Lutpn Grid Post: Facebook

Sometimes we don't realize the structure and the grids of websites or images when we look at them too frequently. One website that I just noticed after talking about grids, that really does have this typographic control and structure is facebook.

Like Lupton states that "an effective grid is not a rigid formula but a flexible and resilient structure, a skeleteon that moves in concert with the muscular mass of information." When I think about the structure of Facebook, it is an orderly mess, and I think this is what Lupton refers to. There are lines that create boxes that tend to hold the text in as a barrier, but at the same time, the middle is filled with Facebook user's updates that range from new pictures posted, new Facebook notes written, new status updates, etc. And although these updates take up different amount of space and do not end at the same margins, it still falls within the big middle space that Facebook has formatted to make the site as a whole look orderly.

Lutpon states that "until the 20th century, grids served as frames for fields of text" but now they are served as frames for whatever you want, images, plain text, typography, videos, etc. It's interesting how we can keep expanding the creative uses for art! On the left side of the main facebook page, you have your profile section, which includes a box for your picture, personal information, and more area for whatever applications you may use; this all is on the left side. In the middle, you have your comments that people leave, then on the right side of it are the endless and constantly changing advertisements. I think if it weren't for the grid, Facebook would be so messy and unpleasant to use, atleast for me. The grids create space and barriers that make the random unrelated topics to be laid out side to side. Like Lupton states that "typographic grids are all about control," I feel like the Facebook website does this to create order for the whole website.