吃喝玩樂愛美蘇

After reading Lupton's "Grid" Chapter,I realize that grid systems actually exist in almost all books, magazines, newspapers and websites.Grid systems make reading much easier and more comfortable,and they increase readers' inclination to keep reading.

Take me for example, other than the New York Times, I often visit the website of the Washington Post. I feel that the Washington Post's layout is shipshape and readable.

The whole website is seperated from three parts. The left part is about some topic pictures and features, and the middle part is the headlines. The right part is the Ads, and some sharing promotion plans. I think this kind of grid system is great, because people always read from left to right, and readers' eyes always focus on the middle part. Therefore, putting the main topic and pictures on the middle and the left is a good idea to me.

Besides, when you enter in a specific report, the website is still separated from three parts. The left part is the main report, and the middle one is the photos. The right part is still for Ads. I think this kind of grid system still corresponds with the readability.

The grid systems' world is so necessary that almost every news website has their own system, and I feel that a successful grid layout is really a key reason for the publication's success.

(July 17, 2008, Posted on Visual Communication Theory & Practice Section 6 Blog)