Good Design - the benefits of “white space”
Space can be used to make sound design, whether your making a website or magazine layout. Wider spaces separate elements from each other and narrower spaces connect elements to reveal relationships between them.
By controlling and shaping space in our designs, we create rhythm, direction, and motion and purpose. We create design flow through our use of space.
Whitespace does many things in design from;
- Creates groupings of elements
- Creates emphasis and order
- Improves legibility
Consistent use of white space across pages connects those pages. Space is layout. Like when your logo is in the same spot on every page.
You can also show difference and balance. Use of negative space is a sign of a good designer. Look at any design that strikes you as amateur. I can almost guarantee little thought will have been given to the space within the design. Lots of blocky text, big solids, sick colours, etc. See my pic below:
bad design
If you arrange white space well your elements fall into place and look great, but if you only arrange the positive elements, your white space will most always be ineffective.
Whitespace gives a place for the eye to rest, which it needs in order to absorb the message you’re trying to communicate. It’s a visual cue that there’s a break in the content or that the content is finished. Whitespace makes your page and site easier to navigate. Please see below:
This is Mark, signing out. Just remember next time you start layout out a magazine spread, think of “whitespace”.
Composition and functionality are key to good design especially when going by a brand guideline.
Mark Jope is a Graphic Designer at London based printer PrintHouse Corporation.
If there is a query in regarding design and print please contact me here.
