How did postmodern graphic designers challenge Modernist grids and the idea that form follows function?

By the late 1970s, many designers felt that the Modernist tradition—specifically the International Typographic Style—had become overly academic and stagnant. In a reaction against this "diluted, corporate" approach, postmodern designers actively challenged the movement's core tenets.1

Challenging the Grid and Form

Postmodern designers rejected the rigid, objective modular grids that had previously been used to regularize and align design elements. Instead, they began to establish and then intentionally violate these patterns. By disrupting expected forms, they moved away from the neutral, rational planning of the postwar era toward a more subjective and often eccentric style.1

Redefining Form and Function

The "form-follows-function" philosophy, which prioritized clarity and the banishment of ornament, was replaced by a more experimental approach. Postmodernists:
* Inverted expected forms and explored historical or decorative elements.1
* Integrated subjective concepts, such as dynamic spatial arrangements and whimsical imagery, into their work.1
* Used deconstruction, as seen in the work of Igarashi Takenobu, to pull apart structural forms, revealing inner layers while still fulfilling commercial purposes.1

This shift transformed graphic design from a pursuit of objective uniformity into a medium for original, poetic, and highly individual expression.1