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Perhaps one of the most tempting things in graphic design is to fill each and every space of your artboard. However, this isn’t always the best thing to do because it can result in a busy or cluttered design. Whitespace, otherwise known as negative space, refers to the blank space in between design elements. Negative space is incredibly important in making your design look good as much as it is practical. Whether you’re designing a graphic, print, or web page, whitespace is the breathing room for your brain and eyes.
Whitespace Increases Legibility and Flow
The more you have on a design, the less comprehensive it can become. The space between design elements allows the audience to navigate the page better and understand the purpose. Grouping pieces of the design together shows intentionality and it reveals what’s relevant to what. Legibility is key to helping the audience focus on the message of the design.
Whitespace Highlights The Main Point or Emphasis
Busyness and cluttered elements on the page make it hard to understand what is important and what isn’t. Whitespace allows the eye to be drawn to the main emphasis, whether that may be a title, call to action, or a photo. Without proper negative space, anything that isn’t the main point can be distracting to the viewer.
Negative Space Acts a Separator and Creates Balance
Whitespace can be trickier to incorporate than one might think. When used properly, it will come off as full of ingenuity, finesse, and elegance. Not having enough whitespace, on the other hand, may seem messy, disorganized, and lack of intentionality. The negative space creates a visual balance and acts as the thread that will piece together your design.
There’s no perfect ratio of whitespace to non-whitespace because it’ll vary depending on your design’s purpose, thematic aesthetics, and content. The challenge of negative space will always be “how much negative space should I incorporate in this particular design?” and finding the right balance for enhanced flow.
No matter what project you’re working on, negative space is always going to positively enhance your design. We hope these tips were helpful for you and don’t forget to download our free wallpaper for your smartphone or desktop! Enjoy the rest of National Ice Cream Month and your summer!
