Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type

by Kimberly Elam

Although grid systems are the foundation for almost all typographic design, they are often associated with rigid, formulaic solutions. However, the belief that all great design is nonetheless based on grid systems (even if only subverted ones) suggests that few designers truly understand the complexities and potential riches of grid composition.
In her best-selling Geometry of Design , Elam shows how proportion, symmetry, and other geometrical systems underlie many of the visual relationships that make for good design. Now, Elam brings the same keen eye and clear explanations to bear on the most prevalent, and maybe least understood, system of visual organization: the grid.
Filled with extensive research and more than 100 informative examples from the Bauhaus to Nike ads, Grid Systems provides a rich, easy-to-understand overview and demonstrates a step-by-step approach to typographic composition. It suggests design strategies that transcend simple function and reductionist recipes to allow grids to become a means of truly dynamic communication. Any designer, educator, or student will benefit greatly from this elegant slim book, chock-a-block full of colorful examples, helpful vellum overlays, and Elam's insightful analysis.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Art, Art Design, Reference, Collections, Graphic Novels

120 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 2004

About the author

Kimberly Elam is a writer, educator and graphic designer. She currently chairs the Graphic + Interactive Communication Department at the Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL, where she has developed an academic minor in the Business of Art and Design. Her previous design education positions include the Kansas City Art Institute, North Carolina State University and The Ohio State University—where she received a Distinguished Teaching Award.

She has written extensively about graphic design and design education. Her first book, Expressive Typography, Word as Image (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990) identifies and analyzes methods by which words can transcend didactic meaning and become images. Geometry of Design, Studies in Proportion and Composition (Princeton Architectural Press, 2001) visually illustrates the connection between classic proportioning systems and modern graphic design, industrial design, illustration and architecture. Grid Systems, Principles of Organizing Type, (Princeton Architectural Press, 2004) puts forth a clear methodology for understanding and learning the grid system of composition. Graphic Translation, A Graphic Design Project Guide, (BookSurge.com) focuses on the creation of images with the visual means of abstraction, reduction and interpretation with point, line, plane, shade and shadow. Her most recent book, Typographic Systems, Rules for Organizing Type (Princeton Architectural Press, 2007), presents an innovative series of nontraditional, rule-based, visual language systems for typographic composition. Her current work focuses on the development of a series of innovative ebooks and print-on-demand books for design education on her website, www.StudioResourceInc.com.

Reviews

[James Moes · Rating 2 out of 5]

It will be good for reference, but doesn't provide the strategic design insights one would gain from Ellen Lupton's Thinking With Type and/or Edward Tufte's Envisioning Information.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very strange book. If you are into typography, you are likely familiar with the grid. Basically there are aesthetics involved in laying things out in certain grid patterns that are pleasing to the eye. This book shows many examples of text laid out in grids, but does little to explain why they are laid out in that manner. Overall, this book could give you some ideas, but leave you wondering what the purpose is. There is just very little explanation behind the theory of the grid system. This left me feeling a little empty. There are better books on this subject.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text can get heavily jargoned, but there are ample examples to get you through what she means. Also I loved the overlay pages, where they had reproductions of real life products (book layouts, posters, programs) with a transparent sheet over it marking the grid lines to show you how it was laid out. Some seemingly simple designs were quite complex.

I would have liked there to be more design critiques - there were a handful of examples where they 'fixed' bad design. I learned more from those.

[Tea Zbašnik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very hard to folow if you have problems with focus, but thanks to a lot of picture content I did managed to get through. I do wish someone else would explain a bit more to me all the compositons un detail, as I think I did get pass them to quickly to study them properly.
I would recomended to study and exercise the studys with the samples provided, to get sense of composition and hierarchy.

[Bighomer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A strange book. It provides a lot of examples, but with little explanation. Probably, if you studied them thoroughly you could get something out of them. Or use them as reference material.

Anyway, as someone with no prior knowledge about grid and design, I was expecting there to be text that explains the reasoning behind placements in the grid, and their benefits or downsides--however mundane they may be.

[jonathan berger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A competent but joyless primer, there's little besides a (thorough!) book-length treatment of a single design exercise.

[Hamid Nasr · Rating 4 out of 5]

برای من که گرافیک نخوندم خوندن کتاب های تو این زمینه خیلی بهم کمک میکنه مخصوصن در موقع دیدن پوسترها و تجزیه و تحلیلشون

[Kirtan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, but this could have been better presented as a 1-2 hour lecture series.

[Dil Nawaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a graphic designer I need to learn about how grid systems works or how to use grids in your work.

Too technical book not about how to work on grids.

Many inspections of old poster works.

I bought two books of her Grid Systems and Typographic systems.

I love design books but this is not my type or not about grids but about grid works.

I have another book on grids Making and Breaking Grids which is more about how to work on grids. Buy that one

Dil Nawaz
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[Samudra Bhattacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a reference book, so I didn't read it cover to cover, but there is some really good practical advice about grids in here! Might not be super important for pros but definitely helpful for someone trying to understand how grids work.
The other cool thing about this book is that it has the works of famous typographers and then has an overlay page with the grid that was used for it to get an understanding of what is happening.
Highly recommended for anyone trying to improve their understanding of grid systems!

[Igo Lubczański · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dzisiaj wjechała też druga książka Kimberly Elam, o siatkach. Traktowałbym ją jako miły eksperyment, ciekawostkę, a nie jako podręcznik. Elam bardzo ciekawie zwraca uwagę na istnienie hierarchii informacji w projektowaniu, jednak widać po książce, że ma swoje lata. Podejście się trochę zmieniło, i historia projektowania graficznego nadal jest cenna, jednak trzeba być na bieżąco. Dla każdego, kto ma schizę na punkcie siatek i nie nudzi go matematyka.

[Eko Pujianto · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book doesn’t explain things very clearly, which makes it a bit hard to follow. It would’ve been helpful to see more examples of how the grid system can improve bad designs. The theory behind grid systems is barely touched on, which left me wanting more. I also wish there were some explanations about why things are placed on the grid and what works well (or doesn’t), even for the small details.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice workbook/excersise book. I feel like after taking a fun design-related course. The examples are versatile and show step by step how the author and students approach the layout problems - which other books usually lack.
I will definitely do the excersises myself and will reach for that book for inspiration in the future.

[Msr2d2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Całkiem przyzwoity przegląd ćwiczeń i bardziej znanych projektów tworzonych w oparciu o wcześniej przygotowaną siatkę. Niestety ze względy na skąpe opisy w wielu miejscach, książkę polecić mogę tylko osobom, które jakieś podstawy projektowania już znają.

[Dan Croak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fundamentals of design

[Xavier King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been struggling with understanding and applying design concepts from book to practice. This book has been a massive help

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the textbook for the course I'm teaching. It's got a good way of introducing students to grid systems and the overlays of historical work by prominent designers is a helpful way of students understanding how a reader might move through a composition or where the moments of synergy and alignment exist.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this book, i thought it was clear and easy to understand. a lot of pages had overlays with the grids printed on them, so you could see the composition with or without the grid. there were a lot of pages explaining why certain compositions worked or didn't work, and how to fix them if they didn't. I wish there were more pages with the overlays, because i found them very helpful, but that's my only complaint.

[Mike Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

A strangely organized journey through various grid systems, from basic to more complex. It doesn't seem to be written as much as collected and assembled, but the attentive reader will still gleam some knowledge and inspiration from this book. The most magnificent part is the construction of the book itself with meticulously drawn grid-overlays of respected designs.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think of this book as a well-composed and very clear introduction to working with grids.
The great amount of examples given and the see-through grids overlaying pages contribute really well to the contents of the book.

In short: a good way to start learning about grids and a helpful guide through the graphical design process.

[Amanda Farough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fantastic for the budding graphic designer that is struggling with how to communicate effectively with text blocks, hierarchy, tension, and locking of graphical elements. An excellent read that is a must-have for any design student.

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides an excellent foundation into the construction and concepts of grids, and provides great examples of each. However, that said, I DO NOT recommend this book to those who already understand the concepts. Instead, I would go with something like LEARNING AND BREAKING THE GRID.

[Chelsea Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a source for an introductory typography class I took. It clearly shows guides and grids for typesetting, along with type anatomy, kerning, and letterspacing. It was a good guide in school and I still refer back to it when I get stuck.

[R.Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good detail and elaboration on the classic Allen Hurlburt book.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for graphic designers. Even if you think you know all there is to know about grids, you still need to get this book.

[Marc Manley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great intro into the concepts of design.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It changed the way I worked! And it is also a wonderful souvenir from my trip to London ♥

[Leonard Houx · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for web designers!

[Bjm Index]

9

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good if you're just beginning to learn layout design.