Designing in a grid setup can deliver surprisingly user-friendly products.

DESIGN & PRODUCT

3 ways to create product assets using the grid

How to apply the concept of grid-modular design thinking

For designers, modular thinking is the brain center. From the Great Pyramid of Giza to daVinci’s grid to Eames’s grid-based furniture designs, the concept of modular compatibility is front and center.

The foundation of the grid is a basic square setup. This can include a center point and a given number of columns, rows, or cells. A grid can also be customized, such as a monthly breakdown into 31 (or less) days.

Illustration 1: Variety of grid units

Illustration 1: A grid of 36 even-sided squares on the left and a grid representing 31 days within 1 month.

Sketching a quick grid can ground us designers to immediately understand the opportunities and constraints of the given screen, space, or page. It gives us the parameters of play.

Example 1: A basic grid pattern that leads to a game design

With an established grid and a corresponding number of units, we can conceptualize and experiment with the content within. In Illustration 2, the grid provides a layout system for basic geometric shapes…