Notes on the Grid

Grids break up space into units, controlling readability. Proper grid structure should be flexible yet structured, not rigid but mathematically based and precise. The grid structure found in books is simply a solitary field of type, but is characterized by line breaks, margins, and other paragraph variations.

Marinetti established the Futurist movement in 1919 Italy, questioning the function of the frame. He implemented the use of a very flexible grid with manipulated styles and sizes of type. This technique became a huge influence to Dada, who began to use collage heavily in their work.

El Lissitzky, a Russian Constructivist, chose to emphasize the mechanics of the letterpress in his poster design. His work also brought new ideas to the concept of symmetry and balance as space begins to work outside the visible plain. Bauhaus took these ideas and saw the grid as a "gateway to the infinite". Abstract artists like Mondrian used this expansion of the grid technique.

Jan Tschichold published "New Typography" in 1928, taking formal advice from the Futurist, Constructivist, and De Stijl movements.  The book presented the commercial opportunities of grid design as a means of order based on standard measure variations.


The Golden Section is the perfect manifestation of the grid, derived from the golden ratio that says the smallest of the two elements relates to the larger element in the same way that the larger element relates to the two combined. Based on the perfect spiral found in nature and the Fibonachi series.


The simplest grid is a single column of text surrounded by margins. When working with the grid, one can choose to work outside in, working with preset margin dimensions, or inside out, where the dimensions are decided afterward.


The Multiple Column grid is much more complex incorporating not only text but also illustration. The more columns, the more flexibility of the grid. Grids may also direct hierarchy in this manner.


A hang line allows extra space between two columns of text to maintain structure. A modular grid is the creation of grids -where horizontal divisions meet vertical divisions- across the page. This concept was used a lot by Modernists of the 1950s and 60s.