OUGD404 - Design Principles: Construction of Grids

Before you can apply a grid you must understand the requirement of the grid for the work to be produced.

Typeface, text and illustrations, print method and paper quality must be confirmed beforehand (ideally).

Always start with small sketches...

Thumbnail sketches will make your job of final layouts easier and productive.

Thumbnail sizes should be proportionate to the final format.

...To make your job of final layouts easier and productive.

Before drawing your sketches, consider the number of columns needed.

For example...

• 1 column only for text and illustrations gives the little freedom of layout
• Restriction of making illustrations small, medium or large
• 2 columns, logically gives you more scope: 1 column for text, 1 column for illustration, they can be mixed together
• 2 column division can be subdivided to create a 4 column page

Three columns

• Opportunities for arranging and accommodating text and illustrations in numerous sizes

Disadvantages pf 6 columns are

• Lines of text will be narrow
• Small typeface will have to be used
• But... this solely rests on the function that is to be performed

For statistics, figures, graphs and trend line publications use 4 columns per page

Remember 4 columns can be subdivided into 8, 16

The width of a  column dictates the size of typeface used.

The rule

• The narrower a column is the smaller the typeface

Thumbnails and developments

Make a variety of thumbnails of layouts/designs

Do not rely on just one set of thumbnails

Enlarge a small selection of appropriate thumbnails by 1:1

Compare them and select and repeat process until you are confident with the design

The first line must fit flush to the top limit of the column grid

The last line must stand on the bottom limit

Keep calm, it is difficult to find the final solution the first time around

It could mean that your grid field is too high or too low

1:1 thumbnail type area with the depth and breadth that fits best both functionally and aesthetically

Divide into further 2 or 3 text columns

Divide the text column into 2 or 3 fields

Font Heights

Caption text:
4 point type
6 point leading

Header and footer text:
7 point type
10 point leading

Body text:
10 point type
13 point leading

Headline:
40 point type

Subheading:
20 point type

Type and picture

(8 field grid)

A4+ format
8 and 20 grid fields
8 grid fields are used frequently for advertising material and brochures
If using 8 field grids, you can subdivide into 16 grid fields
8 and 16 grid fields give you a range of possibilities

8 grid fields allow various sizes of illustrations to be portrayed
You can use with or without text
You need to have a good perception of composition

The grid is only an instrument in which you, a designer, can make interesting and balanced designs

20 field grid has quite a large scope for idea solutions
There is around 42 possible layout options

Experimenting with layout and grids in inDesign...