how do you feel about 〜the grid〜 ?

[river]

By 〜the grid〜 I mean the tendency to make all the areas in your island squares, with simple straight streets everywhere, turning your map into... 〜a grid〜

I love looking at natural, foresty, “cottagecore” islands online, but deep down I know that I couldn't stand not having everything aligned and separated, with plenty of space to walk. Sometimes I'll even see pictures of other people's islands with the complex waterfalls and trees and I'll think about how it would annoy me to dodge cute buckets, candles and decorative stones while doing my daily routine lol

I find it all so beautiful but I could never recreate that look by myself, I guess I like it more in theory...

How do you prefer to organize the areas in your island? Do you do streets at all?
Do you prefer a more natural, spread-out style or have you surrendered to 〜the grid〜 ?

--

Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

This is a slightly outdated photo of the main area of my island. All square and symmetrical, you know, like a grid.

 

[DragonLatios]

When you Say the Grid. I was thinking of Reboot or Tron for a min there. Man when someone say The Grid i start haveing flash back of those movies and show. I They to keep my House line up and level and the trees too. But i unsure how to do grid stuff so i do the best i can to keep everything neat.

 

[Weiss Schnee]

I think it's a matter of personal preference. Some people grow up far away from towns and enjoy the twists and turns of natures natural paths. Others who grew up in cities might feel more comfortable with streets that lead into one another.

I have experienced both and can say I prefer cities if only because I love architecture and the time people put into gardens and parks. It's more artificial but I like it~

 

[alpacalypse]

i like having things a bit scattered and unorganized! having The Grid is probably easier to navigate, but i like the charm of a wild look c:

 

[michan]

I would say majority of my map is more aligned to the the grid. However, I did dedicate the campsite area to be more of a natural forest. I also enjoy being able to run freely and go anywhere seamlessly without need for the ladder/vaulting pole.

 

[Speeny]

I actually don't use the grid as a guide at all. As long as things are as centred as possible where I want them in my eyes, it looks fine. I can imagine it'd be a nightmare for someone with OCD though.

 

[Tehya Faye]

I don't mind making everything look developed and fenced off, but everything needs to be readily accessible in a hurry. I wouldn't be able to stand playing on an island where I have to go the long way to get to every part of the beach - I fish there too frequently. I'd also hate seeing a new bug and not be able to get to it before it disappears somewhere. Things need to be pretty, but more importantly they can't be inconvenient. All my developed areas have at least 2 ways to leave them.

 

[BigBadButterfree]

I actually don't conform to a grid. That's one of the things that bothers me when I see other towns. Not that it can't be done well, yours is lovely, but it all just looks so... "Perfect."

In my town my paths are circles, not fully connected, and by doing that I can make a curving path that looks more natural. I tried making a straight path between 2 of my bridges. It was bad. So I got rid of it and just made circles.

 

[tajikey]

Pretty poor picture quality, but here's my symmetrical-ish design

 

[Hobowire]

my villager's house are gridded. messed up a couple of times and had to pay the nook gang more bells to fix it.


edit: cute dog btw

 

[Fendi]

I wouldn't necessarily say that my island is comprised of streets here and there, but I do have expansive walkways since I'm pretty particular about having an island that's organized and roomy. In terms of using the grid approach that you mentioned, in a way I am kind of utilizing it because I'm adamant with keeping a lot of things on my island balanced and easy to navigate.

I admire people who do have the "natural" style where pathways are winding and sprawling, but it would drive me crazy to attempt that since I feel like there's no symmetry which is something I have always incorporated in everything I've designed.

On a personal note, I think since I've always been drawn to city life in real life, that's where I get a lot of my design inspirations, so I do prefer to base my designs from major cities where everything is pretty much set up like a "grid".

 

[Pokeking]

I was also thinking of Tron Legacy when I saw the words "The Grid".

Anyhow, I made my neighborhood into a three by three grid. Since the maximum is 10 residents, Coco lives by herself on the other side of the road leading from to the airport.

Before that, all the residents were pretty spread out. I now have room for additional buildings if that becomes a thing.

 

[John Wick]

I think it's hideous all straight.

I like natural curves and bends.

 

[river]

I think it's a matter of personal preference. Some people grow up far away from towns and enjoy the twists and turns of natures natural paths. Others who grew up in cities might feel more comfortable with streets that lead into one another.

That's an interesting point... I think with me personally, I grew up in a city that isn't at all organized like that. There are only a few neighborhoods that have straight streets, the rest is all curved, lots of hills, pretty easy to get lost to be honest.

So I kinda always wanted to live somewhere where the city planning was more simple and logical... I agree with you that it's more artificial but somehow I find it cozier and homier?

Post automatically merged: Jun 7, 2020

my villager's house are gridded. messed up a couple of times and had to pay the nook gang more bells to fix it.


edit: cute dog btw

I feel your struggle lol
and thanks <3

 

[DragonLatios]

Pretty poor picture quality, but here's my symmetrical-ish design

Really good How do you get to the beach in the north? I do not see any paths there to get to red.

 

[Arckaniel]

I mean it really does depend on your personal tastes and preferences, though I also significantly like the natural, "cottagecore" feel better, as that is what I plan to do on my own island, I really wouldn't mind seeing more aligned, "plot-like" islands as those when done properly looks just as good as the natural, "cottagecore" ones, yes it looks more planned and man-made but just because it is doesn't mean it's bad, it's a more modern take on an island and it's also great so don't be too pressured to do the more natural look when you yourself likes to align and organize things "grid-like" as you would say... I honestly want to do a neighborhood aligned on my island even tho I want to do a natural, "cottagecore" themed one because those just looks so good especially with small personalized yards for your villagers plus it's so clean and organized to look at, idk what I'll end up doing but I may mix some "grid-like" areas in my town...

 

[river]

I admire people who do have the "natural" style where pathways are winding and sprawling, but it would drive me crazy to attempt that since I feel like there's no symmetry which is something I have always incorporated in everything I've designed.

I also really admire people with the more natural, curvy pathways. They look gorgeous, I just can't make them work for me!

I've been slowly trying to get out of my comfort zone regarding the grid, that's why I mentioned that the map was slightly outdated, but we'll have to see how long I'll resist the urge lol

 

[pinkcosmo101]

Im mainly trying to make my island looks likes the underground from undertale(and probably falling XD) I likes my island organized through

 

[tajikey]

Really good How do you get to the beach in the north? I do not see any paths there to get to red.

If you follow that side of the beach to the end, turn right, and you can get right to him (but it doesn't connect to the other side of the beach).

Post automatically merged: Jun 7, 2020

I think it's hideous all straight.

I like natural curves and bends.

And I think it's hideous with just natural curves and bends.

I like orderly and purposeful.

 

[DragonLatios]

If you follow that side of the beach to the end, turn right, and you can get right to him (but it doesn't connect to the other side of the beach).

Post automatically merged: Jun 7, 2020

And I think it's hideous with just natural curves and bends.

I like orderly and purposeful.

I See. Thanks for Pointing at out.