ejnord.com | Typographic Systems by Kimberly Elam

Kimberly Elam’s Typographic Systems is pure, distilled grid inspiration.

Each aspect of design has its resources. Adobe Kuler and ColourLovers provide color schemes. MyFonts.com is the first stop for fonts. deviantART is a treasure trove of Photoshop and Illustrator brushes, patterns, and vectors. And Flickr has you covered with CC-approved photography.

When it comes to grid inspiration, Elam’s Typographic Systems is the go-to resource. With about 4-5 layouts per page, this book eschews history and theory in order to deliver more layouts. But more than sheer quantity, it is the range and variety that distinguish this book.

Typographic Systems includes works from grid pioneers and luminaries like Werner Jerker, David Carson, and Emil Ruder, along with transparent grid overlays on select pieces. The bulk of layouts were created by students of Elam; and it is the minimalism and simplicity of the student pieces that make this book such a usable reference.