If you look at any well-designed website, you will see that it uses a grid. This helps to ensure that the website has a clear hierarchy, and it also makes it very easy to follow. Most websites have margins, and this helps to ensure that the content falls within certain lines, rather than being spread all over the page. This underlying structure helps to organize elements, and it also allows developers to arrange UI so that it follows a consistent format, paving the way for clear navigation without causing frustration. The grid is essentially a virtual map that allows the designer to navigate the user to the site, but there’s more to it than just that.
Visual Cues and a Consistent Experience
Grids essentially make it easier for people to find what they need, as visual cues are given as to where things are. It’s possible to create a more consistent experience here, as page elements can line up correctly, regardless of what browser someone is using. This concept can be applied to several verticals as well. Take the New York Times, for example. They use a grid layout to present their articles, to ensure that people can find the latest news with ease, while having convenient access to older posts that are still relevant. Netflix also adopts a grid layout when presenting content, showing trending content as well as genre-specific titles. If you play slots at Paddy’s, you’ll notice featured slots at the top, followed by new slots and exclusive slots. With white space on either side of the categorized titles, it’s clear to see how a grid format can be used to display lots of different elements, while paving the way for clear navigation. All of this can be done without overwhelming the page, with a clear hierarchy so gamers can always find what they need.
Although grid layouts remain the best way to categorize a lot of content, and they can be applied to numerous verticals, some sites are taking a more unique approach to the design overall. Instagram, for example, once had a meticulously arranged grid of square thumbnails, which has been a major part of the platform’s design since its incorporation. Now, however, they have changed their 1:1 square grid layout for a 4:5 portrait format. This marks a significant shift in the grid layout, but at the same time, the design follows all the rules of the golden ratio. This shows how, even though grid layouts can be used, you aren’t limited to using specific orientations, and if you follow the golden ratio as explained by Kijo, you’ll find it easier to adopt a solid design for users.
Consider The Golden Ratio
If you want to adopt a pixel-perfect layout, then one thing you can do to ensure this would be for you to adopt the golden ratio. This is a mathematical equation that equals 1:1618. If you’re using rectangles, then you just need to ensure that the length comes to 1.618 times the width. This ratio can be applied to any shape or any element, showing what a useful reference point it is when trying to divide a page or when allocating things to different components. This stops you from misusing the grid as well, which results in the site becoming more complex than it has to be.
Of course, if you want to implement the golden ratio, then it may be tempting to opt for a column or modular grid, but this isn’t always the way to go. A simple blog may work with a 12-column grid, as detailed by LAMBDATEST, but if you’re working on a more complex project, then you may need to look into a dynamic grid for more flexibility. Responsive grids are also a cardinal rule of website design. Even if you follow the golden ratio, you do need to make sure that your grid adjusts to the browser your end user is coming from, and ensure your website is responsive across all devices.
Another thing to consider would be the rule of thirds. This is a concept based on visual perception. According to the rules of thirds, designers have to divide the website page into nine equal parts. There needs to be two vertical lines and then two horizontal lines. By putting the most important elements into the top two-thirds, in combination with using the golden ratio and negative space, it becomes much easier to get the result you need out of your website design as a whole.
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