Grid Systems：Principles of Organizing Type (Design Briefs)

Althoughgridsystemsarethefoundationforalmostalltypographicdesign,theyareoftenassociatedwithrigid,formulaicsolutions.However,thebeliefthatallgreatdesignisnonethelessbasedongridsystems(evenifonlysubvertedones)suggeststhatfewdesignerstrulyunderstandthecomplexitiesandpotentialrichesofgridcomposition.Inherbest-selling"GeometryofDesign,"Elamshowshowproportion,symmetry,andothergeometricalsystemsunderliemanyofthevisualrelationshipsthatmakeforgooddesign.Now,Elambringsthesamekeeneyeandclearexplanationstobearonthemostprevalent,andmaybeleastunderstood,systemofvisualorganization:thegrid.Filledwithextensiveresearchandmorethan100informativeexamplesfromtheBauhaustoNikeads,"GridSystems"providesarich,easy-to-understandoverviewanddemonstratesastep-by-stepapproachtotypographiccomposition.Itsuggestsdesignstrategiesthattranscendsimplefunctionandreductionistrecipestoallowgridstobecomeameansoftrulydynamiccommunication.Anydesigner,educator,orstudentwillbenefitgreatlyfromthiselegantslimbook,chock-a-blockfullofcolorfulexamples,helpfulvellumoverlays,andElam'sinsightfulanalysis.