_Description of my process across different mediums_ # Grids ![[grids.png|A view of the various grids I use for all poster projects.]] I love grids and grid systems. There is an invisible order—like the framing of a house or like the eggs in your pancakes. They provide structure and much-needed constraint. It's an opportunity to inject math and numbers into my creative work. A reliance on grids isn't inflexible. A 6- or 12-column system can emphasize symmetry and balance. An odd-numbered grid allows for movement, for something more dynamic. Then there are other kinds: a document grid, rigid and uniform, and the baseline grid for guiding the flow—the color—of the text. I can set up a grid based on other things as well, such as the clock tower of my workplace.[^1] I rarely, if ever, use the document grid. It is busy and unyielding. Its unit of measurement is somewhat out of my control. [^1]: A great resource for this type of grid system is Christoph Grünberger’s book, *Analog Algorithm*. --- # Posters I start all posters the same way. I rely on a template with my [[Grids|grids]] laid out for the different print sizes that I typically work in. It's important that I see the different sizes as oftentimes I make versions for social media and for the college's website. Because the dimensions are different across print and screen, the design and layout should reflect that. I don't like seeing the same layout repeated on a poster, Instagram post, or hero image. My approach to layout is rooted in the Swiss modernist tradition: a reliance on grids (somewhat loosely), favoring function over decoration, and a desire for simplicity. While I may favor simplicity in its presentation, I strive to infuse my work with sophistication and layers of metaphor and conceptual thinking. I primarily use a 12-column grid as it's the most flexible and works for both print and web. I don't use a baseline grid for my posters, nor do I align it with the document grid (I will unite the three ~~kingdoms~~ grids in a later exploration of the college’s magazine refresh).