OUGD504 Studio Brief 3 - Grids

OUGD504 Studio Brief 3 - Research: Grid Systems

'The Grid mad sit possible to bring all the elements of design, type, characters, photography, drawing and colour into a formal relationship to each other; that is to say, the grid system is a means of introducing order into design. Designers use modernist grids to create unity among elements in multi-page publications. The grid defines possible sizes for images and text, proportional relationship, and alignment that bring harmony to disparate elements in the same visual space. Consistent placement and hierarchy amongst information components maintains continuity for the reader from spread to spread and from issue to issue of the same publication. Throughout design history, designers have based grids on perceptions of optimal proportions-such as the golden section, in which smaller divisions of space are proportionally identical to the dimensions of the larger space. Document-design software programmes, such as Adobe InDesign, are based on the grid, and therefore embed modernist design principles in their features and functions.'

Davis, M. 2012. Graphic Design Theory. London: Thames & Hudson.

Fibonacci 

Fibonacci sequence ratio 8:13 links to Golden & Golden Ratio section. This sequence is not only evident within design but also nature. 

1.62 & 8:13

Forms the basis of paper sizes and its principles can be used as a means of achieving balanced designs. Many ancient cultures from Egyptians to the Greeks used this thinking to gain beautiful designed proportions. *Fibonacci sequence ratio 8:13 links to Golden section 

The human face follows the ratio and we find people whose faces are truer to the ratio more attractive?Classic Renaissance masterpieces, architecture from antiquity, and even human body parts are proportioned based on the ratio down to the fingers themselves. 

Canons Principles of page layout design used to measure and describe proportions, margins and print area. 

Van de Graaf 

 Tschichold - Gold Ratio

Tschichold - Octavo

Book Grids

For additional research, I looked at books and magazine and the grid systems in these. One example was comparing the grid systems in Vogue May 1961 and January 2014, and how the grid, layout and compositions were kept traditional and are quite similar. However I would say that the more recent additions of Vogue have new grid systems that allow more text to compact the article to leave more room for advertisements. In addition I found books specifically on grid systems that gave me more of an insight into different grids and compositions. 

It was decided that the Van de Graaf canon would be used within this publication as it provides a page divide of pleasing proportions. These will be where the photographs will sit on the page, this was felt best as more than one photograph per page would have to much of a contemporary feel to it. One photograph per page could be read through as if it were one paragraph on one page. Providing the audience with a photography book where each photograph is as important as the next, and all share equal sizes and page layout.