GRIDS AND GUIDES Matt Ward G
rid
s:R
eco
nd
ite
Str
uct
ure
s o
fD
esig
n of s
yste
ms
that
div
ide
spac
e w
ith t
he
Gol
den
Ratio
). G
rids,
how
ever
, see
m t
o ha
ve a
ver
y lo
w p
riorit
y in
tod
ay’s
visu
al d
esig
n,
espe
cial
ly f
or w
eb d
evel
oper
s. It
is a
sh
ame
beca
use
com
mon
pr
ogra
m-
min
g la
ngua
ges
such
as
HTM
L an
d CS
S ac
tual
ly
call
for
a gr
id-li
ke
stru
ctur
e th
e on
ly th
ing
mis
sing
is th
e in
telli
gent
use
of s
uch
a st
ruct
ure.
Thi
s is
ve
ry
impo
rtan
t be
caus
e on
line
cont
ent
assi
mila
tion
and
rete
ntio
n dr
amat
ical
ly
incr
ease
w
hen
typo
- gr
aphi
c gr
ids
are
used
. Ye
t th
e co
mm
on
tren
d,
even
fo
r hi
gh-e
nd
web
site
s, is
th
e “t
able
s”
men
talit
y,
whe
re e
very
ele
men
t on
the
pag
e is
pl
aced
w
ithin
in
divi
dual
m
odul
es
(with
th
e co
nten
t of
ten
cent
ered
Al
ex
Vil
le
ga
s
Myths & Mis-conceptions about grid systems
Grids are a design trend.
Grids have been in use long before graphic design became a discipline. During the 13th– and 14th-centuries, scribes used the Villard Diagram to organize their handwritten manuscripts. In the 15th-century, Gutenberg and others divided their pages using the Van de Graaf canon.The use of a grid is not a trend, it’s a funda- mental skill that designers should possess. Grids have been around a very long time and are an important part of the design process.
A few myths and misconceptions about grids exist in the design com-munity that can be detrimetal, espe-cially to designers who are new to the subject. I recently read an article, which is no longer online, claiming that grids have disadvantages and it listed the reasons why. As you can guess, I very much disagreed with the entire article and felt that it was pro-viding a lot of bad information on grid systems. All of the listed “disadvan-tages” were distortions derived from the lack of understanding on how a grid works and functions. In response to that article, here’s my attempt at clearing up this mess.
his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.”
Another outrageous claim is that grids are confining. When used properly, a grid will never limit or confine a design, it will grow and adapt to your liking. If someone tells you a grid gives you no freedom, that person doesn’t fully understand the purpose of a grid or how it should be used. Grids of possibili-ties.
Graphic designer and writer Ellen Lupton explains:
“To say a grid is limiting is to say that language is limiting or typography is limiting.”
Where people get confused is with the notion that a design utilizing a grid should look “grid-like”, giving a clear indication of columns. Fortunately, that isn’t true, and this poster by Brockmann is a great example. The text clearly falls on a grid but the concentric shapes have more of an organic feel, making the grid invisible.
Grids only benefit certain design.
A grid can be used for ALL designs. I’ll repeat that. A grid can be used for ALL designs. To suggest that only certain designs can benefit from using a grid is to suggest that a structural foundation can only benefit a certain type of building or that grammar is only useful for a certain style of writing. A grid is a foundation, and like with any archite- ctural structure it’s a vital part of the process.
Grids also do not satisfy a specific aesthetic. They do not require the use of Helvetica or the omission of
ANTONIOCARUSONE
7
images. A grid can be applied to any style of design, no matter if it’s scrapbooky, or clean and minimal. You don’t have to design like Brockmann to use a grid.
Grids require a lot of content.
The amount of content in no way dictates whether a grid is required or not. A design needs to visually communicate an idea or message, whether it’s a 250 page story, or a 5 word sentence and an image. A grid helps achieve that goal through structure, organization and hierarchy.
Grids slow down the design process.
The opposite is actually true. A well designed grid, used by a competent designer, can help solve a design problem in less time. A fully designed grid system will also provide a consis-tent structure and organization across a multi-page design, like a web site, making the process more efficient.
Grids only work in a fixed layout.
This is specific to web design. Many people believe that a grid needs to be fixed and as a result can only generate a fixed layout. Not true. A grid can be designed to be fluid and change with the viewport size, scaling itself proportionately. Hopefully this article has helped clear up a few myths and misconceptions about grids, and has allowed you to better understand the purpose of them and how they hould be used.
FALSE
9
bib
lio
gr
ap
hy
Carusone, Antonio. "Myths & Misconceptions About Grid Systems | AisleOne." AisleOne - Graphic Design, Typogr-aphy and Grid Systems.
30 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.aisleone.net/2009/design/myths-misconceptions-about-grid-systems/>.
Villegas, Alex. "Grids: Recondite Structures of Design « NoeticFront." NoeticFront. 22 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.noeticfront.com/blog/2010/01/22/grids-recondite-structures-of-design/>.
Ward, Matt. "Musings on the Relationship Between Grids and Guides :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog." Home :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog.
26 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://blog.echoenduring.com/2010/06/26/musings-on-the-relationship-between-grids-and-guides/>.
10
3 4
8
GRID IS GOD.GRIDS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
GRID IS THE FUTURE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
article author page #
musings on the relationship of grids and guides
grids: recondite stuctures of design
myths and misconceptions about grid systems
matt ward
alex villegas
anthonio carusone
3
5
7
2
MUSINGS ABOUT THE RELATION-SHIP BETWEEN GRIDS AND GUIDES Matt Ward G
rid
s:R
eco
nd
ite
Str
uct
ure
s o
fD
esig
n of s
yste
ms
that
div
ide
spac
e w
ith t
he
Gol
den
Ratio
). G
rids,
how
ever
, see
m t
o ha
ve a
ver
y lo
w p
riorit
y in
tod
ay’s
visu
al d
esig
n,
espe
cial
ly f
or w
eb d
evel
oper
s. It
is a
sh
ame
beca
use
com
mon
pr
ogra
m-
min
g la
ngua
ges
such
as
HTM
L an
d CS
S ac
tual
ly
call
for
a gr
id-li
ke
stru
ctur
e th
e on
ly th
ing
mis
sing
is th
e in
telli
gent
use
of s
uch
a st
ruct
ure.
Thi
s is
ve
ry
impo
rtan
t be
caus
e on
line
cont
ent
assi
mila
tion
and
rete
ntio
n dr
amat
ical
ly
incr
ease
w
hen
typo
- gr
aphi
c gr
ids
are
used
. Ye
t th
e co
mm
on
tren
d,
even
fo
r hi
gh-e
nd
web
site
s, is
th
e “t
able
s”
men
talit
y,
whe
re e
very
ele
men
t on
the
pag
e is
pl
aced
w
ithin
in
divi
dual
m
odul
es
(with
th
e co
nten
t of
ten
cent
ered
Al
ex
Vil
le
ga
s
Myths & Mis-conceptions about grid systems
Grids are a design trend.
Grids have been in use long before graphic design became a discipline. During the 13th– and 14th-centuries, scribes used the Villard Diagram to organize their handwritten manuscripts. In the 15th-century, Gutenberg and others divided their pages using the Van de Graaf canon.The use of a grid is not a trend, it’s a funda- mental skill that designers should possess. Grids have been around a very long time and are an important part of the design process.
A few myths and misconceptions about grids exist in the design com-munity that can be detrimetal, espe-cially to designers who are new to the subject. I recently read an article, which is no longer online, claiming that grids have disadvantages and it listed the reasons why. As you can guess, I very much disagreed with the entire article and felt that it was pro-viding a lot of bad information on grid systems. All of the listed “disadvan-tages” were distortions derived from the lack of understanding on how a grid works and functions. In response to that article, here’s my attempt at clearing up this mess.
his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.”
Another outrageous claim is that grids are confining. When used properly, a grid will never limit or confine a design, it will grow and adapt to your liking. If someone tells you a grid gives you no freedom, that person doesn’t fully understand the purpose of a grid or how it should be used. Grids of possibili-ties.
Graphic designer and writer Ellen Lupton explains:
“To say a grid is limiting is to say that language is limiting or typography is limiting.”
Where people get confused is with the notion that a design utilizing a grid should look “grid-like”, giving a clear indication of columns. Fortunately, that isn’t true, and this poster by Brockmann is a great example. The text clearly falls on a grid but the concentric shapes have more of an organic feel, making the grid invisible.
Grids only benefit certain design.
A grid can be used for ALL designs. I’ll repeat that. A grid can be used for ALL designs. To suggest that only certain designs can benefit from using a grid is to suggest that a structural foundation can only benefit a certain type of building or that grammar is only useful for a certain style of writing. A grid is a foundation, and like with any archite- ctural structure it’s a vital part of the process.
Grids also do not satisfy a specific aesthetic. They do not require the use of Helvetica or the omission of
ANTONIOCARUSONE
7
images. A grid can be applied to any style of design, no matter if it’s scrapbooky, or clean and minimal. You don’t have to design like Brockmann to use a grid.
Grids require a lot of content.
The amount of content in no way dictates whether a grid is required or not. A design needs to visually communicate an idea or message, whether it’s a 250 page story, or a 5 word sentence and an image. A grid helps achieve that goal through structure, organization and hierarchy.
Grids slow down the design process.
The opposite is actually true. A well designed grid, used by a competent designer, can help solve a design problem in less time. A fully designed grid system will also provide a consis-tent structure and organization across a multi-page design, like a web site, making the process more efficient.
Grids only work in a fixed layout.
This is specific to web design. Many people believe that a grid needs to be fixed and as a result can only generate a fixed layout. Not true. A grid can be designed to be fluid and change with the viewport size, scaling itself proportionately. Hopefully this article has helped clear up a few myths and misconceptions about grids, and has allowed you to better understand the purpose of them and how they hould be used.
FALSE
9
bib
lio
gr
ap
hy
Carusone, Antonio. "Myths & Misconceptions About Grid Systems | AisleOne." AisleOne - Graphic Design, Typogr-aphy and Grid Systems.
30 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.aisleone.net/2009/design/myths-misconceptions-about-grid-systems/>.
Villegas, Alex. "Grids: Recondite Structures of Design « NoeticFront." NoeticFront. 22 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.noeticfront.com/blog/2010/01/22/grids-recondite-structures-of-design/>.
Ward, Matt. "Musings on the Relationship Between Grids and Guides :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog." Home :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog.
26 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://blog.echoenduring.com/2010/06/26/musings-on-the-relationship-between-grids-and-guides/>.
10
3 4
8
GRID IS GOD.GRIDS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
GRID IS THE FUTURE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
article author page #
musings on the relationship of grids and guides
grids: recondite stuctures of design
myths and misconceptions about grid systems
matt ward
alex villegas
anthonio carusone
3
5
7
2
MUSINGS ABOUT THE RELATION-SHIP BETWEEN GRIDS AND GUIDES Matt Ward G
rid
s:R
eco
nd
ite
Str
uct
ure
s o
fD
esig
n of s
yste
ms
that
div
ide
spac
e w
ith t
he
Gol
den
Ratio
). G
rids,
how
ever
, see
m t
o ha
ve a
ver
y lo
w p
riorit
y in
tod
ay’s
visu
al d
esig
n,
espe
cial
ly f
or w
eb d
evel
oper
s. It
is a
sh
ame
beca
use
com
mon
pr
ogra
m-
min
g la
ngua
ges
such
as
HTM
L an
d CS
S ac
tual
ly
call
for
a gr
id-li
ke
stru
ctur
e th
e on
ly th
ing
mis
sing
is th
e in
telli
gent
use
of s
uch
a st
ruct
ure.
Thi
s is
ve
ry
impo
rtan
t be
caus
e on
line
cont
ent
assi
mila
tion
and
rete
ntio
n dr
amat
ical
ly
incr
ease
w
hen
typo
- gr
aphi
c gr
ids
are
used
. Ye
t th
e co
mm
on
tren
d,
even
fo
r hi
gh-e
nd
web
site
s, is
th
e “t
able
s”
men
talit
y,
whe
re e
very
ele
men
t on
the
pag
e is
pl
aced
w
ithin
in
divi
dual
m
odul
es
(with
th
e co
nten
t of
ten
cent
ered
Al
ex
Vil
le
ga
s
Myths & Mis-conceptions about grid systems
Grids are a design trend.
Grids have been in use long before graphic design became a discipline. During the 13th– and 14th-centuries, scribes used the Villard Diagram to organize their handwritten manuscripts. In the 15th-century, Gutenberg and others divided their pages using the Van de Graaf canon.The use of a grid is not a trend, it’s a funda- mental skill that designers should possess. Grids have been around a very long time and are an important part of the design process.
A few myths and misconceptions about grids exist in the design com-munity that can be detrimetal, espe-cially to designers who are new to the subject. I recently read an article, which is no longer online, claiming that grids have disadvantages and it listed the reasons why. As you can guess, I very much disagreed with the entire article and felt that it was pro-viding a lot of bad information on grid systems. All of the listed “disadvan-tages” were distortions derived from the lack of understanding on how a grid works and functions. In response to that article, here’s my attempt at clearing up this mess.
his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.”
Another outrageous claim is that grids are confining. When used properly, a grid will never limit or confine a design, it will grow and adapt to your liking. If someone tells you a grid gives you no freedom, that person doesn’t fully understand the purpose of a grid or how it should be used. Grids of possibili-ties.
Graphic designer and writer Ellen Lupton explains:
“To say a grid is limiting is to say that language is limiting or typography is limiting.”
Where people get confused is with the notion that a design utilizing a grid should look “grid-like”, giving a clear indication of columns. Fortunately, that isn’t true, and this poster by Brockmann is a great example. The text clearly falls on a grid but the concentric shapes have more of an organic feel, making the grid invisible.
Grids only benefit certain design.
A grid can be used for ALL designs. I’ll repeat that. A grid can be used for ALL designs. To suggest that only certain designs can benefit from using a grid is to suggest that a structural foundation can only benefit a certain type of building or that grammar is only useful for a certain style of writing. A grid is a foundation, and like with any archite- ctural structure it’s a vital part of the process.
Grids also do not satisfy a specific aesthetic. They do not require the use of Helvetica or the omission of
ANTONIOCARUSONE
7
images. A grid can be applied to any style of design, no matter if it’s scrapbooky, or clean and minimal. You don’t have to design like Brockmann to use a grid.
Grids require a lot of content.
The amount of content in no way dictates whether a grid is required or not. A design needs to visually communicate an idea or message, whether it’s a 250 page story, or a 5 word sentence and an image. A grid helps achieve that goal through structure, organization and hierarchy.
Grids slow down the design process.
The opposite is actually true. A well designed grid, used by a competent designer, can help solve a design problem in less time. A fully designed grid system will also provide a consis-tent structure and organization across a multi-page design, like a web site, making the process more efficient.
Grids only work in a fixed layout.
This is specific to web design. Many people believe that a grid needs to be fixed and as a result can only generate a fixed layout. Not true. A grid can be designed to be fluid and change with the viewport size, scaling itself proportionately. Hopefully this article has helped clear up a few myths and misconceptions about grids, and has allowed you to better understand the purpose of them and how they hould be used.
FALSE
9
bib
lio
gr
ap
hy
Carusone, Antonio. "Myths & Misconceptions About Grid Systems | AisleOne." AisleOne - Graphic Design, Typogr-aphy and Grid Systems.
30 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.aisleone.net/2009/design/myths-misconceptions-about-grid-systems/>.
Villegas, Alex. "Grids: Recondite Structures of Design « NoeticFront." NoeticFront. 22 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.noeticfront.com/blog/2010/01/22/grids-recondite-structures-of-design/>.
Ward, Matt. "Musings on the Relationship Between Grids and Guides :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog." Home :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog.
26 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://blog.echoenduring.com/2010/06/26/musings-on-the-relationship-between-grids-and-guides/>.
10
3 4
8
GRID IS GOD.GRIDS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
GRID IS THE FUTURE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
article author page #
musings on the relationship of grids and guides
grids: recondite stuctures of design
myths and misconceptions about grid systems
matt ward
alex villegas
anthonio carusone
3
5
7
2
MUSINGS ABOUT THE RELATION-SHIP BETWEEN GRIDS AND GUIDES Matt Ward G
rid
s:R
eco
nd
ite
Str
uct
ure
s o
fD
esig
n of s
yste
ms
that
div
ide
spac
e w
ith t
he
Gol
den
Ratio
). G
rids,
how
ever
, see
m t
o ha
ve a
ver
y lo
w p
riorit
y in
tod
ay’s
visu
al d
esig
n,
espe
cial
ly f
or w
eb d
evel
oper
s. It
is a
sh
ame
beca
use
com
mon
pr
ogra
m-
min
g la
ngua
ges
such
as
HTM
L an
d CS
S ac
tual
ly
call
for
a gr
id-li
ke
stru
ctur
e th
e on
ly th
ing
mis
sing
is th
e in
telli
gent
use
of s
uch
a st
ruct
ure.
Thi
s is
ve
ry
impo
rtan
t be
caus
e on
line
cont
ent
assi
mila
tion
and
rete
ntio
n dr
amat
ical
ly
incr
ease
w
hen
typo
- gr
aphi
c gr
ids
are
used
. Ye
t th
e co
mm
on
tren
d,
even
fo
r hi
gh-e
nd
web
site
s, is
th
e “t
able
s”
men
talit
y,
whe
re e
very
ele
men
t on
the
pag
e is
pl
aced
w
ithin
in
divi
dual
m
odul
es
(with
th
e co
nten
t of
ten
cent
ered
Al
ex
Vil
le
ga
s
Myths & Mis-conceptions about grid systems
Grids are a design trend.
Grids have been in use long before graphic design became a discipline. During the 13th– and 14th-centuries, scribes used the Villard Diagram to organize their handwritten manuscripts. In the 15th-century, Gutenberg and others divided their pages using the Van de Graaf canon.The use of a grid is not a trend, it’s a funda- mental skill that designers should possess. Grids have been around a very long time and are an important part of the design process.
A few myths and misconceptions about grids exist in the design com-munity that can be detrimetal, espe-cially to designers who are new to the subject. I recently read an article, which is no longer online, claiming that grids have disadvantages and it listed the reasons why. As you can guess, I very much disagreed with the entire article and felt that it was pro-viding a lot of bad information on grid systems. All of the listed “disadvan-tages” were distortions derived from the lack of understanding on how a grid works and functions. In response to that article, here’s my attempt at clearing up this mess.
his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.”
Another outrageous claim is that grids are confining. When used properly, a grid will never limit or confine a design, it will grow and adapt to your liking. If someone tells you a grid gives you no freedom, that person doesn’t fully understand the purpose of a grid or how it should be used. Grids of possibili-ties.
Graphic designer and writer Ellen Lupton explains:
“To say a grid is limiting is to say that language is limiting or typography is limiting.”
Where people get confused is with the notion that a design utilizing a grid should look “grid-like”, giving a clear indication of columns. Fortunately, that isn’t true, and this poster by Brockmann is a great example. The text clearly falls on a grid but the concentric shapes have more of an organic feel, making the grid invisible.
Grids only benefit certain design.
A grid can be used for ALL designs. I’ll repeat that. A grid can be used for ALL designs. To suggest that only certain designs can benefit from using a grid is to suggest that a structural foundation can only benefit a certain type of building or that grammar is only useful for a certain style of writing. A grid is a foundation, and like with any archite- ctural structure it’s a vital part of the process.
Grids also do not satisfy a specific aesthetic. They do not require the use of Helvetica or the omission of
ANTONIOCARUSONE
7
images. A grid can be applied to any style of design, no matter if it’s scrapbooky, or clean and minimal. You don’t have to design like Brockmann to use a grid.
Grids require a lot of content.
The amount of content in no way dictates whether a grid is required or not. A design needs to visually communicate an idea or message, whether it’s a 250 page story, or a 5 word sentence and an image. A grid helps achieve that goal through structure, organization and hierarchy.
Grids slow down the design process.
The opposite is actually true. A well designed grid, used by a competent designer, can help solve a design problem in less time. A fully designed grid system will also provide a consis-tent structure and organization across a multi-page design, like a web site, making the process more efficient.
Grids only work in a fixed layout.
This is specific to web design. Many people believe that a grid needs to be fixed and as a result can only generate a fixed layout. Not true. A grid can be designed to be fluid and change with the viewport size, scaling itself proportionately. Hopefully this article has helped clear up a few myths and misconceptions about grids, and has allowed you to better understand the purpose of them and how they hould be used.
FALSE
9
bib
lio
gr
ap
hy
Carusone, Antonio. "Myths & Misconceptions About Grid Systems | AisleOne." AisleOne - Graphic Design, Typogr-aphy and Grid Systems.
30 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.aisleone.net/2009/design/myths-misconceptions-about-grid-systems/>.
Villegas, Alex. "Grids: Recondite Structures of Design « NoeticFront." NoeticFront. 22 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://www.noeticfront.com/blog/2010/01/22/grids-recondite-structures-of-design/>.
Ward, Matt. "Musings on the Relationship Between Grids and Guides :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog." Home :: Echo Enduring Blog - A Web and Graphic Design Blog.
26 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://blog.echoenduring.com/2010/06/26/musings-on-the-relationship-between-grids-and-guides/>.
10
3 4
8
example 5b
example 5c example 5d
