The negative space around the layout elements is also called macro space whereas the space between them and inside (for letters and stroke elements) is also called micro space. In UI design for websites and mobile apps, negative space is a big factor of high usability and navigability of the interface. For example, in the blog illustration below we can see how the background element (moon) plays the role of contrasting negative space making the astronaut look more vivid and dynamic. Negative space in graphic design is often seen in logos, on illustrations, posters and creative lettering where it becomes an active part of the visual presentation making key objects even more expressive. “White space is like a canvas: it’s the background that holds the elements together in a design, enabling them to stand out” – says Mads Soegaard from Interaction Design Foundation. Due to that, white space is a rightful design element that has a big impact on positive user experience. Not only does it define the limits of objects but it also creates the necessary bonds between them according to Gestalt principles and builds up effective visual performance. Negative space is a kind of breathing room for all the objects on the page or screen. It may be not only around the objects you place in the layout but also between and inside them. What Is Negative Space in Design?īasically, negative space – or white space, as it’s often called – is the area of the layout that is left empty. Today we are talking about the air in design. And only the absence of air lets us know how vital it is. Only colorlessness lets us feel the colors brighter and deeper when they appear on stage. Only empty space lets us understand what we want to fill it with. Only silence lets us know the value of the sound. We take them for granted without thinking that they are the solid foundation of the contrast. We often think that silence, emptiness, or colorlessness is bad for us.

Positive and negative space definition