Layout Structure with Grids, Spacing, and Alignment

Why layout structure matters

A mobile interface is experienced as a sequence of screens, but each screen is understood in an instant through structure. Layout structure is the system that decides where elements sit, how they relate, and how the eye moves. Grids, spacing, and alignment are the practical tools that make structure consistent across different screens, different content lengths, and different device sizes.

When layout structure is strong, users can scan quickly, predict where to find information, and understand hierarchy without effort. When it is weak, even good visuals feel “messy”: labels appear to float, buttons look unrelated, and content becomes hard to parse. This chapter focuses on building a repeatable layout system using grids (to define columns and rhythm), spacing (to separate and group), and alignment (to create clean edges and stable relationships).

Grids: the backbone of consistent screens

A grid is an invisible framework that divides the screen into predictable regions. It does not mean everything must look rigid; it means your decisions are anchored to a system. In mobile UI, grids typically serve three purposes: (1) define consistent margins and safe areas, (2) create columns for responsive arrangements, and (3) establish a rhythm so spacing feels intentional.

Common mobile grid patterns

• Single-column grid: Most content flows in one column with consistent horizontal margins. This is ideal for forms, settings, reading screens, and detail pages.
• Two-column grid: Often used for image-heavy content (product tiles, photo galleries) where each item can be a card. On small phones, it may collapse to one column; on larger phones it can remain two.
• Multi-column adaptive grid: On tablets or foldables, you may use 3–6 columns, or a split layout (list + detail). Even if your course focuses on mobile, designing with an adaptive grid prevents awkward scaling later.

Choosing margins and gutters

Two grid parameters drive most of the “feel” of a screen:

• Margins: the space between the screen edge (or safe area) and your content. Consistent margins create calm and readability.
• Gutters: the space between columns or between adjacent items in a grid. Gutters prevent items from visually merging.

A practical approach is to pick a base spacing unit (for example 4 or 8) and make margins and gutters multiples of that unit. This creates a consistent rhythm across screens. For example, you might choose 16 for side margins and 8 or 12 for gutters, then keep those values stable across the app.

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Step-by-step: define a grid for a typical screen

Use this process when starting a new screen or when refactoring an inconsistent layout:

• Step 1: Identify the safe area. Determine the usable region that avoids notches, rounded corners, and system UI. Your grid should live inside this area.
• Step 2: Pick a base unit. Choose a small increment (commonly 4 or 8) that all spacing will snap to.
• Step 3: Set horizontal margins. Decide left/right content margins (for example 16). Apply them to all primary content containers.
• Step 4: Decide columns (if needed). For a single-column screen, the “column” is simply the content area. For a grid screen, choose 2 columns with a gutter (for example 12) and ensure items can fit comfortably.
• Step 5: Define vertical rhythm. Establish standard vertical gaps (for example 8 between related elements, 16 between groups, 24–32 between major sections).
• Step 6: Create reusable containers. Wrap content in consistent sections (cards, list rows, grouped blocks) that already include padding aligned to the grid.

This grid definition becomes your default. Most layout problems later are solved by returning to these decisions instead of inventing new spacing for each screen.

Spacing: controlling grouping, hierarchy, and scanability

Spacing is not “empty”; it is a signal. Users infer relationships based on distance: items close together are perceived as related, items far apart are perceived as separate. Spacing is therefore one of the most powerful tools for hierarchy and clarity, especially on small screens.

Spacing roles you should design explicitly

• Padding: space inside a component (for example inside a card, button, or input). Padding affects comfort and touchability.
• Margin: space outside a component. Margin affects grouping and separation.
• Section spacing: larger gaps that separate major content blocks (for example “Account” vs “Security”).
• Line spacing: vertical spacing inside text blocks. It affects readability and perceived density.

Use spacing to express hierarchy

A practical hierarchy rule: increase spacing as the conceptual distance increases. For example:

• Label and its input field: small gap (they belong together).
• One input field to the next: medium gap (same group, different item).
• End of a form section to the next section header: larger gap (new group).

If you keep these relationships consistent, users can scan forms and settings screens quickly because the structure is predictable.

A simple spacing scale (example)

Pick a scale and stick to it. Here is an example based on an 8-unit system:

• 4: micro spacing (icon to text, small internal tweaks)
• 8: tight spacing (label to helper text, items within a compact group)
• 16: default spacing (between list rows, between form fields)
• 24: section spacing (between groups)
• 32: major separation (between page header area and content, or between large modules)

You do not need many values. Too many spacing values create inconsistency and make screens feel “designed by accident.”

Step-by-step: fix a cramped or overly loose screen

When a layout feels off, spacing is often the culprit. Use this diagnostic workflow:

• Step 1: Identify the primary reading path. What should the user notice first, second, third? Mark those elements.
• Step 2: Group elements by meaning. For each group, ensure internal spacing is smaller than spacing to the next group.
• Step 3: Normalize repeated patterns. If you have a list of rows, make the vertical spacing between all rows identical. If you have multiple cards, make their internal padding identical.
• Step 4: Remove one-off spacing. Replace arbitrary values with your spacing scale. If something truly needs a special value, question whether the component should be redesigned instead.
• Step 5: Check touch comfort. Ensure interactive items have enough internal padding so they are easy to tap and do not feel crowded.

Alignment: creating clean edges and stable relationships

Alignment is the rule that elements share common lines. It reduces visual noise because the eye can follow edges. On mobile, alignment is especially important because screens are narrow; small misalignments are noticeable and make the UI feel unpolished.

Types of alignment you will use most

• Left alignment: the default for most text and lists. It supports fast scanning because the starting edge is consistent.
• Center alignment: useful for short, self-contained content (empty states, simple confirmations). Overuse can harm scanability.
• Right alignment: often used for numeric values in tables or for trailing metadata, but should be used carefully on mobile due to limited width.
• Baseline alignment: aligns text across different font sizes so it feels cohesive (for example a large price next to a smaller currency label).
• Edge alignment: aligns component edges (cards, images, buttons) to the same vertical lines, reinforcing the grid.

Alignment rules that prevent common mistakes

• Align to containers, not to the screen. If content sits inside a card or section, align to that container’s padding. Avoid mixing alignments (some items aligned to the card, others to the screen margin).
• Pick one primary axis. Most mobile screens are vertically stacked; keep a strong vertical axis with consistent left edges.
• Do not “optically center” by guessing. Use consistent padding and alignment constraints. If something looks off, it may be due to unequal internal padding or mismatched icon sizes.
• Keep text edges clean. Avoid having multiple text blocks start at slightly different x-positions unless there is a clear structural reason (like indentation for hierarchy).

Step-by-step: align a list row pattern

List rows appear everywhere (settings, messages, search results). A clean row pattern is a good alignment exercise:

• Step 1: Define row height and padding. Choose consistent vertical padding (for example 12–16) and horizontal padding (matching your screen margins).
• Step 2: Create leading and trailing zones. Leading zone might hold an icon or avatar; trailing zone might hold a chevron, timestamp, or toggle.
• Step 3: Align text to a single left edge. If some rows have icons and others do not, reserve space so text still starts at the same x-position across rows.
• Step 4: Baseline-align multi-line text. Ensure the title and subtitle have consistent spacing and align to the same left edge; keep trailing elements vertically centered relative to the row.
• Step 5: Test with extremes. Use very long titles, missing subtitles, and large accessibility text sizes to confirm alignment holds.

Combining grids, spacing, and alignment into reusable layout patterns

Instead of designing each screen from scratch, define a few layout patterns that already encode your grid, spacing scale, and alignment rules. This speeds up design and improves consistency.

Pattern 1: Content section

A content section is a vertical block with a header and items. It works for settings, profile details, and dashboards.

• Structure: Section title (optional) + container (card or plain) + items.
• Grid: Align section edges to screen margins; internal content aligns to container padding.
• Spacing: Larger gap before the section; smaller gaps between items inside.
• Alignment: All item titles share the same left edge; trailing controls align to a consistent right edge.

Pattern 2: Card module

Cards group related information and actions. The key is consistent internal padding and predictable alignment of text and buttons.

• Structure: Card padding + title + body + actions.
• Spacing: Tight spacing between title and body; more space before actions to separate reading from doing.
• Alignment: Actions align to a consistent edge (often right or full-width). Avoid mixing centered and left-aligned content inside the same card unless intentional.

Pattern 3: Two-column tile grid

For product catalogs or media libraries, tiles must be consistent in width and spacing to avoid a “jittery” look.

• Grid: Two columns with a fixed gutter; tiles fill the column width.
• Spacing: Equal vertical spacing between rows; consistent internal padding for tile text.
• Alignment: Titles align to the same left edge within each tile; images align to tile edges.

Responsiveness within a layout system (without reinventing the design)

Even within “mobile,” screens vary widely: small phones, large phones, landscape orientation, split-screen modes, and dynamic text sizes. A layout system built on grids and spacing scales adapts more gracefully because it relies on rules rather than fixed pixel positions.

Practical strategies for responsive layout structure

• Use flexible widths inside fixed margins. Keep margins consistent, but let components expand within the content area.
• Prefer wrapping over shrinking. If text is long, allow it to wrap to a second line rather than compressing everything.
• Define breakpoints for columns. For example, a tile grid might be 2 columns on most phones and 3 on very large devices. The gutter stays constant; the column width changes.
• Reserve space for optional elements. If some rows have icons or badges, reserve that space so alignment stays stable when elements appear or disappear.

Step-by-step: adapt a tile grid to different widths

• Step 1: Fix margins and gutter. Example: 16 side margins, 12 gutter.
• Step 2: Compute available width. Available = screen width − (left margin + right margin) − gutter.
• Step 3: Choose column count. If two columns make tiles too narrow, switch to one column; if three columns still keep tiles readable, switch to three on large screens.
• Step 4: Keep tile aspect ratio consistent. Use a consistent image ratio so the grid looks stable.
• Step 5: Validate text behavior. Ensure titles wrap to a maximum number of lines and that spacing remains consistent when they do.

Practical example: designing a “Profile” screen layout

Consider a profile screen with: avatar, name, short bio, stats (followers/following), and a list of settings items. The goal is to create a clean hierarchy and consistent alignment.

Step-by-step layout plan

• Step 1: Apply the screen grid. Set safe area, 16 side margins, and a single-column content area.
• Step 2: Create a header module. Place avatar and name at the top. Align name and bio to the same left edge as the avatar’s text column (if avatar is leading). Use consistent padding around the header.
• Step 3: Use spacing to group header content. Keep avatar-name-bio tightly grouped (small internal spacing). Add a larger gap before the stats row to indicate a sub-section.
• Step 4: Align stats in a structured row. Use equal widths or consistent spacing between stat blocks. Baseline-align numbers and labels within each stat block.
• Step 5: Separate the settings list. Add a section gap (24–32) before the list. Ensure each row uses the same left text start, even if some rows have icons.
• Step 6: Normalize row spacing and dividers. If you use dividers, align them to the same left edge as text (or to full width), but be consistent. Use identical row heights/padding.

This process produces a screen that feels cohesive because every element snaps to the same grid, uses the same spacing rhythm, and shares alignment lines.

Practical example: structuring a form with clear alignment and spacing

Forms are where spacing and alignment directly impact completion speed and error rate. A well-structured form reduces cognitive load by making relationships obvious.

Step-by-step: build a form section

• Step 1: Decide label placement. Choose either top-aligned labels (label above input) or inline labels (inside input). Top-aligned labels often scale better with long text and accessibility sizes.
• Step 2: Set consistent field spacing. Use a standard gap between fields (for example 16). Use a smaller gap between label and input (for example 8).
• Step 3: Align all inputs to the same left and right edges. Inputs should share identical widths. Avoid slightly different widths that create ragged edges.
• Step 4: Handle helper text and errors. Reserve vertical space or define a consistent pattern so the layout does not jump unexpectedly. Align helper/error text to the same left edge as the input content.
• Step 5: Group related fields. For address fields, group street/city/postal code with a section header and use larger spacing between groups than within the group.
• Step 6: Place the primary action consistently. Align the submit button to the same margins as the form. Use spacing to separate it from the last field so it does not feel attached.

Implementation thinking: translating layout rules into constraints

Even if you are not coding, it helps to think in constraints because constraints enforce alignment and spacing across devices. The key idea is to define relationships (pin to margins, equal widths, consistent gaps) rather than absolute positions.

Constraint checklist for consistent layout

• Pin primary containers to margins: left/right constraints match your grid margins.
• Use consistent internal padding: cards and sections share the same padding values.
• Define spacing constraints between elements: use your spacing scale for vertical gaps.
• Align edges across siblings: titles, inputs, and buttons share the same leading/trailing edges.
• Allow flexible height: text blocks expand vertically; avoid fixed heights for content that can wrap.

Pseudocode example: spacing tokens and layout usage

// Example spacing tokens (multiples of a base unit, e.g., 8) spacing.xs = 4 spacing.sm = 8 spacing.md = 16 spacing.lg = 24 spacing.xl = 32 // Example layout rules screen.marginHorizontal = spacing.md grid.gutter = 12 card.padding = spacing.md section.gap = spacing.lg field.gap = spacing.md labelToField.gap = spacing.sm

By naming spacing values (tokens) and reusing them, you avoid arbitrary adjustments and keep the UI consistent as it grows.

Common layout structure pitfalls (and how to correct them)

Too many alignment lines

If multiple text blocks start at different x-positions without a clear hierarchy, scanning becomes difficult. Correction: choose a primary left edge for content and use indentation only to express hierarchy (for example nested items).

Inconsistent padding inside similar components

Two cards with different internal padding look like different component types even if they are meant to match. Correction: define a standard card padding and apply it everywhere; adjust content density by changing typography or content, not padding.

Spacing that does not reflect meaning

If unrelated items are close together and related items are far apart, users misinterpret structure. Correction: regroup elements and apply the “internal spacing smaller than external spacing” rule.

Grid drift across screens

When margins vary from screen to screen, the app feels inconsistent. Correction: standardize margins and apply them through reusable layout containers.

Over-centering

Center alignment can make screens feel symmetrical but often reduces readability for longer text. Correction: keep long-form content left-aligned; reserve centered layouts for short messages or focused states.