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Grid systems: the Portland billboard that made me question everything
I was driving through downtown Portland last month and saw this massive billboard where the text was so tight against the edge it felt like it was about to fall off. That got me thinking, are strict grids actually better for beginners, or do they just box you in? I used to swear by 12-column layouts, but now I wonder if freestyling with padding and alignment rules is easier to learn first. Anyone else have a moment where a real-world sign or poster made them rethink their whole approach to spacing?
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terry_mitchell24d ago
Tight spacing on a real sign taught me the same lesson, so I get where you're coming from. Grids are fine as a starting point, but breaking them when the space calls for it feels more natural once you understand why the rules exist. I ended up using padding and alignment tricks first, then adding grids back in as a check, not a cage.
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