Best Practices for Graphic Designers, Grids and Page Layouts : An Essential Guide for Understanding and Applying Page Design Principles

"This unique, go-to guide for designers fully details the essential layout and design skills needed to succeed in this competitive industry. With fun and practical application, it offers valuable insight into strategy and business when working in the real world with real clients, starting with basic information on layout principles before delving more deeply into theory and application on a project-by-project basis. Illustrated with real-world assignments and case studies, this guide offers a behind-the-scenes take on the entire process and steps necessary to go from concept to final outcome, including how to overcome challenges presented along the way"--;Introduction : Vignelli Associates: approach to grid-based design -- Elements of a grid system : An overview : Oikos Associati: turning the grid into a focal point ; Basic structures : Single-column/manuscript grids ; Multicolumn grids ; Modular grids ; Hierarchical grids ; Baseline grids ; Compound grids -- Uppercase magazine : Multicolumn flexibility -- Behind the grid : An overview ; Type & column widths -- How magazine: designing for designers : Type & vertical increments ; Type & balance in columns ; The golden section -- Lucid design: the twelve-column grid & website design ; Hierarchy/organization of information : An overview ; Organizing the content ; Scale & impact ; Typographic techniques can impact flow ; Negative space as a map ; Using relative position to establish importance ; Color can bring content forward, or push it back ; Brandon Bird Design: grids on display ; Elements: a modular system to ease line extension ; The Official Manufacturing Company: divisions in space form content areas -- Page structure ; An overview ; Size & shape of the page ; Page margins ; Caserta Design: layout that evokes an emotional response ; Live area: page size ; Symmetry & composition ; Folds & relationship of content across pages ; Production considerations -- UnderConsideration: grouping with grids -- Content structure : An overview ; Development of read/progression of info ; Grouping information ; Rhythm & flow ; Pacing ; Memo Productions: content Is king ; Alexander Isley, Inc.: illustration grouped with text ; Here Design: illustrations add flavor to layouts -- Relationship of design components : An overview ; How text & image can be separated ; How text & image can be unified ; Space ; Scale ; 804: spatial flexibility ; WIRED magazine: design fidelity across platforms -- Type as image : An overview ; Hand lettering & illustrative typography ; Caption treatment ; Pull quotes ; Folios & wayfinding ; Matador: layout with a typographic focus -- Color : An overview ; Color as a unifying element ; Color as an organizational tool ; AdamsMorioka: for the love of color -- Breaking the rules : An overview ; Grid deconstruction ; Optical composition ; Organic design ; Modern Dog: design organically but think rationally. Cover 1 Title Page 4 CONTENTS 7 INTRODUCTION 11 Vignelli Associates: Approach to Grid-based Design 13 ELEMENTS OF A GRID SYSTEM: An Overview 21 Oikos Associati: Turning the Grid into a Focal Point 23 BASIC STRUCTURES: Single-Column/Manuscript Grids 27 Multicolumn Grids 29 Modular Grids 33 Hierarchical Grids 41 Baseline Grids 46 Compound Grids 47 UPPERCASE Magazine: Multicolumn Flexibility 49 BEHIND THE GRID: An Overview 55 Type & Column Widths 56 HOW Magazine: Designing for Designers 57 Type & Vertical Increments 61 Type & Balance in Columns 62 The Golden Section 63 Lucid Design: The Twelve-Column Grid & Website Design 65 HIERARCHY/ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION: An Overview 69 Organizing the Content Scale & Impact 71 Typographic Techniques Can Impact Flow 73 Negative Space As a Map 78 Using Relative Position to Establish Importance 79 Color Can Bring Content Forward, or Push It Back 80 Brandon Bird Design: Grids on Display 81 Elements: A Modular System to Ease Line Extension 85 The Official Manufacturing Company: Divisions in Space Form Content Areas 89 PAGE STRUCTURE: An Overview 93 Size & Shape of the Page 95 Page Margins 97 Caserta Design: Layout That Evokes an Emotional Response 99 Live Area: Page Size 103 Symmetry & Composition 105 Folds & Relationship of Content Across Pages 106 Production Considerations 109 UnderConsideration: Grouping with Grids 111 CONTENT STRUCTURE: An Overview 115 Development of Read/Progression of Info 116 Grouping Information 117 Rhythm & Flow 119 Pacing 121 Memo Productions: Content Is King 123 Alexander Isley, Inc.: Illustration Grouped with Text 127 Here Design: Illustrations Add Flavor to Layouts 131 RELATIONSHIP OF DESIGN COMPONENTS: An Overview 135 How Text & Image Can Be Separated 136 How Text & Image Can Be Unified 138 Space 143 Scale 145 804: Spatial Flexibility 147 WIRED Magazine: Design Fidelity Across Platforms 151 TYPE AS IMAGE: An Overview 157 Hand Lettering & Illustrative Typography 158 Caption Treatment 160 Pull Quotes 161 Folios & Wayfinding 163 Matador: Layout with a Typographic Focus 165 COLOR: An Overview 169 Color As a Unifying Element 170 Color As an Organizational Tool 175 AdamsMorioka: For the Love of Color 177 BREAKING THE RULES: An Overview 181 Grid Deconstruction 182 Optical Composition 183 Organic Design 185 Modern Dog: Design Organically But Think Rationally 187 ABOUT THE AUTHORS 193 " This unique, go-to guide for designers fully details the essential layout and design skills needed to succeed in this competitive industry. With fun and practical application, it offers valuable insight into strategy and business when working in the real world with real clients, starting with basic information on layout principles before delving more deeply into theory and application on a project-by-project basis. Illustrated with real-world assignments and case studies, this guide offers a behind-the-scenes take on the entire process and steps necessary to go from concept to final outcome, including how to overcome challenges presented along the way"-- Provided by publisher

This unique, go-to guide for designers fully details the essential layout and design skills needed to succeed in this competitive industry. With fun and practical application, it offers valuable insight into strategy and business when working in the real world with real clients, starting with basic information on layout principles before delving more deeply into theory and application on a project-by-project basis. Illustrated with real-world assignments and case studies, this guide offers a behind-the-scenes take on the entire process and steps necessary to go from concept to final outcome, including how to overcome challenges presented along the way.