Design Tips: White Space

What is White space?rnWhite space, or ‘negative space’, is more than just a background; it is an integral part of your design. White space is simply the empty space between and around the elements of a design. This includes margins, gutters, spaces between text and spaces around images.rnThe name is deceiving because white space doesn’t actually have to be white; it just has to be a solid block of colour on which text and images can reside. The term got its name in early days of graphic design where most printing was done on white paper and it has stuck. rnIt doesn’t matter if you choose white or any other solid colour, the effect is perceived the same. White space lets the text and pictures in your design breathe.rnWhy Should You Use White space? • White space can be used to create a harmonious design that guides the reader’s attention in a logical order between the different elements of a web page, HTML e-mail design, magazine page or any other design. • White space improves legibility. This is especially important in digital designs because the brightness of the screen puts undue strain on the reader’s eyes. This makes large chunks of text confusing and difficult to understand. Digital readers love to scan small chunks of text. • White space can create a feeling of elegance and sophistication, as if the content is worth more than the real estate it is printed on. Value brands are much more likely to cram as much content onto their websites, brochures and emails as possible because this saves money on printing and web design costs. • White space can be used to draw the reader’s eye to what is important. If you want to direct the reader’s attention to a company logo or a specific link, then it should not have to compete with other elements on the page and should be centered in enough space to naturally stand out. In summary white space caters to your reader’s needs and makes your valuable content much easier for them to understand.