Grid website design can be easily compared to office cube farms.
There was a time when they were thought to be the best layout for offices due to their order and efficiency. Today, open offices are what’s in as they offer employees a breath of fresh air and a more comfortable working environment.
Many website design services are finding the same success when breaking the design grid as well.
Consider these reasons to see if it might be time to consult with website redesign services and break the grid on your website, too.
Why Break the Web Design Grid?
The best reason for website design services to break the design grid that has been so strictly followed in recent years is essentially the same reason why interior designers broke the cube farm grid; it is fresh, new, and provides a welcoming environment in a sea of grids.
Although grid website design is exceptionally functional in offering uniformity and familiarity, it lacks in creativity and the ability to push boundaries.
Designers have used the grid in some amazing ways. Yet there comes a time with all ideas when it is necessary to expand outside the box and try something new.
Website redesign services that are taking the chance and going gridless have found the time to do this is now.
Innovative Ways to Get Great Results by Breaking the Grid
The reason why grid website design became so popular is it allowed designers to create functional and responsive websites that worked anywhere.
When moving away from the grid structure, designers must still achieve this same level of function.
Many website design services use the grid as a guide rather than as a rule, implementing additional creative ideas:
- Asymmetrical or Unexpected Positioning - The easiest way to break the grid while still maintaining function and order is to begin with a basic grid idea, then move things around a bit. Grid layouts are symmetrical and balanced. Change this by breaking up linear aesthetics and moving things around the page. Leave essential elements such as important links in the usual places; however, experiment with the positioning of content, images, and other page elements.
- Layers - Another simple way for website redesign services to reduce the restrictiveness of flat grid design is to add layers. Split the page, add layered backgrounds, and float images and content areas over the layers in different ways to create depth. Get the content off the background, stack it, and create connectivity with clustering.
- Embellishment - A subtler approach to adding style to the basic grid is with embellishment. Float irregularly shaped images and cutouts over content areas, play with image orientation, and get creative on product and collection pages to create drama by arranging things in new ways.
At the End of the Day
Grid website design is a useful staple that although functional, can be boring after a while.
Breaking the grid in effective ways is a great option for website design services looking to achieve a fresh new look and feel without losing essential function.
Your website can be original and functional at the same time by using the right website redesign services that focus on breaking the grid to add some character!