Designers pay a lot of attention to colour, type, graphics, medium, and layout to produce the best possible result. Yet the topic of layout is rather the one to cause a headache for designers at the beginning of their graphic design journey.
The one thing remains certain and clear throughout the whole history of graphic design — all good design decisions are usually made when they are based on a system of structures and grids. According to Kimberly Elam, the systems of grids or typographic systems can be grouped into eight categories. Each of these categories ensures the possibility of creating an endless variety of compositions. These possibilities are frequently neglected by graphic designers who focus mainly on basic, commonly acceptable grids. It is a hindrance to their creative thinking from the very beginning.
While pursuing a degree in Graphic Design, I came to terms with certain limits which did not allow me to break through the traditional composition and layout in my design. However, knowing the theory in not enough, there has to be practice!
Many beginners neglect paper-and-pencil practice. Yet when it comes to typographic compositions, it is quite understandable. One does not want to spend too much time drawing every letter and even if they do, the result might not be satisfactory enough (unless this is experimental typography.) The times of Letraset are gone. I believe only small percentage of generation Z designers is aware of such a XX-century invention. Instead, nowadays' printers are able to provide us with a relatively good alternative — letter stickers, which are attached to this playbook.
The main purpose of this book is to evoke your typo-imagination and create eight different types of layouts. After introductions to each part, where information and examples of each typographic system are presented, you will have an opportunity to make you own typographic posters. These pages have perforations to easily tear a sheet off so that your brilliant compositions could become separate pieces of art to hang on the wall.
Have a look down below.
