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IntuiFace and the User Experience Trends of 2017 - Trend #2: Custom Grids

This is a Guest Blog Post by
Chloe Canella

This is the second article in our series about the top user experience trends of 2017 and how to implement them in IntuiFace..

User Experience Trend # 2 – Custom Grids

Custom Grids: What are they?

In previous years, Web design had evolved to adopt an orderly column and grid format, driven by the use of CSS-based grids and browser constraints. This isn’t going away but, as illustrated in the image below, there is now a shift towards irregular layers and ultra-modern design.

Homtowntrolley homepage
‍Image source: http://hometowntrolley.com/

Custom grids retain the feeling of harmonic layouts and element placement while achieving a higher level of flexibility and originality. In 2017 we will see more playful Web layouts that deviate from a rigid grid design. 

Custom Grids – When to use them?

Custom grids, by their nature, are non-standard. For purely informational experiences where aesthetic is not critical, standard layouts are more than sufficient. On the other hand, when the topic or environment has an aesthetic, custom grids can give you the freedom to add to that ambience with minimal effort. Just know your audience as many are still used to scanning left to right, top to bottom.

Custom Grids – How to create them in IntuiFace?

IntuiFace provides more freedom than a website as you are not limited to columns, grids or Web browser constraints.

In IntuiFace your design is entirely free. You can drag and drop media to any position or orientation without needing to use complicated Web classes. There is no grid constraint whatsoever.

But be warned, with great power comes great responsibility.
Try to retain at least a hint of structure for your experiences because sometimes the ability to position everything freely can lead to the creation of confusing and/or unattractive results.

You can use rulers and grids in IntuiFace Composer. They help you keep everything aligned and neat, ensuring some sort of structure for your design. But what we call a “grid” is only a visual representation, a guide and not a formal constraint.

Custom Grids in Intuiface Composer

Why doesn’t IntuiFace force a grid-like structure to your design? It’s quite simple: by default, all media is interactive. If you insert an image in your experience, it can be rotated, resized and moved at will.

Image rotated, resized and moved with Custom Grids in Intuiface

This is the essence of IntuiFace. If you constrain content within a grid or some other structure, you limit its interactive potential. Such constraint is fine for a website because expectations are much lower and the skills necessary for coding greater flexibility are rare. But for IntuiFace, freedom is a design point. So be creative and come up with novel and intriguing layouts! Your web designer friends will be amazed.

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Chloe Canella
Chloe Canella

As the Head of Digital Marketing at Intuiface, Chloe Canella is committed to helping you reach your goals with Intuiface.

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