Use of columns and grid fields is a common consistency in Modernist approaches to page layout. See Muller-Brockmann, Tschichold, Gerstner, Vignelli, etc.
Muller-Brockmann Grid
- Determine type area (Van De Graaf?)
- Divide into two (or more) columns, separate columns with an intervening gutter
- Divide text columns into 2, 3 or more fields
- Determine type size and leading
- Insert 'empty lines'. Field lines must be separated in order to accommodate gaps between images. Separate field lines (must be same width as 1 line of type+leading).
- Each field should contain a number of lines of type while each empty line should be able to contain a single line of type. Images places on the adjacent column will perfectly align with the type as will the image captions.
Following the instructions to Muller-Brockmann's Grid, I drew out a Van De Graaf diagram and created my columns within the pages. I inserted an intervening gutter and added more rows/sections to the grid, which would be used for body copy or images. This reinforced my understanding and familiarity with the golden section and spacial use of double page spreads and how columns/rows would fit into the layout.
We were instructed to bring a book, a magazine and a newspaper to dissect and mark out the grids used on each of them.
Book Grid
Newspaper Grid
Magazine Grid
The Newspaper grid is more of a modular grid which allows it to fit more information within the space given. The newspaper page uses 5 columns of text which all have the same intervening gutter gutter running between the columns. Magazine layouts can usually offer more freedom and availability of white space. Which is shown here. There are only two columns of text and 4 other pictures that are all different sizes but fit into 2 main rows. The simplest grid by far is the one used for the book. It does also show that there is more space below the columns of text than there is above, which is similar to the golden section.
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