Introduction to grids II

The grid is a commonly used term in many fields like architecture, mathematics, engineering and design and its meaning varies from guidelines, framework, supporting structure, channel of material flow to network of information flow. The use of grid for visual layouts is not at all new. In visual art we can find the inscriptions and the evidences of grid from the medieval period or even before.
 
In Europe, the early form of grid was mainly point based which during the renaissance period gained the form of field based Cartesian grid. Whereas in India, the grid was always a part of tradition and it has been practiced with the faith to the extent of religious doctrine. It had a large variety in form and application . Past few centuries the meaning of grid has shifted from interface between physical and super-physical worlds to interface between physical world and its perception by the rational cognition. (Williamson, 1986)

The modern grid which is in contemporary use was fully developed in its current form and use by second decade of twentieth century. In the early twentieth century the philosophical trend which denies ‘art for art sake’ started emerging in the form of constructivism. This concern for usability contributed to the foundation of new design. Around the same time the first design school, Bauhaus school, started in Germany which has a great impact on the modern design. This new design philosophy was inclined towards rationalism and minimalism. Bauhaus, departed from traditional patterns of decoration style, was quite open for experimentation. Soon it got influenced by Theo van Doesberg’s Stijl movement with strong dogma of geometry. This had established the beauty in simple forms with straight lines and right angles removing the all unnecessary curvatures and angularity. Obviously such design identified the rectangular grid with vertical and horizontal guidelines as a very essential tool and became popular in the group of theoreticians in academia. It was Jan Tschichold, trained as a calligrapher through the craft tradition, who was responsible in popularizing the use of grid in typography. Inspired by him many graphic designers like Max Bill, Emil Ruder, and Josef Müller-Brockmann started practicing and advocating the rectangular grid. (Samara, May 2005)

Design came to India in 1970s but before that the faculty of Art started serving to the design need in the name of commercial arts. Even now we can see the artists and designers working together on design solutions. The grid in typography came to India as well and being practiced by Indian typographers and designers with the equal proficiency. The major challenge and opportunity they addressed was the variety of vernacular languages in India. But the grid was not given much attention in that regard to look for the vernacular forms and functions of grid.