chahaksurana

OFF GRID — VOLUME 1



   Advised by Anther Kiley
   Degree Project 2026
Off Grid is a collection of five notebooks built from real-world grid systems that already contain tension, contradiction, or disruption.
The project began with a simple observation: grids are everywhere. From book pages to city streets, woven textiles to maps, the same logic of division, alignment, measurement, and order repeats across vastly different scales. Because grids are so fundamental, they often disappear into the background. This project investigates what happens when they become visible again. Through research, drawing, and computational tools, I transformed five existing grid systems into generative frameworks that produce new variations. The resulting notebooks invite users to work inside these alternative structures rather than on neutral graph paper.




Each new grid was first reconstructed manually in Illustrator to understand its underlying logic. I then built a computational tool that translates those structures into generative systems. Fixed parameters preserve the identity of each grid, while adjustable variables allow for controlled variation. The tool became a way to explore the full range of possibilities hidden within each system.


The generated outputs became the pages of five notebooks. Each notebook is designed around a single grid system, allowing users to draw, write, and work within a specific spatial logic.

Every notebook contains:

  • A question on the cover
  • An explanation of the originating grid system
  • Generated pages derived from the tool
  • A bookmark featuring the original reference image

Together, they function as both research archive and design tool.            




Off Grid was presented as part of the RISD Graphic Design Degree Project Review in Spring 2026.
The installation brought together the notebooks, source references, generated outputs, and supporting
research, creating a physical record of the project's investigation into structure, order, and disruption.

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