Best practices for graphic designers: grids and page layouts: an essential guide for understanding & applying page design principles PDF
Preview Best practices for graphic designers: grids and page layouts: an essential guide for understanding & applying page design principles
B E S T P R A C T IC E S F O R G R A P H IC D E S IG N E R S : G R I D S A N D PAG E L AYO U T S © 2012 by Rockport Publishers All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book. First published in the United States of America by Rockport Publishers, a member of Quayside Publishing Group 100 Cummings Center Suite 406-L Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-6101 Telephone: (978) 282-9590 Fax: (978) 283-2742 www.rockpub.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Graver, Amy. Best practices for graphic designers, grids and page layouts : an essential guide for understanding and applying page design principles / Amy Graver and Ben Jura. pages cm Summary: “ 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. ISBN 978-1-59253-785-3 (pbk.) -- ISBN 1-59253-785-5 () 1. Graphic art--Technique. I. Jura, Ben. II. Title. NC1000.G73 2012 741.6--dc23 2012002397 ISBN: 978-1-59253-785-3 Digital edition published in 2012 eISBN-13: 978-1-61058-412-8 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Design: Ben Jura and Amy Graver, Elements, LLC Cover Image: Ben Jura and Amy Graver, Elements, LLC Printed in China B E S T P R A C T I C E S FO R G R A P H I C D E S I G N E R S: G R I D S A N D P A G E L A Y O U T S A N E S S EN TI AL GU I DE L I N E FOR Understanding & Applying Page Design Principles A M Y G R A V E R & B E N J U R A A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S Ben and I wish to acknowledge several people who helped us along the way. First, our editor at Rockport Publishers, Emily Potts. Thank you for your guidance, support, and most of all, patience. We also wish to give a special shout-out to three talented, rock-star designers who contributed project samples to our book: Bryony Gomez-Palacio, Robynne Raye, and Sean Adams. You contributed more than just your work and words; you really came through for us—quickly and with few questions asked—when we needed you, which is the truest measure of a good friend. Next, we’d sincerely like to express our gratitude to Paul Johnson, www.pauljohnsonphoto.com, who not only is an amazing photographer but also one of the kindest people we’ve had the pleasure of working with. Thank you, Paul, for stepping up on very short notice when we needed several work examples shot immediately (although when looking at the images one would never know you were rushed—they’re beautiful, as always!). We feel lucky every time we get to collaborate with you. A M Y G R AV E R : I would first like to dedicate this book to my husband, Scott, and my children, Cole and Adaline, who love me even though I never finish my work when I say I will. I would also like to dedicate this book to my dad who passed away not too long ago and whom I miss every single day. As he wrote in his dedication to me and my brother many years ago—you made it all worthwhile. Thanks, Dad. B E N J U R A : To all those who have inspired me, and brought beauty into my life—I sincerely hope that I have been expressive enough in my deep gratitude over the years for you to know who you are. C O N T E N T S 10 INTRODUCTION 54 BEHIND THE GRID 80 Brandon Bird Design: Grids An Overview on Display 12 Vignelli Associates: Approach Type & Column Widths to Grid-based Design 84 Elements: A Modular System 56 HOW Magazine: Designing to Ease Line Extension 20 ELEMENTS OF A GRID for Designers SYSTEM 88 The Official Manufacturing An Overview Type & Vertical Increments Company: Divisions in Type & Balance in Columns Space Form Content Areas 22 Oikos Associati: Turning the The Golden Section Grid into a Focal Point 92 PAGE STRUCTURE 64 Lucid Design: The Twelve- An Overview 26 BASIC STRUCTURES Column Grid & Size & Shape of the Page Single-Column/Manuscript Website Design Page Margins Grids Multicolumn Grids 68 HIERARCHY/ 98 Caserta Design: Layout That Modular Grids ORGANIZATION OF Evokes an Emotional Hierarchical Grids INFORMATION Response Baseline Grids An Overview Compound Grids Organizing the Content Live Area: Page Size Scale & Impact Symmetry & Composition 48 UPPERCASE Magazine: Typographic Techniques Can Folds & Relationship of Multicolumn Flexibility Impact Flow Content Across Pages Negative Space As a Map Production Considerations Using Relative Position to Establish Importance Color Can Bring Content Forward, or Push It Back 110 UnderConsideration: Grouping 134 RELATIONSHIP OF 168 COLOR with Grids DESIGN COMPONENTS An Overview An Overview Color As a Unifying Element 114 CONTENT STRUCTURE How Text & Image Can Color As an Organizational An Overview Be Separated Tool Development of Read/ How Text & Image Can Progression of Info Be Unified 176 AdamsMorioka: For the Grouping Information Space Love of Color Rhythm & Flow Scale Pacing 180 BREAKING THE RULES 146 804: Spatial Flexibility An Overview 122 Memo Productions: Content Grid Deconstruction Is King 150 WIRED Magazine: Design Optical Composition Fidelity Across Platforms Organic Design 126 Alexander Isley, Inc.: Illustration Grouped 156 TYPE AS IMAGE 186 Modern Dog: Design with Text An Overview Organically But Think Hand Lettering & Illustrative Rationally 130 Here Design: Illustrations Typography Add Flavor to Layouts Caption Treatment 192 ABOUT THE AUTHORS Pull Quotes Folios & Wayfinding 164 Matador: Layout with a Typographic Focus
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