What is a Grid?:

What is a Grid?:

According to www.dictonary.com a grid is something resembling a framework of crisscrossed parallel bars, as in rigidity or organization or a pattern of regularly spaced horizontal and vertical lines forming squares on a map, a chart, an aerial photograph, or an optical device, used as a reference for locating points.

History and origin:

grid:

1839, shortening of gridiron. City planning sense is from 1954 (hence gridlock 1980). Meaning "network of transmission lines" first recorded 1926.

“A grid breaks a space or time into regular units” It can be simple, complex, specific, and generic. It is ALL about control. It is a standard way of organizing things visually to create better communication.

Examples of a grid:

-The city's streets form a grid

-magazines

-newspapers

Why use a grid?

The use of a grid is important because it allows the designer to communicate better to its audience.

Modular grid: Consists of consistent horizontal divisions and vertical divisions that control the placement and cropping of texts and pictures.

Is formed by the following things:

Margins-the space bordering the modules and outside edge

Columns-the vertical lines that run left to right of the grid

Modules-the boxes used to organize texts and images

Flow lines- the lines of the module

Gutter-the spaces between each box or module

Hierarchy:

Hierarchy is a logical and visual way to express the relative importance of different text elements by providing a visual guide to their organization. A text hierarchy helps make a layout clear, unambiguous and easier to digest. For example, titles and phrases may be enlarged to reinforce importance and dropping down a weight of a title distinguishes its subsidiary but keeping it prominent. Position on the page, weight of the characters, size, and graphic element are some of the few ways to express hierarchy.

Type Family and style:

A type family is a group of typefaces that include many separate fonts.

A typeface is any full set of standardized letterforms, which includes roman, italic, and bold. These can be more extensive by incorporating condensed or extended in display.