Using the grid system is part of the heritage of web design. It provides a framework within which a designer can quickly and coherently organize elements. The use of a grid allows designers to quickly edit, add and subtract from the overall design, establish a clear visual hierarchy, accommodate multiple screen sizes, and create an environment suitable for seamless collaboration. Does this mean that all good web design involves strict adherence to a grid system? Absolutely not. Talented and irreverent designers are capable of creating eye-catching designs by “breaking the grid” through the use of animation, layering, typography, and abstract usage of white space. The grid system is only a structured set of guidelines, after all, and adhering to those guidelines does not guarantee a successful design. 

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Design plays an integral role in our everyday lives. Everything we come in contact with that was not created by nature has been conceived, iterated and brought to fruition by designers. Don Norman, an engineer turned cognitive scientist, defines design as being concerned with the way in which objects work, are controlled, and the nature of the interaction between the user and the object. In the context of design, interaction is the keyword. Design facilitates interplay between technology and humanity so an adept designer should be able to produce a pleasurable experience for the users of their products. Seamless interaction between user and object dictates how fondly people remember a particular product, and largely determines the frequency of their future usage. As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” The same is true of good design.

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