This document defines and explains the key elements of a typographic grid, which is a graphic structure that aims to organize information into a more readable format. It discusses the margins, flowlines, modules, spatial zones, columns, rows, gutters, folios, running headers/footers, and markers that make up a typographic grid and help guide the eye across the page to structure text and images. The grid uses these various elements to break up space and impose structure in a visual balance.

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LESSON

2. TYPOGRAPHIC GRID
Graphic structure or system that aims to
organize and manage chunks of
information into a more understandable
and readable manner.

3. PARTS OF A GRID

4. • The negative space between the
edge of the format and the outer
edge of the content.
MARGINS

5. Horizontal lines that break
the space into horizontal
bands.
Used to help guide the eye
across the page and can be
used to impose starting and
stopping points for text and
images to be aligned.
FLOWLINES

7. Basic building blocks of grids
When repeated they create
columns and rows.
MODULES

8. • Spatial zones are fields of adjacent
modules. Each field can be
assigned a specific function within
the design.
• A long horizontal field might be
used to place long horizontal
images. A long vertical field might
be used for long blocks of text. A
large rectangular field might be
used for video.
SPATIAL ZONES

10. • Columns are vertical bands of
modules. There can be any number
of columns in a grid. More columns
leads to more flexibility, but can also
make the grid difficult to work with.
• Column widths can be equal or they
can vary across a grid.
COLUMNS

12. • Rows are the horizontal equivalent
of columns. Online it’s harder to
plan for rows as the height of the
format is often inconsistent and
dynamic.
ROWS

14. The spaces between rows and
columns.
These should always be equal
between columns or rows, in
order to maintain a visual
balance.
GLUTTERS

16. • Folios are created when
page numbers are placed
consistently in the margin,
usually above or below the
composition.
FOLIO

18. • A running header is a guide
at the top to indicate your
position in a manuscript.
You’d find information like
title, chapter title, section
title, author, etc located
here.
RUNNING HEADER FOOTER
A running footer is then
this information is placed
at the bottom of the
format.

19. • Areas inside the running
header or footer that mark
the exact place where
repeating information is
placed from page to page.
• Markers can be used to
denote the location of
folios, page numbers, etc.
MARKERS