Have you ever encountered a client who thought white space was wasteful? Maybe they even said they werenโt getting their moneyโs worth. However, the reality is the reverse. Many web designs are not even worth the investment unless they use white space effectively. What are the rules for using white space? Letโs explore.
Understanding White Space
White space is a term used in design to refer to negative space. This is space without text, logos, or any other design elements. Although it is often referred to as โwhite,โ it can be any color.
The spaces between each line and section of this article are good examples of white space. Imagine if you were looking at a single, unbroken block of text that ran down the page from top to bottom. It wouldnโt be very readable! As shown in this post, white space provides meaning, definition, and balance. Itโs a vital part of ensuring that designs are understandable and truly effective.
Does More Content Always Lead To Better Design?
From a psychological perspective, the impact of white space on viewers is significant. Too many elements in close proximity tend to induce cognitive overload, frustrating users and making the user experience stressful.
These cluttered designs tend to trigger a minor form of โdecision paralysis.โ Because there is so much to focus on, our brains get fatigued trying to decide which element is most important. This then leads to inaction and further irritation. In marketing, many designs try to convince people to become customers. However, without white space, these designs can actually make it harder to make sales.
We need white space for the same reason we need vacations: rest. The viewerโs eye needs a place to rest to allow them to comprehend and retain the information on the page. In addition, white space is important for creating a sense of elegance, sophistication, and professionalism. Viewers often perceive spread-out content as more spacious, organized, or luxurious.
The Four Types of White Space
White space has been categorized into four main types:
- Macro White Space: The big spaces between large layout elements. These are the paddings and margins around titles and full-screen images. Macro white space is also found on either side of this article.
- Micro White Space: The small spaces between paragraphs or even text characters that ensure readability and comprehension.
- Active White Space: Negative space on a page thatโs used to help focus the userโs attention on a particular point or element. For example, the empty space around a home page CTA button would be considered active white space.
- Passive White Space: This is an empty space that is only used for basic arrangements. It is not intended to be noticed or to influence the viewer in any particular way.
There is a great deal of crossover in these categories. Nonetheless, they do help to highlight how designers use white space in different ways. Micro white space is often used as passive white space. Macro white space, on the other hand, is often used as both active and passive white space.
How To Use White Space Effectively
At the end of the day, white space is all about simplicity. Simplicity is a core principle of any design and is essential for creating content that is impactful to your target audience. Below, we highlight some of the key techniques professional designers use when applying white space.
Spread Out Your Text For Legibility
One of the first places to use white space is for text formatting. Amateurs have a habit of placing too much text in blocks that are not easy or enjoyable for the user to read. Carefully look at how youโre using text and consider spacing it out to make it more legible. However, be careful. Text thatโs too spread out can be distracting or cause the user to lose their place. Focus on adding space between paragraphs and different text elements on a page.
Separate Elements To Create Focus And Increase Ease of Use
In any design, there will be elements that belong together and others that should be separated. Spacing individual elements makes them more comprehensible for users. Then, consider spacing out groups to help create more focus for the user. The objective is to make it easy for users to find what they want. This involves using both micro and macro white space to give your design content structure and hierarchy.
Consider Your Brand And Tone
Ultimately, white space can be highly beneficial for designs in any industry. However, it can be used to create a different tone and effect. Some uses of white space in design can be bold, aggressive, and modern โ demanding the attention of the user. Others can be simple, minimal, and peaceful. Itโs important to evaluate your brandโs own unique style and tone and then use white space in line with that. Professional designers are well-versed in doing this.
White Space Is Not A Waste
To the untrained eye, itโs easy to think that white space is simply the result of a designer not going the extra mile. However, white space is not a waste of valuable real estate. Itโs often one of the most important parts of a design because it gives the eye a place to rest and helps the viewer to better understand and appreciate your message.
