Negative Space

 Effective Emptiness

Negative space (occasionally called white space) is an important part of every composition. It is using emptiness in an effective way that draws attention to what is there. Negative space is the spaces between your content, between lines, and even the outer margins. Negative space helps you define and separate different sections; it gives your content room to breathe. 

The purpose of negative space is to reduce clutter and discomfort for the eyes in your design. It is also related to emphasis as reducing the amount of elements in your design will make it easier to highlight elements of importance. To use negative space successfully, you may need to adjust the size of elements or make the difficult decision to remove some of them in order to ensure your work is not so cluttered that this becomes a distraction. 


Keung, L. (2023) 'The Principles of Design' URL

Negative Space is used for:

3 Ways to use Negative Space

Simplification

The best thing about negative space is that is simplifies a composition. By reducing complexity, the image becomes easier to comprehend. This then minimises the effort required to understand it and enhances its clarity. Additionally, the vacant areas in the composition provide a calming space for the eye to rest and create a buffer. 

Lead the Eye

When the subject is positioned within negative space, the viewer's attention is drawn towards it. In a composition, the eye tends to gravitate towards the only positive space in the frame, which is the subject. In Graphic Design, a poster advertising a new product may have a minimalist design with the product placed in the center surrounded by negative space. This will make the product stand out, attracting the viewer's attention and making the message more impactful. 

Scale

Negative space can be an effective tool for establishing scale. In Photography, this space helps viewers to understand the wider environment that a subject is situated in. This supports the viewer to notice the scale of the environment, such as the vastness of an open sky or the expanse of a desert. In Graphic Design. In graphic design, negative space can be used to establish scale by providing a contrasting background that emphasizes the size of the subject. By placing a small subject within a large negative space, the viewer can better appreciate the subject's size and scale. 

Studio binder explored these 3 ways of using negative space and provides more examples related to film. To learn more, click the link below:

Deguzman, K (2022) "What is Negative Space — Definition, Examples in Art & Film," URL

Negative Space Illustrations

Check out the examples below to see how negative space can be used creatively in digital illustrations. Note how little visual information is required for you to still understand the intention or message of the design? This is key to successfully use negative space. There are many more examples through the source provided.

Digital Synopsis (2023) "Amazing Illustrations that use Negative Space Brilliantly" URL