Grid Websites

A grid is a structure made up of a series of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines spaced at regular intervals used to structure content. Every web design should have a clear grid system because they help organize information into a rational, easy to follow layout.

Grids are one of the most powerful tools for a web designer. Grids lend a sense of structure to a site and improve its usability. Using a grid can simplify the design process, making it easier to decide on the width and height of different elements on web pages.

While grid systems have seen significant use in print media, interest from web designers has only started to get popular, claiming to greatly reduce development time, while providing structure and unity to the design. Web design frameworks producing HTML and CSS had existed for a while before newer frameworks, such as the 960 grid system, popularised the use of grid-based layouts. Factors such as the inconsistent interpretation of CSS across browsers and a lack of formal graphic design training among web designers stifled the implementation of grids on the screen. Many designers feel that grids are only appropriate for fixed-width layouts, but grids are versatile enough to be used in flexible layouts too.

The main idea behind grid-based designs is a solid visual and structural balance of websites. Sophisticated layout structures are generally more aesthetically pleasing and balanced than those not based on grids. Use of grids also make the process of making a website easier for developers and makes future edits faster and less painful