Customer Reviews

Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tondreau makes very few assumptions about readers' foreknowledge of grids and as such, jumps right into the fundamentals within the first 20 pages. Tondreau provides a vocabulary for grids that might seem obvious at first (i.e. columns, modules, margins, spatial zones, and flowlines), but also explains complex grid systems (i.e. hierarchical grids, modular, multicolumn) and methodologies for implementing them (i.e. typography, color, media forms, etc). What makes the book interesting and eliminates it from simply being a reference guide is the constant use of real world projects that illustrate the grid principle being addressed as well as a source of inspiration. In addition, the book makes a conscious effort to inform readers that there is a difference between `principles' and `rules' and designers should not 'lock' into a paradigm that stifles creativity.

I strongly recommend that this book be read not only by designers, but by anyone person that builds interfaces that will be viewed by large audiences. It will only improve the quality of the final product.

This is a beautifully assembled book with tons of full color plates which are sure to inspire just about any designer finding themselves stuck in a rut, but it's more of a collection of axioms than it is an informational text. Read through the online preview--that's about as much technical information as you're going to find in here. What's left is just a bunch of pretty pictures and cutesy phrases that essentially amount to "think outside the box" over and over and over.

Definitely worth looking at, but worth owning? Not for me.

Grids are back! This book breaks down over 100 projects to show how the grid works in each of them, and explains the layouts in a very clear and useful way. The designs that were chosen are done by some of the best designers working today (nationally and internationally). This is a great book for beginning and experienced designers--it will help illuminate and clarify this complex subject. Features print and web grids. So good I'm considering using it for teaching as my Intro to Design textbook.

I thought that the book would teach me how to create grids. How to calculate them. How to define them. Something like the 960 grid website does.

Instead it shows you examples of great design and comments on them. For an experienced designer this explains the great reviews. Just looking at the designs is a joy.

For a novice or better Non-designer it doesn't leave too much to use when reading. Maybe when studying and measuring and analysing with a ruler but definitely not when just reading.

I guess I'll have to keep searching for the right book.

Cheers,
Edward

This book appeared very appealing on a quick browse. It does indeed contain some very beautiful example material.

However, when perusing the book I quickly discovered it's incoherence and lack of contents. The text passages have no valuable insight on the given examples and sometimes seem hardly related. Given the level of research put into this book, I wouldn't even trust the scarce bits of information that might be found within. (For example, it seems odd to provide the NYT website as an example of grid use while NYT's Design Director himself complains about the shortcomings of the site's "grid"/layout system.) I never could be bothered to finish reading this book, and doubt I ever will.

Perhaps this book could serve as a quick browsing catalogue for inspiration. The pictures are a joy to look at. I just wouldn't consider it worth the buck, given that the nonsense text passages are robbing away valuable page area from the real content - the images.

This book is a great guide for getting started on a layout when your are stuck- straight-forward, clean, and simple. Don't let the term 'simples' fool you. Tondreau provides a guide on how to use grids to make information fun, flexible and playful- even leaving room for surprise!

Unlike many graphics books (where I just look at the pretty images), I actually enjoy reading the text because it was more than just a bunch of fluff.

I am happy I bought this book. I sometimes wish I had two copies- one for work, one for home.

This book is similar to other Rockwell published books that I have read, they give you 100 instances that may or may not directly related to the topic of the book, present very sparse amounts of information about them with a few examples thrown in, and only devote 2 pages to each instance.

I think the sparseness of the information was intended to make the audience think about the 100 topics. The problem is that the limited examples only give a small view of the possibilities. It also takes a lot of discipline to stop and reflect on each topic once you've read it. I think that more text and more how-to type information would help most readers of this book, however, if you do stop and think about each topic, you may well get a great deal from this book (I sat reading with a notebook, and drew out many of the diagrams... that helped me).

My only other complaint is that some of it simply makes no sense. After re-reading some of the topics 4-5 times, I still had no idea to what the author was referring. There were only a few (2-3 cases) where this was the case, but still, it's the author's responsibility to make the written word clear to the reader, and it didn't seem like that was always the case.

Well organized materials for beginners, good for students of graphic design and all using typography. Would be helpful for people organizing any publication, also no professionals. For teachers as a list of possible subjects to teach. Clear written and well assuming material.