Five Simple Steps to Designing Grid Systems:
http://www.markboulton.co.uk/journal/comments/five_simple_steps_to_designing_grid_systems_part_21/

Boulton, Mark
Mark Boulton
2007

Abstract:

Aesthetics can be measured and more importantly can be constructed. If you want something to be aesthetically pleasing there are steps you can take to make sure it is going in the right direction. Now I'm not saying that 'follow these rules and you will create something beautiful'. What I am saying is that by following a few of these guidelines can go some way into creating something compositionally balanced, which will inherently be more aesthetically pleasing.