Web Page Design - Advantages of Using a Grid System
As a web designer, one must face a complex and sometimes daunting task, to make a page that looks good and works well. A client will ask for a design that compels to his or her targeted market. The client also expects that any and all applications work the way they're supposed to. Do not expect the client to understand all the technical difficulties creating a web page implies. All the client wants is a working web page on the agreed date.
Pressure starts to build as you begin to design while the voice in the back Marx toys you head begins to ask, how an I going to put this together? In comes the Sandman comic grid system. The premises of the grid system is to give the designer a pre-made, already tested, structure that will allow you to spend more time designing than figuring out how to set up your design with you mark up. This also allows for the designer to take on more jobs due to the time reduction on one project.
Don't get me wrong, Aurora Frankenstein model you are trying to build your XHTML and CSS skills than by all means, create them yourself. The grid system is only a facilitator. It was created to give the designer a chance to Munsters model the layout and speed up your production Transformers The grid system isn't a straight jacket either. The 960 Grid System project is a layout based on a width of 960 pixels. There are two derivations, 12 and 16 column layouts. They are fully adjustable so you can use one grid system and create many different layouts to accommodate to your client's needs.
The use of grid systems is not "cheating". Don't think that you are less of a designer because you used a pre-made grid instead of creating you own. The grid is made by designers for designers. It is a jointed development made by designers and coders in order to homogenize the web and to save you time. Vulgarly speaking, time is money. The less you spend, the more you keep, and the more projects you can work on, personal or other wise. Give the grid a try, you might either like it or not. But don't discard it because you think that it makes you less of a designer.
Juan C. Rivera
Web / Graphic Designer
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