Page 86 - Graphic Design and Print Production Fundamentals

3.4 Organizational Principles

Alex Hass

Compositional organization is complex, but even more so when applied to typography. Typography is
a complicated medium to work with as it contains two levels of information (display and content), and
requires its components to be read in proper sequence with proper emphasis, good legibility, and strong
contrast to the substrate. Many elements need to be organized to allow the reader a seamless experience
when reading the content. Designing with type requires adept handling of the hierarchy, refining and
designing the display elements for focal emphasis and also refining the quiet details of the text block so
it sits perfectly and quietly in its space.

Think of these organizational systems as ‘large picture’ constraints. Constraints (rules) allow a designer
to focus on the other aspects of a project. Designers make myriad decisions about concept, style, visuals,
form, font, size, spacing, colour, placement, proportion, relationships, and materials. When some factors
are determined in advance, the designer is able to spend time with the other parts of the project. A
well-defined constraint can free up the thought process by taking some decisions off the table. The
following eight organizational systems cover composition for type (but can also be applied to general
composition), including the traditional ordering system of the grid.

Grid

A grid is a network of lines that structure the placement of elements and create relationships between
them. A grid divides a design space into vertical and horizontal divisions. The grid is a bridge between
a design rationale and the beginning of implementation for each project, converting a concept into a
structured space. It is an exceptional tool for composing, arranging, and organizing every kind of visual
element. The grid usually works invisibly in the background, but it can become an active, visible element
as well. Designers use grids in a variety of ways. They can be very disciplined about adhering to their
grid structure from the beginning of a project, or use it as a starting point for composition and order.

Grid systems create a formal composition in comparison to more casual compositional approaches
like transitional or random structures. Grids are often used in publication and web design because
they introduce consistency and guide hierarchy. Consistent margins and columns create an underlying
structure that unifies the multiple pages of a document or website, and makes the layout process more
efficient.

The plan for the grid comes from the content and concept of the design project. The objective in creating
a grid is to set up the relationships between elements in a way that stays true to the concept. For instance,
if your publication is a book of poetry, the grid must have generous amounts of negative space and
generous leading. If, on the other hand, your publication is a daily newspaper, the spacing relationships
cannot be so generous, and have to clearly show which article relates to which image. Hierarchy of
information must be very clear as well, and should reveal which news item is most important and which
is least important. A well-made grid will naturally allow the designer generous scope for variation in

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