Josef Muller-brockmann Grid Systems in Graphic Design 1961

• Home
• My Books

Open Preview

See a Problem?

We'd love your help. Let us know what's wrong with this preview of Grid Systems in Graphic Design/Raster Systeme Fur Die Visuele Gestaltung by Josef Müller-Brockmann.

Thanks for telling us about the problem.

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

Be the first to ask a question about Grid Systems in Graphic Design/Raster Systeme Fur Die Visuele Gestaltung

Community Reviews

 · 3,717 ratings  · 81 reviews

Start your review of Grid Systems in Graphic Design/Raster Systeme Fur Die Visuele Gestaltung

Feb 10, 2011 Aaron rated it liked it

Oddly, this isn't the page-turner I expected. Thus far it's functioning more as an unintentionally hilarious Objet d′art. I tried to like this. I know it's important, every designer should read it, etc. That said, I found it outdated and less than captivating. A landmark publication when it came out, I hoped it would help out my sense of composition and add clarity to everything I create. No such luck for me. I may try out The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst and leave Müller-B Oddly, this isn't the page-turner I expected. Thus far it's functioning more as an unintentionally hilarious Objet d′art. I tried to like this. I know it's important, every designer should read it, etc. That said, I found it outdated and less than captivating. A landmark publication when it came out, I hoped it would help out my sense of composition and add clarity to everything I create. No such luck for me. I may try out The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst and leave Müller-Brockmann's book out on the coffee table along with A Million Random Digits with 100,000 Normal Deviates, and The World Market for Porcelain or China Household or Toilet Articles to wow my guests...

Some links for further exploration:
http://www.typophile.com/node/47265

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/...

http://www.typophile.com/node/47265

...more

Aug 15, 2011 Adam rated it really liked it

Grid Systems in Graphic Design is a timeless classic that belongs on every designer and designer wannabee's bookshelf.

Ripe with visual examples, the book doesn't only provide you with a practical framework for design and layout for anything you might be working on (web, print, application development...), it goes the extra mile to explain in the perfect amount of detail why things affect their audience in particular ways, or why you should do things one way or another.

This book dissolves a lot

Grid Systems in Graphic Design is a timeless classic that belongs on every designer and designer wannabee's bookshelf.

Ripe with visual examples, the book doesn't only provide you with a practical framework for design and layout for anything you might be working on (web, print, application development...), it goes the extra mile to explain in the perfect amount of detail why things affect their audience in particular ways, or why you should do things one way or another.

This book dissolves a lot of challenges one faces in layout work and eliminates confusion both for designers and the clients of their finished work. Things will inherently make more sense and the designer's workflow becomes simplified for the better while improving their work greatly.

If you create visual things for a living or for a hobby, you owe it to yourself to at least leaf through the book a couple times. Grid Systems in Graphic Design is fantastic and important reading material that can be enjoyed as a reading piece or as somewhat of a reference piece.

...more

Jun 22, 2007 Erica rated it really liked it

I would like to give this book a 3.5, actually, not quite a 4. I think it's really good, packed full of information, and actually pretty interesting to read, as long as you do it a little bit at a time. I do think though that it's a little over the top in insisting the grid is the only way to go, and a bit... insulting to those that choose not to use grids all the time. you sort of have to look past some of the very strong "grids are the best thing ever" statements and absorb the information. I would like to give this book a 3.5, actually, not quite a 4. I think it's really good, packed full of information, and actually pretty interesting to read, as long as you do it a little bit at a time. I do think though that it's a little over the top in insisting the grid is the only way to go, and a bit... insulting to those that choose not to use grids all the time. you sort of have to look past some of the very strong "grids are the best thing ever" statements and absorb the information. ...more

Mar 15, 2009 Jeff rated it really liked it

This was definitely written by a German in the 60s. Very...structured. Some very useful ideas, especially for people just getting into design. Rules are good. I just wish the latest edition of the book, published in 2007, would have included some less dated examples. I'm sure I'll be able to find some current examples of the grid system on the Internet. This was definitely written by a German in the 60s. Very...structured. Some very useful ideas, especially for people just getting into design. Rules are good. I just wish the latest edition of the book, published in 2007, would have included some less dated examples. I'm sure I'll be able to find some current examples of the grid system on the Internet. ...more

Might be a revolutionary grid book of its era, but not a current one. We moved on from Letraset and photo-typesetting after this book has published. Still good reading though, as long as you are aware of it's more a history book than design. (And as long as you don't hundreds of orphans and widows in a design book.) Might be a revolutionary grid book of its era, but not a current one. We moved on from Letraset and photo-typesetting after this book has published. Still good reading though, as long as you are aware of it's more a history book than design. (And as long as you don't hundreds of orphans and widows in a design book.) ...more

Jun 06, 2013 Daniel rated it really liked it

This is THE classic designers book on grid systems. I have a handful of grid-related books, and this one stands out and the most thorough and theoretical. Muller-Brockmann's explanations for why to make the decisions & thoughtful structure that he recommends is rare wisdom that I didn't get in my design education.

The book is dated in a wonderful way – very Midcentury Swiss. He starts off simple and then gets more and more complicated as the book progresses. I feel like his design isn't directly

This is THE classic designers book on grid systems. I have a handful of grid-related books, and this one stands out and the most thorough and theoretical. Muller-Brockmann's explanations for why to make the decisions & thoughtful structure that he recommends is rare wisdom that I didn't get in my design education.

The book is dated in a wonderful way – very Midcentury Swiss. He starts off simple and then gets more and more complicated as the book progresses. I feel like his design isn't directly applicable to a lot of contemporary work, however I still find it useful both theoretically, and also just to thumb through when I'm sketching up layouts – he really was a very creative & inventive designer in terms of composition, in spite of consistently adhering to a strict grid system.

I'm only giving it a 4 due to the paper quality. It's super heavy & nice paper, however it started to yellow and age after just a few years. I don't actually want my version to look THAT vintage... for around $100, it should hold up much better than that.

...more

Poor translation and user-experience (Portuguese version), somewhat outdated concepts that are poorly applied in this edition.
Overly expensive and poor reading experience due to the double translation.

This book was a great read. The way it is written, as a designer reading it, touched every sensibility. Really well structured and the words were chosed really carefull, which showed how much passion was poured into it.

Keep reading this book every year. I would say ;)

This is a book that I will be returning to time and time again. Pure gold!

Mar 11, 2018 Angel rated it really liked it

Overall, very approachable, but could use an update so the writing is more inclusive (all designers are assumed to be "he" by default) and the examples when they get into examples of systems in the world feels a little racked on. Would have made more sense in the beginning. Also the exhibition and architecture examples were weak from a human factors standpoint. I was hoping it would be the Elements of Typographic style approach to the grid, and this, while still useful, fell short of that by som Overall, very approachable, but could use an update so the writing is more inclusive (all designers are assumed to be "he" by default) and the examples when they get into examples of systems in the world feels a little racked on. Would have made more sense in the beginning. Also the exhibition and architecture examples were weak from a human factors standpoint. I was hoping it would be the Elements of Typographic style approach to the grid, and this, while still useful, fell short of that by some measure. ...more

Jul 04, 2011 Sara rated it it was amazing

this is the essential, original book on grid systems from the master swiss designer josef müller-brockmann. all design students should buy this book if you want to learn about how to organize content and type in a beautifully visual and modern way.

Apr 11, 2007 David rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Graphic designers

Read it in college and again in 2006-2007. Required reading for graphic designers.

Jun 30, 2018 Michael Scott rated it really liked it

TODO full review:
+ Excellent guide for graphic design practitioners, focusing on structure for the page (the 2d plane).
+++ Clear, concise, full of technical detail and with a proper investigation of the structured dedign space. How many words per legible line? A long-lasting constant, of around 10. Noted.
+++ Many excellent examples and analysis of practical use.
+ Good incursion into the design of structured 3d spaces, complete with a full-room and a full-expo example.
-/+ Many of the lofty desi TODO full review:
+ Excellent guide for graphic design practitioners, focusing on structure for the page (the 2d plane).
+++ Clear, concise, full of technical detail and with a proper investigation of the structured dedign space. How many words per legible line? A long-lasting constant, of around 10. Noted.
+++ Many excellent examples and analysis of practical use.
+ Good incursion into the design of structured 3d spaces, complete with a full-room and a full-expo example.
-/+ Many of the lofty design principles will seem quite outdated for some. Structure? After the 1990s?! How posh!
+ Some exploration of art using structure as the basis, across millenia. Better read Gombrich's History of Art as a complememt.
-- No exploration of the art and craft that could emerge from breaking minimally (or gradually) the rigid structures. My mind jumps to the best of graphic novels, and perhaps also to the analysis by Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics.
--- Although several examples of large-count subdivisions exist in the book (e.g., a folder with 54 panels and one with 72 panels spring to mind), large-counts are not explored. Later graphic designers and especially special graphic novelists have tried their hand at such design, e.g.,Chris Ware's Monograph hosts an impressive two-pager with what looks like a 2x72 (if I recall correctly the counts). ...more

Even some American designers, like Paul Rand, in implementing the logo types that he designed, actually created in-house design departments who were trained to understand the Swiss style of corporate identity and to utilize it to create this objective, technocratic form of graphic design. It all started with the grid. And at that time grids were designed to match with type setting. So if you were going to create a four column grid, or a three column grid, or a two column grid for an ad, or a pag Even some American designers, like Paul Rand, in implementing the logo types that he designed, actually created in-house design departments who were trained to understand the Swiss style of corporate identity and to utilize it to create this objective, technocratic form of graphic design. It all started with the grid. And at that time grids were designed to match with type setting. So if you were going to create a four column grid, or a three column grid, or a two column grid for an ad, or a page, or even a poster, you had to figure out how your typography was going to fit on the poster and then the grid would work around it. So that there would always be the seamless fit between text and image on every piece that was done. These are pages from a book that Muller-Brockmann wrote about grids that describe the rationality of how you would produce pages. Muller-Brockmann thought of the grid as not only something that was suitable for the page, but in which you could use the grid to organize the space on a wall. For instance, if you were thinking about how you would design text on a wall in an exhibition or how you night hang pictures. Swiss design had this intensely practical edge to it in that it was meant to illuminate the function. How you use this thing. How did you make the thing that you're were designing? Even, finally, this rendering from Muller-Brockmann's grid book that shows an interior space where cabinets are even aligned with the idea of a three-dimensional grid that can define space in an infinite number of ways. ...more

Sep 09, 2021 Amanda rated it liked it

I bought and read this as it's considered to be such a highly regarded classic in the design world. And though I know it was revolutionary in its time, in my opinion a solid 60% of it is now antiquated. The grid system is still widely used and can be seen in most everything from printed materials to digital media like apps and websites... BUT, with the advance of technology programs like the Adobe suite, we no longer need to rely on paper, measuring out physical type sizes, math, and trial and e I bought and read this as it's considered to be such a highly regarded classic in the design world. And though I know it was revolutionary in its time, in my opinion a solid 60% of it is now antiquated. The grid system is still widely used and can be seen in most everything from printed materials to digital media like apps and websites... BUT, with the advance of technology programs like the Adobe suite, we no longer need to rely on paper, measuring out physical type sizes, math, and trial and error to create perfect grid systems, so a lot of the text on how to set up a grid system and determine how much space should be between rows just seemed like a fun historical note.

I did love seeing just how many layouts can be created out of a single grid system, and I love the use of strict rules in design (as a UX/UI designer who thinks design is incredibly different from art). I'd love to see an updated version of this some day, though I don't expect that to ever happen.

...more

May 03, 2019 Zach rated it really liked it

There are a few hard and fast rules he outlines that I was able to apply to my work the next day around typography and text legibility, so I really liked that. I design for web, and I think there are some useful concepts here around heirarchy of information, obviously layout, how to use illustrations / pictures, etc.

I do think it's not 100% relevant to web design. There are a lot of things here teaching the reader about DIN sizes, and a lot of references to how to send things off to your printe

There are a few hard and fast rules he outlines that I was able to apply to my work the next day around typography and text legibility, so I really liked that. I design for web, and I think there are some useful concepts here around heirarchy of information, obviously layout, how to use illustrations / pictures, etc.

I do think it's not 100% relevant to web design. There are a lot of things here teaching the reader about DIN sizes, and a lot of references to how to send things off to your printer, etc. Maybe some relevance for print designers, but that's not as ubiquitous now as it was when this book was printed.

Hilariously and stereotypically German when it comes to how rule based everything is. I love that about it.

All that said, theoretically this is a very important book and I think there will always be a place for what's said here.

...more

Aug 15, 2020 Taavet Kutsar rated it really liked it

I had long awaited to get my hands on this book – a piece considered classic in graphic layout design. It was pretty much what I expected it to be: more like a handbook and less of a page-turner. Sure, bits of it are outdated as it is written considering the popular mediums of its time, so mainly print. I also cringed a bit when, for example, reading the praise about Le Corbusier's work – a lot of his ideas appear a lot less successful nowadays than they did back then. But, the book was written I had long awaited to get my hands on this book – a piece considered classic in graphic layout design. It was pretty much what I expected it to be: more like a handbook and less of a page-turner. Sure, bits of it are outdated as it is written considering the popular mediums of its time, so mainly print. I also cringed a bit when, for example, reading the praise about Le Corbusier's work – a lot of his ideas appear a lot less successful nowadays than they did back then. But, the book was written in 1981, after all.

That being said, there is still a lot to take from it. The chapters on constructing the grid with type seem to be as relevant as ever now in the age of digital media and I can see myself coming back to it from time to time to refine my skill. Definitely don't regret reading it.

...more

Apr 11, 2021 Andrew Tatge rated it really liked it

Some passionate sections about the work of design in here, though at time I would think: "this is awfully strict about something specific to print design, but how can I apply it in the digital space (which aren't limited by page measurement or widths in the same way)?" By the end, the very specific approach to building and using grids in print wanes and it broadens its scope to more general and less instructive encouragement to see and work with grids in other contexts. For me, that was the most Some passionate sections about the work of design in here, though at time I would think: "this is awfully strict about something specific to print design, but how can I apply it in the digital space (which aren't limited by page measurement or widths in the same way)?" By the end, the very specific approach to building and using grids in print wanes and it broadens its scope to more general and less instructive encouragement to see and work with grids in other contexts. For me, that was the most interesting stuff but it took a while to get there. And honestly, the more tedious breakdown for how to determine grid elements is what I got this for. It helped, just not for my medium. That being said, the many examples were great training for the eye. ...more

Apr 06, 2019 Alexey rated it liked it

I had rather mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's an appreciated design classic and the book design itself is an art piece because of its perfect structure and unique bilingual combination. But on the other hand, its first part contains too much common and well-known typography theory, while its a second part was quite hard to read because it contains plenty of grid system examples and the author's endless comments about them. I personally didn't find these comments very informa I had rather mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's an appreciated design classic and the book design itself is an art piece because of its perfect structure and unique bilingual combination. But on the other hand, its first part contains too much common and well-known typography theory, while its a second part was quite hard to read because it contains plenty of grid system examples and the author's endless comments about them. I personally didn't find these comments very informative, IMO it would be better to dive deep into one or two examples and to explain how they solve some problems that do not fit perfectly into the grid. ...more

Jul 19, 2020 Jon Nguyen rated it it was amazing

Yes, this is a practical book that describes the many considerations when designing with a grid. It's surprising how relevant it still is, given that it was written almost 40 years ago. But what I think makes it a classic is the solemn, principled voice in which it's written. You get a sense of the way the guy thinks, and that way of thinking will always be necessary: the importance of system, the importance of detail, and the interplay between structure and skill. Yes, this is a practical book that describes the many considerations when designing with a grid. It's surprising how relevant it still is, given that it was written almost 40 years ago. But what I think makes it a classic is the solemn, principled voice in which it's written. You get a sense of the way the guy thinks, and that way of thinking will always be necessary: the importance of system, the importance of detail, and the interplay between structure and skill. ...more

Oct 19, 2017 Omar J rated it really liked it

An intro on scientific articulation and application of grids in any layout. With consice and pragmatic writing style, Joseph Brockmann teaches a disciplined and systematic application of grids. His perspective is heavily influenced by the Swiss design philosophy.

Oriented towards print, but ideas applicable to design in general. Concise explanations and good illustrations. Funny enough, the print on this book is uncomfortably tiny. Overall, a useful technical read.

Dec 23, 2019 Gary rated it really liked it

First 40 pages have great foundational advice for the way a designer could/should think about structure and organization of content. The rest of the book has solid examples to get your mind working. More reference than anything. Glad to have it on the shelf.

Apr 23, 2018 Tobias Asplund rated it really liked it

I will probably never finish reading this over and over. It's one of the greatest resources for graphic designers out there. I will probably never finish reading this over and over. It's one of the greatest resources for graphic designers out there. ...more

Jan 15, 2019 Cosmin rated it it was amazing

Excelent book for an in-depth understanding of how a grid system can improve not only your work in graphic design, but also your thinking!

Essential reading for a beginning publisher and print publication layout designer. I'll return to the back more than once. Essential reading for a beginning publisher and print publication layout designer. I'll return to the back more than once. ...more

Goodreads is hiring!

If you like books and love to build cool products, we may be looking for you.
Learn more »

News & Interviews

Not normal, new normal, super-spreading, and socially distant. Yup, it's been a couple years of COVID and pandemic-centric stories are...

"The grid system is an aid, not a guarantee. It permits a number of possible uses and each designer can look for a solution appropriate to his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice." — 1 likes

More quotes…

Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.

Josef Muller-brockmann Grid Systems in Graphic Design 1961

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/350962.Grid_Systems_in_Graphic_Design_Raster_Systeme_Fur_Die_Visuele_Gestaltung

Share this post