Consistency is the key to success. We know it is true for achieving success in any profession. It is also true for websites and mobile application designing. No one likes to view a website or app with inconsistent design and content. The grid system is helpful here to make the design consistent and readable. The grid system is something that all developers are aware of to keep all website elements together. Layout grids build the design in a better shape so that users find it interesting. But there are other purposes for using a grid.
Girds are useful for properly making things so users can navigate websites easily. The purpose of building websites is to make these attractive and user-friendly. It is only possible with the visual and functional coherence of the website. And the better UI and UX of the website, you must use layout grids. Website layout consistency is also important today because our web pages are now viewed on multiple screens, from desktops to tablets and mobile phones.
Designers are now focusing on designing websites for multiple screens; grids are very important here. They help us create a website that looks attractive and organized on all types of screens. This article will guide you on how to use grids and what types can be useful.
What Is a Grid System?
To keep the design structure of your website organized. Grid is the vertical and horizontal lines intersecting on a web page to organize content. Grid is used to connect all the elements on a website or application, much like glue.
It allows the designers to arrange the content in a more digestible manner. They can easily concentrate on new features rather than just organizing the website’s layout. Also, read Best Image Optimization Tools.
Types Of Grid Layouts
The purpose of grid layouts is to help designers arrange the page content, including text, graphics, and illustrations, understandably. There are various kinds of grid layouts that you can use for organizing your web pages.
Manuscript Grid
The basic grid structure is the manuscript grid, a single-column grid mostly used for books. A manuscript grid comprises a large column filled with a large text block or an image. You can find the manuscript grid in a word document. It is a rectangular column with a separate header, footer, and margins.
Maintaining a consistent manuscript grid within a single document design is critical. Even if some components in the document remain outside the edge, the grid will help maintain the overall design balance.
Column Grid
Column grids, as the name implies, consist of several columns. By dividing the page into columns, column grids combine all the components on the page. The format of the web page determines the number of columns.
You can design your page layout by selecting two or more columns: text and images within a grid aligned with the columns’ vertical lines and laterals. Design elements can be placed within one column or across two or more to create different visual layouts.
Hierarchical Grid
What if you require a page layout with multiple columns and rows? A hierarchical grid can help you with that. It is a grid system that combines different size pieces in rows and columns to design the page layout.
Designers now mostly use the hierarchical grid to create websites in descending order. The goal is to make the website more appealing and engaging. News websites primarily use it to increase the reach of their stories.
Modular Grid
Some website layouts are more complex, and you should concentrate on design more here. For complex layouts, a modular grid is useful. It has columns as well as rows. The modular grid takes over when the columns grid fails to do the job.
It aids in the organization of many elements, making it more useful for newspapers and digital media. Because digital media needs to improve content readability, modular grids come in handy.
Baseline Grid
The baseline grid can help improve the user experience by focusing on the text’s baseline. The baseline is the text’s endpoint, and the grid ensures that each text’s end line is vertically aligned. Because they keep the text in proper shape, lined books are the best example of a baseline grid.
It maintains the text’s rhythm and keeps it from becoming cluttered in unexpected places. Well-structured content is more reader-friendly and engaging.
Benefits Of Layout Grids
Assist in Adapting to Changing Screen Sizes
The dimensions of interactive designs are not fixed. That is because people use devices with different screen sizes, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
As a result, when users switch between devices, the elements must be reconfigured to accommodate the new screen size. A layout grid aids in the implementation of these changes. Also, read about Modern Web Design.
It Helps With Clarity And Consistency
Consistency is critical, especially in digital media. The grid system makes sure your design layout is clear and consistent. It guides users through the navigation process. Grids lay the groundwork for web content consistency.
It Makes The Design More Adaptable
Responsive design is now required for building a user-friendly website. Websites must be responsive, as well as desktop and mobile friendly, in the current world. The grid here assists designers in ensuring design consistency across multiple screen sizes.
Grids Can Be Altered And Reused In New Designs
Grids can help you create designs for digital media. Digital media is constantly evolving and necessitates new designs. Grid aids in the modification of previous designs into a new version.
Best Practices For Using Grids
Choose The Grid That You Need
The number of columns and rows in each grid varies. Each grid serves a specific purpose and should be used where it is appropriate. The most common grids have 12 columns, but this only fits some design layouts, so choose the grid based on your design requirements.
In grids, pay attention to both horizontal and vertical spacing.
The overall structure of the grid should be consistent, which is only possible if you keep both vertical and horizontal spacing in mind; otherwise, the design will suffer.
Understand The Limits Of Your Designs
Consider the constraints in your designs when selecting a grid. Consider your user type before deciding on a grid. It would help if you understood who your users are and how they intend to use your website or app. It will assist you in understanding the limitations of your designs.
Grid As A Baseline
The baseline grid is useful for organizing elements in your design and creating a horizontal hierarchy.
Don’t Forget About Testing
While focusing on all of the limitations and functions of the grid system, the last thing you should do is test your UI grid design. That is why it is critical to test it for any changes that may be required.
Wrapping Up
Grid layouts have aided designers in improving the design of their websites and applications. It speeds up the design process but also assists you in selecting the best position and layout for your design.
When using grids correctly, you do not need to place the elements on your website abruptly. It will tell you where to put text and visuals in your design, thereby improving the website’s UI.
