GRIDS: “Ugly” vs “Beautiful”
A small piece from the book The New Typography by Jan Tschichold. A manual for design teachers and educators that outlines the standards of creating balance with page space, page sizes, and use of empty space. The big red X demonstrates what not to do and is captioned as “ugly.” The opposite page shown demonstrates what to do and what is captioned “beautiful.”
Do I agree with this? With no context it’s hard to say. It’s a very restrictive and systematic approach that would certainly not suit all applications. From the examples shown, I do think that the structure of the one on the right feels better to look at.
What is a grid? What are its origins? What are its functions?
Grid systems are all around us. They are the foundation of our cities. In design, a grid is a framework that allows designers to create a system for efficient use of space.
“Designers became fascinated by grids the same way they did with letterforms; looking for symmetry and systems” (Andy Simionato, 2020)
Letter form grids are connected to the human form. Are page grids also connected to human form? How do grids affect human behaviour and which informed the other?
The grid system is an aid, not a guarantee. It permits a number of possible uses and each designer can look for a solution appropriate to his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice. — Josef Müller-Brockmann
