Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13707 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

About the Author
Kimberly Elam is chairperson of the Graphic and Interactive Communication Department at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.

Customer Reviews

Good Introduction For Using Grid Systems
I really enjoyed this book. It provides a nice, historically aware introduction to design by grid systems. The book is ideal for those interested in print design, but it is also helpful for web designers as well. Mainly exercises, it will return what you put into it. The book is more of a hands on study than simple reader.

Well-Designed To Sell
Grid Systems had excited me to the point that I went to the store and bought it while my Amazon order was delayed in shipping (t'was never delivered). I tore into it with great delight until I reached about page 20. It was then that I started to notice an abundance of the same types of 'grid example thumbnails' with one-sentence notes. While, in the first half, these are informative, they just become page fillers that speak to the same principals again and again. There are far too many of them. It's clear that this is designed to make the book heavier.

My interest peaked again, though, when I got to Jan Tschichold's 'Die Neue Typographie' layout (as promised on the cover). There was an overlay of vellum with the grid for the piece. "Finally," I thought, "some applied theory!" But no. The overlay shows the grid and a triangle (mystery triangle to me- never explained). The accompanying 7 sentences do little more than to describe the piece and provide a history. This is par for the rest of the real-world examples in the book: A complex overlay with zero supplemental information on it.

This book is well-designed to sell if you flip through it or look at the Look Inside on Amazon because you'll think there are in-depth analysis for historical and popular works based on the grid. But there aren't.

Consider another option.

I'm not sure I like this book
The organization of the book seems a bit disjointed to me. I would have also liked to have seen a lot of the examples use actual type rather than block diagrams.

The overlays are helpful, more discussion about them would make them even more useful. I want to like the book, but am not quite there. If I had to describe the book in one word it would be sterile.