Grids are an extremely important part of the design process. 

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It is the backbone to your design.  Grids help anchor your information as well as give a sense of hierarchy and organization.  Without it, your design can look cluttered, to scattered, or overall lost. 

Grids can be achieved in a variety of ways.  They can be complex or simple.  The standard grid looks very similar to our ‘rule of thirds’.  Using color blocking is another way to use shape and to achieve this.  It can help keep your design clean and organized.  Color blocking can take your grid approach and highlight important parts of your message to stand out against the design.  Grids do not have to be static.  They can also be used to show form in your design.  You can still use a grid approach with a diagonal grid.  Using three images slightly diagonal across the top of your design can show form, shape, movement, and hierarchy by using the grid. 

Another important part of the grid is called ‘breaking the grid’.  Allowing elements to slightly fall out of place on the grid or overlapping in some places can add more form to your design.  It can help break up the visual representation of the grid to sort of hide the backbone of the grid.  Using this in moderation can make for an exceptional design.  Breaking the grid too much can look chaotic, ungrounded, and unprofessional.  You can also use graphics in areas that overlap the lines of your grid to break up the plane without really making it obvious to your viewer. Using the grid correctly can add visual interest to your design in an organized way. ("Grid-Based Design: Six Creative Column Techniques.")

Grids