Week 3 – Designing with Grid Systems

Grids, guides, and a giant poster. Bootcamp continued with Week 3 being all about grids.

No real surprises, some good discussions, and a really interesting project. Only two of us chose to do a poster (30″ x 72″). The rest of the class chose to do the 8″ x 8″ book or a website.

Definitely the most fulfilling project so far.

Notes on Grids, for later reflection:

• Don’t be a slave to a system that doesn’t work. Adhere to rules when it makes sense. But there are always going to be places where the rules must be changed, bent, or broken. It’s so easy to get caught up in your own rules – stay loose.
• Understand the content first. Good organization is a key driver in good design, and this only happens when the designer understands the content. This becomes especially true with large amounts of content – and when the author isn’t the most organized writer.
• Large-scale posters require different information be readable at different distances. Get the readers attention, bring them in closer, and give them the nitty-gritty. Not having one of these can mean nobody reads your poster, or that some of your audience will just pass on by.
• Josef Muller-Brockmann was right, grids are the organizing principle that makes civilization work. I know this seems very self aggrandizing, but I truly believe the designers highest calling is to organize for all.