This is the unofficial sequel to Josef Muller Brockmann's Grid Systems. In Grid Systems, Brockmann explained the basic characteristics and usage of the grid. Hans Rudolf Bosshard takes it a complex step forward and breaks it down even further, going into ideas of maximizing and breaking the grid. Although this is somewhat advanced material, Bosshard does a good job of clarifying ideas, first by showing line drawings of complex grids and then the actual examples the grids were drawn from. Bosshard dissects some of the most famous pieces of design, including the work of Swiss design legend Max Bill. He even has a section breaking down this very book. It's the most advanced design book I've seen. Although the writing can be too abstract at times (mathematical formulas are ocassionally introduced), you can learn more than you know by just looking at the images. Needless to say, the book design itself is bulletproof. The beautiful landscape format serves as a foil to Brockmann's portrait layout and "The Typographic Grid" again serves as the ultimate example. 200 pages. Recommended.

reviewed by the mgmnt