Web / Typography Grid

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Illustrations and the use of design elements allow for overlapping and breaking out of the structure youve created in your grid. They can be used to add some areas of creative disorder to counterbalance the rigidity of the grid.

ILLUSTRATING AREAS

Illustration can break the grid by overlapping gridlines and flowing into different content areas. The movement of the design elements within the illustration creates a different visual rhythm that acts in opposition to the order of the grid. There is balance in the design of these opposing forces. Illustrations design add stimulating areas of interest to an otherwise boxy layout.

There are some basic design principles to consider when looking to energize space within your grid. Concepts such as asymmetrical balance, proximity, and repetition are discussed in the article The Principles of Beautiful Web Design by Jason Beaird. Jason Beaird has this to say about asymmetrical balance,Rather than having mirror images on either side of the layout, asymmetrical balance involves objects of differing size, shape, tone, or placement. These objects are arranged so that, despite their differences, they equalize the weight of the page. Paragraphs and images can be of different sizes. Try breaking columns and overlapping them horizontally. Abandon Mathematical precision, and it will be a grid based on an artists intuition and eye for design. To achieve balance, it is not based on rigid structure alone, but rather is achieved through the equalizing weight of asymmetrical balance.

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Conclusion
There are multiple techniques to add interest to your grid. Certainly you should first understand how to use the grid effectively. Then work on escaping some of this rigid structure and create some free flowing spaces within your design. Or break the established flow and focus attention on a particular element. Utilize concepts such as disharmony, asymmetrical balance, and ordered chaos to bring areas of your sites grid designs to life.

ENERGIZING SPACES

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