Deliverable Grid Adjustments
So, I’ve gotten some feedback that the gutters are too tight (right now, 10pt) between columns of content in your deliverable documents. This is a newer, narrower gutter than we’ve had in the past, and honestly, I’ve felt the squeeze too.
Background
In an effort to be more mathematically “pure” with the grid, I nudged the column gutters on the letter landscape 4- and 6-column masters down to 10pt each. I’m a mathematician / statistician by education, and there WAS a solution to that optimization problem. Boom! Yes! 10pt gutters, works for both 4 and 6-column masters AND aligns well with the vertical gridlines below on a base-10 system! Purity, simplicity, and….well…not really visually optimal.
Problem
The content of each column is just to smushed together, without ample breathing room that gutters are meant to provide.
Solution
I’m not sure yet what the best solution is, but I’ve done some exploration and constructed grid alternatives that contain 16pt and 24pt gutters. You can take a look at both gutter sizes across 4- and 6- column layouts of the letter landscape deliverable template. My instinct is thinking to go with a gutter of 16pt as sufficient, but want your feedback.
Give Us Feedback!
I’ve set up a basic survey (1 question, 1 textarea for feedback) to get your take on the situation. If you’ve got an opinion, or even an alternative, now’s the time! I’ll gauge the response and incorporate a final gutter fix into the next solution. And no, it’s not as easy as just changing a couple template files. Keep in mind that every, single page pattern has to be adjusted and reexported too. Joy.
16pt is right on. solves for the claustrophobia. Thanks for obsessing over it! The Unify system is changing the way I work, and non-designers in my organization seem to be taking my documentation more seriously already!
I agree, 16pt is perfect!
To whom it may concern:
It would b e helpful o be able to download updates without having to renter your email for the download section. Both to the end user and your company.
Thanks,
Dave
Dave,
Indeed, we’d like to make it as easy as possible for folks to download, particularly repeat downloaders. That said, until we have the time invest in a more elegant solution (alas, EightShapes Unify is free), and since we’re providing uncompiled templates, our legal advice is to ask for it every time.
Regards,
Nathan