I got a request from a designer who wants to get started with grid based design, or at least wants to know what it is all about. The question was like this: Can you recommend a good primer on grids? Seems to me all material I find on it is way beyond what I’d call basic.
The question was asked on Twitter, so my answers were limited to the 140 character boundaries. Therefore I split the answers into six sections like this:
Grid design 01. Let’s start with this nice explanation on baselines, the key element (a PDF): http://bit.ly/c2jlBc
Grid design 02. When you have selected your main leading you should adjust it to the page using : EasyGridCalculator
Grid design 03. This EasyGridCalculator helps you make a grid and columns based on your leading/baseline.
Grid design 04. When finished calculating you can think of everything in document grid units and the fun starts.
Grid design 05. Links to what I have written about making grids in Illustrator: Grid Systems InDesign comes soon.
Grid design 06. Good source with links about designing inside grids: Designing With Grid-Based Approach
Here’s a good grid based website inspiration site: http://grid-based.com
And this book is a must: http://grids.subtraction.com/