Designing a website using a grid layout can be very effective. But grid layouts are not all the same. In fact, there are a number of different types of grid layout in web design. And each one brings its own advantages, and design style, to your website. So choosing an effective grid design is something you will need to consider. But what are your options? Well, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s number one web design experts. We work across Manchester and the North West, including Blackburn and Chorley to provide the perfect web design solutions for clients in all areas of business and industry. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about about different grid layouts and options for effective web design.
What are the different types of grid layout in web design?
So, what are the different types of grid layout you can choose from? Well, there are several. But the most popular two include:
- The column grid
- The modular grid
The column grid
The column grid is a grid that organises the information into separate columns, rather than rows or boxes. These columns can be equal in weight, or with one larger than other. the advantages of this design include:
- Display different information at the same time- Using different columns means that more information can be displayed on the screen at once. This is why magazines and newspapers use a column layout. But for websites, you will need to be careful that you don’t overload or overwhelm your users with too much information at once, which is why an asymmetric two column layout, could be the best option.
- Asymmetry is on trend- asymmetrical designs that divide the screen into two unequal parts is a popular web design trend currently. You could consider blending the barriers between each section with imagery or typography too, to add a more unique style to your website.
The modular grid
The most common type of grid is the modular grid. This uses small, usually square, modules to create a grid layout. These usually have equal spacing and weight, but they don’t have to, as an asymmetrical modular grid can be equally as effective. The main advantages of this type of grid include:
- Showcase products- many product pages for websites use a modular grid layout, as people can browse multiple items at a time. This creates a positive user experience, as it helps to save time for the potential customer. And a positive user experience can often lead to an increase in sales and sign ups.
- Familiarity- the modular grid based layout is a popular design trend across technology. The dashboard of a Windows computer, the apps on your mobile device, and even popular platforms like Instagram all use a modular grid based layout. This means that your users are very familiar with the concept, and they wont be confused about how to interact with your website.
For more information or for professional web design and web marketing solutions, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.