To say a grid is limiting is to say that language is limiting, or typography is limiting. It is up to us to use these media critically or passively ”
– Ellen Lupton
A grid is a system to divide an area into segments of equal size either square or rectangles. Grids are there to make everything consistent, which can create harmony within the structure of any piece. The grid is basically the Skellington to structure and design. It is important for people such as designers to incorporate use design with a grid.
For this week I have been given the task to look at visual items specifically visuals that compose of grids and framework.
Grids are useful to determine your visual hierarchy, it offers information on placement to promote rhythm in consistency and design. The grid isn’t always about making a design neat and square, it can also be a factor of many things to improve design comprehension. For example, in the United States, they build their cities entirely with grids.
There are also different types of grids for designing, there are many types of grids, but the most easily identifiable grid examples are:
- Manuscript grid
- Column grid
- Modular grid
- Baseline grid
The manuscript grid is the grid that has a primary structure consisting of marginal lines that are mostly common within book pages. Here you can see That this type of format is used for books, magazines & newspapers, this type of grid Provides a rectangle for all the text & images to be inside.
A column grid is used to organise
Column grid example 
Manuscript example on Adobe
There are many examples of how grids shape everything around us and the affects in everyday design. Such things include:
- Interior design
- Industrial design
- Packaging/product items
- Photographs
- Poster
- Books/magazines
I have added my interpretation of how grids can also be included within everyday items. I have identified everyday items that include gridding. There are many examples on how grid patterns are included. This is to show how common the use of grids is in day-to-day life.
Image 1- A close up of a chess board 
Image 2- Highlighted chess board
A popular form of grid would be a chess set. This setup consists of 64 small grid blocks with alternating-coloured squares. It is a perfect example how grids are useful in everyday life.
Image 3- police car 
Image 4- police car on side
This police car I have come across is another good example of grids & frames. The design was a vinyl decal sticker placed onto the car with the marked variants being the bright blue and yellow Battenburg marking design on each side of the vehicle making it easily identifiable.
Image 6- My old sixth form building 
Image 7
Another architecture examples would be from my old sixth form lobby building. The design consists of multiple squares to give a column grid pattern. The irregular design had given this architectural example a more modern day and edgy design with some square patterns being taller than others. Although the building design aren’t all entirely even or the same shape the whole construction of the design makes up a grid.
Image 8 – A local flat 
Image 9- Close- up of the building
This flat is another example of grid within architecture. This flat has symmetrical grid patterns which ascends from the ground up. I strongly believe this design choice has been made so the formation could easily be cleaned and replaced so the design choice can easily be maintained.
Image 10- A mosaic on a local shop 
Image 11- Gridding on building
My favourite example of grid lines would be this image, this mosaic is made up from 100’s of tiny squares in a pattern ranging from different colours to create a picture. You can see these tiles have been carefully placed down with some squares having different textures to create more dimension. Close up you can see the sharp cuts the designer had done to create arches in their work.
Designmanic (n.d.). Importance of Grids in Design | DesignMantic: The Design Shop. [online] www.designmantic.com. Available at: https://www.designmantic.com/blog/importance-of-grids-in-design/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2022].
Huseynova, A. (2021). What are grids, types of grids, and why do we need them? | Attention Insight. [online] Attention Insight. Available at: https://attentioninsight.com/grid-layout-web-design/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2022].
Rachel, R. (2022). The modern UX grid system: Principles and best practices. [online] LogRocket Blog. Available at: https://blog.logrocket.com/ux-design/ux-grid-system-principles-best-practices/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2022].