Archive for the ‘Grid System’ Category

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LIFE Goes To The Movies

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Just got back from a lil vacation and I return with a gem of a book:
LIFE Goes To The Movies
It’s a collection of LIFE Magazine’s coverage of stars, films, and studios from 1935 to 1972.
Published: 1975

Cover:
CIMG2376

What caught my attention was, of course, the grid!

Spread:
Untitled-2

I just HAD to figure out what system they used:
Picture-1

Based on 9pt. Helvetica Regular with 12pt. leading. All pictures align with the ascender or baseline (red lines), but never with the descenders. Allowing ample room for captions.

Here’s a close up of what I mean:
Picture-2

What I like most is how versatile it was used. Text and photos are have a certain harmony with each other. I’m really liking the photos that bleed to the page edge. Gorgeous.
I’ll definitely keep this grid system for reference in future projects.

Check out the flickr set here.

- Randy

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If ya like animals, and ya like wallpaper, this might be the design for you – updated.

Monday, August 10th, 2009

wallpaper

I’ve had this idea for wallpaper for a little while now. It’s inspired by the geometry and pattern in Victorian wallpaper, but now in an exciting and fun new pattern – safari animals! maybe for kids. I don’t know, I just liked it.

As I was saying, inspiration, ah yes, I went to the zoo and really felt the need to settle down with a fire and a warm mug of coco and read a book. And then after that start making this design. I’d like to add to it to get rid of some of the dead space and make a more intricate design… maybe add birds?… foliage?… not have anything upside-down? 

If you have any thoughts or suggestions please email me, @reply me, call me, text me, or visit me at home (please call ahead first).

update – now with birds!

-Rich

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Tri-Fold Brochure Grid

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Harmony EyeCare needs an informational brochure to show around town. Went to work on a grid system that spans the entire spread.

The grid is based on Akzidenz Grotesk 9pt on 13pt leading. If you look at Harmony EyeCare’s stationary set you’ll see how consistent I’m trying to stay.

This is the inside spread:

brochure

Update: Revised Grid:

brochure1

If you notice, each panel of the tri-fold has its own margins (1/4in). I’m wondering if I should keep each grid column equally spaced. It might make more sense this way considering the brochure can open completely flat, unlike most books or magazines.

But I also have to consider how the viewer opens the brochure. Will it look awkward if all 6 columns were equally spaced when only two panels are open? We’ll see. This lil brochure sure is getting a lot of my time. Hopefully it will stand out in a positive way.

- Randy

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Lindbergh Building

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

crop

Hey, I’m no architectural historian, and I never said that I was, I’m just making sure you know that… anyways, that being said, I think my favorite building in south county is the Lindbergh Building at Lindbergh and Lemay Ferry. It’s an awesome old office building from around the 60s.  or 70s.  possibly 80s but that seems ridiculous. Whatever the decade, It has some great things going for it.

As far as modern architecture goes, brutalism is on my short list of favorites. Sharp clean lines, square angles, jutting ledges – its all really quite wonderful. It reminds me of another building in St. Louis on the registry of historic buildings, the Pet Milk Building. Ive always wondered what the offices would be like on the top floor. I have now seen them and they are beyond anything I imagined. In opposition to the harsh exterior the office is made of curves and warmth. The glass ceiling creates a perfect balance with the concrete on the outside.

Office space for Sad Bird?  Im sure he would still be sad, but not about his work environment.

Check out the flickr set here.

-Rich

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Working On A Grid

Monday, July 20th, 2009

bookgrid

Started to work on a grid system for a friend’s business plan book. Going for a two-column layout with six divisions. The wide column is for body text and large photos. Narrow column for page numbers and additional information like captions for photos. This is the third grid layout I have mocked up and it seems to be the most dynamic. Who knows, it might change again, a tad, as I get closer to finish.

Book dimension will most likely be 7 x 9 inches portrait. It was originally 6.5 x 8, but after much thought and trying out a slightly larger dimension, the 7 x 9 feels less like a greeting card and more like a book.

This is all trial and error for right now, but definitely progressing.

I’m going to play with halftone screens for section dividers and background to photos…something I’ve never experimented with. Hoping it will add some visual interest.

Many, many thanks to this book, Grid Systems in Graphic Design, for the needed reference. I encourage any professional or student designer to pick up this book. Definitely worth the price tag.

Stay tuned for updates, should be finished pretty soon and available for you to downlaod a screen quality pdf.

- Randy

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