OUGD404 - Design Principles: Canons and Grids (Week 2)

Van De Graaf

• A gridded page is much like scaffolding for a building
• It is structure that elements can be organised
• A grid will help continuity to be maintained and information digested with flow
• The Van De Graaf canon is a historical reconstruction of a method that may have been used in book design to divide a page in pleasing proportions
• This canon is also known as the "secret canon" used in many medieval manuscripts and incunabula
• The construction of Van De Graafs canon, works for any page width: height ratio
• Symmetrical layout
• This format has been used for a literature book because your fingers will be on the page and so you wouldn't want them covering the text because you wouldn't be able to read it

Historian John Man suggests that Gutenberg's Bible page was based on the Golden Ratio.

The text area and margin proportions are detemined by the starting page proportions.

You can then use the rule of nine and separate the page even more.

Can then separate it into even more sections to fit more text on but we have to be aware of the kerning and leading.

My example of Van De Graaf's canon:

 

Leading

• Column width is more than just design or format
• It is also based on legibility
• Printed collateral (text) is read by the eye of a distance of 30-35cm
• According to empirical rule there should be 7 words per line for a text of any length
• To keep the type area light and open (in appearance) we must consider the leading

ie. The vertical distance from the line to line which suits the size of type

• Overlong text lines tire the eye, as do overshort ones
• Readers find overlong lines strenuous to read
• This is because too much energy is spent on keeping the horizontal line in sight over a long distance
• Too short of a line and your eye changes text lines too often
• A column is easy to read if it is wide enough to fit in average 10 words per line

Width of a column

• The key is ease of reading
• Text must not impair the rhythm of reading
• This can not apply to titles and subtitles
• Advertising functions require headings to stand out and be absorbed by the eye
• It's function is to sell
• Are columns just aesthetic creatures?

What works

• 15 pt sans serif
• 17 pt leading

• 20 pt sans serif
• 24pt leading

• 24pt sans serif
• 28 pt leading

• 28pt sans serif
• 32 pt leading

Margins

• Margins can have an influence on the overall feel of a page of print
• Too small - looks over full
• Too large - exaggeration
• Well balanced margins on the sides, head and tail can create an agreeable impression

Badly proportioned

• 1x1x1x3 (picas)
• Side margins are the same width, looks wishy washy
• Same sized margins can never generate an interesting page design
• They generate the impression of indecision and dullness

Well proportioned

• Indented to be the right hand page due to larger left margin
• More applicable to literature rather than advertising etc
• The margins are luxurious but would this increase print costs?

IS IT ALL JUST ABOUT AESTHETICS?

The type area

• 1 and 2 column grids