"Verbal or conceptual cues within the content can also be used to break a grid structure. The natural rhythm of spoken language, for example, is often used as a guide for changing weight, size, color, or alignment among lines type; louder or “faster” words may be set in larger or bolder type or in italics, corresponding to stresses and lulls in actual speech. Giving a “voice” to visual language can help alter the structure of a text by pushing words out of paragraphs or forcing modules or columns into relationships where the natural logic of the writing creates a visual order." - Excerpt
My section mostly talks about how you should try and "Break the Grid" and make the text have as much emotion as the actual content with focusing on rhythm of how you make the text flow. But that doesn't mean to go wild and have the text not be able to lose it's meaning or to be so all over the place that you cannot find the start and end. The book regarding too much tweaking and messing around says "Although generally this would interfere with reading, in some cases the resulting ambiguity may be appropriate to the content of the text". So basically it really just depends on what your content is. IF the content calls for some over the top breaking the grid and sizes and weights, go for it! If not, question what other options may be more beneficial to the content to get the message across. Just because you can't break the grid doesn't mean you still can't make something interesting!
Optical Composition relies highly on hierarchy within the space.
David Carson is known for his successful optical compositions:
See how he uses the Plus symbol as a visual focal point for the whole page but still allows it to make sense to the content of the text? Even with the broken spaces in between letters of a word you can still understand what is being said, and the spaces give an interesting effect throughout the page. The text is all spontaneous yet you still can make clear sense as to what is being said; this is a perfect example of showing you that you can be highly spontaneous and break some grid structures and still have a successful design in the end, you just need to know how to be cautious!
I think this second image is a perfect example of spontaneous design. It not only grabs your attention, but forces the viewer to figure out what your trying to say! It blows my mind every time I see an ad that only has half the words readable or doesn't even have all the letters in the word, yet everyone knows exactly what it says.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I feel I tend to break the grid a lot. But since we started the exercises every week, I realized I don't have to break the grid to get big and bold, or to to have the content be expressed how I see it in order for it to still be legible.
ReplyDeleteThis section, in a way goes hand in hand with my section, chance operations. The designer is taking a chance, a risk, and going beyond the 'rules' and beyond the grid to make a statement.
When used tactfully, breaking the grid can allow designers to be more expressive as long as they remember not to disregard it's presence. I stumbled upon a neat website full of tutorials while searching for examples of the subject matter. One in particular seems like a step-by-step guide on how to make and break the grid, but I'm not too sure if it lives up to it's namesake... If anything, it is creating an illusion of this by using elements of shape, color, and texture.
ReplyDeletehere's the link if you want to check it out! Just copy/paste it into the address bar to see for yourself, and for you visual learners there is a 30+ minute video that can help you follow along:
http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-and-then-shatter-a-grid-while-making-a-typographic-poster--psd-569
I bookmarked the site for possible future use on the blog. There are a ton of interesting graphics so if anybody thinks they would like to dissect a tutorial relevant to this course, we might end up learning some really helpful techniques!
The best thing about the tutorial image is that it shows us - visual design is all about SHAPE. shape shape shape shape shape shape - everywhere we control, and design shape.
DeleteI have to agree with Erica. Because I constantly find myself breaking the grid a lot. I mean like A LOT. But i have to understand through the exercises in class and the grid history examples during the lectures and this post that the grid is helpful and is like your friend not your enemy. However, breaking the rules can sometime result in a interesting layout.
ReplyDelete... the grid really IS your friend (grin) - because it offers a system that helps us create unity within the page... but also gives us an opportunity to NOT follow the system. You can't rebel against something that isn't already established... need the order to make disorder. you know what I mean?
DeleteYes Yes I know what you mean Coni! I think I am becoming more comfortable with the grid and starting to use it for its purpose. I'm still experimenting with breaking the rules and rebelling but I learn as I go.
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