Myths & Misconceptions About Grid Systems

Posted on November 30, 2009September 5, 2015 Posted in Design, Grid SystemsTagged graphic design, grid system, Principles93 Comments

A few myths and misconceptions about grids exist in the design community that can be detrimental, especially to designers who are new to the subject. I recently read an article, which is no longer online, claiming that grids have disadvantages and it listed the reasons why. As you can guess, I very much disagreed with the entire article and felt that it was providing a lot of bad information on grid systems. All of the listed “disadvantages” were distortions derived from the lack of understanding on how a grid works and functions.

In response to that article, here’s my attempt at clearing up this mess.
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David Barath

Posted on November 30, 2009November 30, 2009 Posted in Design, Grid Systems, International Typographic StyleTagged graphic design, grid system, International Typographic Style, Swiss

Excellent collection of work by Budapest based creative director, David Barath.

15 Uses for Newsprint

Posted on November 24, 2009November 24, 2009 Posted in Art, Design, MerchTagged graphic design, illustration, newsprint, print

A bunch of illustrators and designers occupying The Pencil Factory in Brooklyn have put together 15 Uses for Newsprint, a promotional newsprint poster zine featuring their own work.

My good friend Alex Eben Meyer is one of the included illustrators and his piece (pictured here) is by far my favorite of them all. Not to say the others stink, there’s a bunch of great pieces included.

The zine includes pieces by Kim Bost, Josh Cochran, Jennifer Daniel, Gilbert Ford, Jessica Hische, Grady McFerrin, Ted McGrath, Alex Eben Meyer, Chris Silas Neal, Zacharia O’Hora, Leif Parsons, Rachel Salomon, Joel Speasmaker, Jillian Tamaki, or Sam Weber.

You can order 15 Uses for Newsprint for $10 and the first 100 orders get an original drawing by one of the artists.

You can peak at some more photos over at The Pencil Factory Flickr page.

Arthur Erickson & Japan Poster

Posted on November 22, 2009November 22, 2009 Posted in Architecture, Design, Events, Grid Systems, International Typographic Style, TypographyTagged Architecture, event, graphic design, helvetica, International Typographic Style, poster, Typography6 Comments

Love this poster for an event called Arthur Erickson & Japan that focuses on modernist architect Arthur Erickson’s journey to Japan in 1961. Not sure who designed it but the big bold type, white text on black, two-column grid and the uneven horizontal strips of color make for a beautiful design.

Hey Ho

Posted on November 20, 2009November 20, 2009 Posted in Design, Grid Systems, International Typographic StyleTagged graphic design, grid system, International Typographic Style, poster, print, studio, Typography2 Comments

I wrote about France based studio Hey Ho back in the day and since then they’ve filled their portfolio with drool-inducing work. Like this piece for Éditions Galaade. So yummy and full of grid goodness.

Basic Maths WordPress Theme

Posted on November 18, 2009November 18, 2009 Posted in Design, Grid Systems, TechnologyTagged graphic design, grid system, theme, wordpress6 Comments

Khoi Vinh and Allan Cole have created Basic Maths, an excellent grid-based theme for WordPress that includes features like microformats, color-scheme control, full widget support and a key shortcut to display the grid. Not to mention it’s beautifully designed.

You can purchase it for $45. Well worth the price.