The Grid: A Modular System for the Design and Production of Newspapers, Magazines, and Books

With The Grid, Allen Hurlburt gives us a balanced introduction to the use of Grids in the layout of magazines, newspapers and books. Hurlburts presentation is a good, balanced and basic introduction to how grids are used in graphic design. After a brief history of the use of grids, the book is divided into three sections. Each section deals with a specific form of print; newspapers, magazines and books. Hurlburt gives plenty of examples in each section of some of the best uses of the grid and details of the people who designed them and how they used them. We not only get plenty of examples from print but we get to see the underlying grid that was used to produce that print. A wide variety of grids are outlined and the reader will be sure to find one grid system that works best for him/her. Despite the fact that the book was published in 1978 it retains its relevance especially given the increased popularity of desktop publishing software such as Adobe InDesign™. I found that the grids from this book worked perfectly in my design work with InDesign. There is a seven page technology appendix which is completely useless due to the age of the book, but this in no ways detracts from its value. Bottom line? If you are involved in producing magazines, books and/or newspapers, this book should be in your library.

Don't let the publication date throw you off. I've got the 1978 version, and it's still absolutely relevant. I've never found another book like it. Any designer creating magazine pages or multi-page publications will find core insights here. The book itself represents elegantly timeless information design. A great resource, great tool, great inspiration. Add this one to your collection.

an excellent reference book for magazine or newspaper layout artists.