Layout Essentials

Layout Essentials

by Beth Tondreau
Released February 2009
Publisher(s): Rockport Publishers
ISBN: 9781616736132

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Book description

Adhering to certain layout and grids standards and principles is important for any job from brochures, to annual reports, to posters, to websites, to publications. However, knowing how to bend the rules and make certain grids work for the job at hand takes skill.

This book outlines and demonstrates basic layout/grid guidelines and rules through 100 entries including choosing a typeface, striving for rhythm and balance with type, combining typefaces, using special characters and kerning and legibility. These essentials of grid design are critical to the success of any job.
 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents
  5. Introduction
  6. Getting Started
    1. ELEMENTS OF A GRID
      1. 1. Know the Components
    2. BASIC GRID DIAGRAMS
      1. 2. Learn the Basic Structures
    3. DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE GRID
      1. 3. Assess the Material
    4. FORMATTING TEXT
      1. 4. Put First Things First; Do the Math
    5. HIERARCHY OF INFORMATION
      1. 5. Go Easy on the Reader
    6. GRID AND IMAGE
      1. 6. Determine an Order
    7. COMBINING GRID, TYPE, AND IMAGE
      1. 7. Consider All Elements
    8. COLOR
      1. 8. Define Space with Color
    9. SPACE
      1. 9. Communicate Using Space
    10. RHYTHM AND FLOW
      1. 10. Pacing Sets the Tone
  7. Working Grids
    1. SINGLE COLUMN
      1. 11. Give the Subject Matter a Face
      2. 12. Design with Ample Margins
      3. 13. Work in Proportion
    2. TWO COLUMN
      1. 14. Give Columns Equality
      2. 15. Design for Function
      3. 16. Rules Rule!
      4. 17. Use the Entire Area
      5. 18. Use Typography to Define Zones in the Grid
      6. 19. Mix Quirks with Consistency
      7. 20. Alternate Formats
    3. THREE COLUMN
      1. 21. Make It Look Simple
      2. 22. Define Columns Typographically
      3. 23. Avoid Overcrowding
      4. 24. Lower the Columns
      5. 25. Shift Shapes
    4. MULTICOLUMN
      1. 26. Get Off the Straight and Narrow
      2. 27. Mix It Up
      3. 28. Control a Variety of Elements
      4. 29. Not Lost in Translation; Be Clear
      5. 30. Website Basics
    5. MODULAR
      1. 31. Break It Down
      2. 32. Leave Some Breathing Room
      3. 33. Be Rational
      4. 34. Vote for an Ordered World
      5. 35. Modules Do Not Need to Be Squared Off
    6. TABLES AND CHARTS
      1. 36. Think of the Chart as a Whole
      2. 37. Illustrate the Charts
      3. 38. Design beyond the Expected
      4. 39. Frame Boxes with Discretion
      5. 40. Go beyond Boundaries
    7. COLOR AS A DOMINANT ELEMENT
      1. 41. Use Color to Get Attention
      2. 42. Determine a Palette
      3. 43. Let the Color Be the Information
      4. 44. Marry Color and Typography
    8. COLOR AS ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE
      1. 45. Control It with Colors
      2. 46. Use Color in Typography for Emphasis
      3. 47. Put the Information in the Color
      4. 48. Code with Color
      5. 49. Separate Content with Color
      6. 50. Use Shades to Achieve Color
    9. HORIZONTAL HIERARCHY
      1. 51. Break Signage into Sections
      2. 52. Put Like with Like
      3. 53. Let Space Define Your Horizons
      4. 54. Illustrate Timelines
      5. 55. Work above and below the (Scrolled) Fold
    10. WHEN TYPE FORMS THE GRID
      1. 56. Get Noisy
      2. 57. Turn It on Its Side
      3. 58. Pack It In
      4. 59. Play with the Grid
      5. 60. Involve the Viewer
    11. FILLED AND FUNCTIONAL
      1. 61. With Order, Make Small Margins Work
      2. 62. Make Your Point
      3. 63. Avoid Crowding
      4. 64. Make Space Count
      5. 65. Design a Balanced Viewpoint
      6. 66. Guide Your Reader
    12. SPACIOUS BUT NOT BARREN
      1. 67. Pace Yourself
      2. 68. Create an Oasis
      3. 69. Let the Images Shine
    13. SEEMINGLY GRIDLESS
      1. 70. Map It Out by Hand
      2. 71. Imply a Hierarchy
      3. 72. Use Organizing Principles
      4. 73. Support Fluidity
    14. ORGANIC SHAPES
      1. 74. Plan for Interruptions
      2. 75. Allow for Drama
      3. 76. Use Silhouettes to Enliven a Piece
      4. 77. Let Instinct Rule
    15. SWISS GRID
      1. 78. Set Up a System
      2. 79. Use Weights and Measures
      3. 80. Use Helvetica
      4. 81. Use Rules
      5. 82. Employ Vertical and Horizontal Hierarchies
    16. GRID, INTERRUPTED
      1. 83. Build in a Surprise
      2. 84. Vary Sizes
      3. 85. Let the Photo Do the Talking
      4. 86. Set It Off with Sidebars
    17. GRID, RECONSTRUCTED
      1. 87. Observe Masters
      2. 88. Blow It Up
      3. 89. Change Boundaries
    18. LAYERED GRID
      1. 90. Make It Complex
      2. 91. Think of More Than One Dimension
      3. 92. Think Globally
    19. GRIDS AND MOTION
      1. 93. Make a Framework Support Various Media
      2. 94. Sell
      3. 95. Make It Move
      4. 96. Make It Modular
    20. BREAKING THE RULES
      1. 97. Make It Clear
      2. 98. Follow the Future
      3. 99. Follow Your Heart
      4. 100. Forget the Rules
  8. Glossary
  9. Recommended Reading
  10. Contributors
  11. Quick Start Guide
  12. Acknowledgments
  13. Copyright Page

Product information

  • Title: Layout Essentials
  • Author(s): Beth Tondreau
  • Release date: February 2009
  • Publisher(s): Rockport Publishers
  • ISBN: 9781616736132