Making and Breaking the Grid

First published in 2003 in the context of a millennial resurgence of interest in structural, Modernist (grid-based) design principles and strategies—exploring alternative approaches as well. 

The book is significant in its innovation of a new category of design trade book publication, called by the author an “educational showcase”: a combination of educational reference work in design practice and a showcase of current, real-world application of its principles by practicing professionals. 

The book is divided into two main sections:

“Making the Grid” defines the typographic grid, outlines its history, inventories basic kinds of grid, and describes principles of use. Following this ‘textbook’ section is a section of ‘Exhibits’, which presents relevant project case studies.

“Breaking” the Grid follows the same structure and sequence as the first section: first outlining evolutions of non-grid or non-structural approaches to typographic layout; and concluding with a similar section of relevant Exhibits.

The book is now in its Third Edition, released in the Spring of 2023.

The author(who also designed the book)  is a graduate of the graphic design program at the now defunct University of the Arts (formerly Philadelphia College of Art), a program developed by graduates of the Basel School of Design in Basel, Switzerland. This connection tot he Swiss International Style—both to its grid-based, Zurich school, and the more expressive Basel school—informed the author's approach to the book's content.