Toll-free number 24/7:

+38 (097) 806-01-89

Customer Service e-mail:

info@armedsoft.com

Use of grid in web design

January 24, 2023

Use of grid in web design

Why do you need a grid in web design?

The use of a grid is not obligatory for every design, but it makes the work of developers easier. It's also a sign of a professional designer. A grid-based design looks much more neat and proportional.

The grid helps to simplify the layout and determine the location of certain key elements. 

If you have used a grid when creating your layout, please make sure that this is the truth. Front-end developers often complain that the design of a project can vary greatly from page to page: identical blocks appear to the left or right, icons have different sizes, and buttons do not look alike.

When elements are knocked out of the grid, the layout process is delayed - additional time is spent on figuring out the location of blocks or on editing if the completed page does not visually match the layout. There are also problems with page flexibility, as it is still unclear how objects that fall outside the grid should behave on smaller devices.

The use of a grid helps you to adapt one design to devices with different screen sizes. Grids also allow designers to control the proportions between interface elements, such as spacing and margins. 

Creating a grid

Your screen grid should take several things into account:

  • calculate the amount of main text 
  • the size of the viewport you are designing and the flexibility of that grid
  • horizontal and vertical patterns (gaps and margins).

Combining these 3 points allows you to create the perfect grid. Designing for the website, it is common to create a grid that is about 1200px wide width 30px gaps, as this corresponds to the size of the fonts you need to use for the screens and the type of white space you need for the project - moreover, it looks great on the screens that are used today.

So, figure out what meets these requirements and create a grid that will work for you. Applications like Photoshop and Sketch have tools to help you create a grid and start practising, so go for it! Always choose a grid that can be divided into several different sizes, or one that is also dynamic and can grow or shrink in size.

When you use a grid, consider it as a useful guide for placing, organising, and integrating content on a page. Grids will save your time.

A module grid in the web design is a unified layout of all components and blocks of a website. This framework runs through all web pages and helps to create visual order on the site.

Don't be afraid to experiment!

In some cases, designers deliberately deviate from the 12-column grid to create an extraordinary design. Despite the popularity of minimalism, asymmetrical designs based on the broken grid approach are becoming more common in 2019.

Grids are imaginary vertical and horizontal lines that help designers arrange components on a page or screen, from headings to web content. Modern web designers use the fractured grid asymmetry to make websites look more creative. By using unusual combinations of colours and shapes, visitors can look at a website from a new direction. A striking example is the design by Philip Bend, which you can see in more detail by following the link.

Always try to adhere to the quality standards in your specialisation, but don't lose the courage to experiment, as a professional and creative designer is always worth its weight in gold.

Other Articles

Our Recommendations

  • March 04, 2020
    olga.hrytsayuk
    3,908
    Figma, the Graphics Editor (UI | UX)

    One of the instruments to create web-design in the IT sphere is Figma which is getting more and more popular these days. This is a so-called service that enables organizing a real-time common work. The editor may be used online via browser as well as after program software installation onto PC.

  • February 03, 2020
    olga.hrytsayuk
    1,365
    Useful Tools for Web-Designer (UI | UX)

    Every web-designer has his or her own design success secrets, which are implemented with special tools making their work much easier.