The Importance of Whitespace in Design

It may appear to the untrained eye that empty space, or whitespace, serves no other purpose than to separate sentences and images. But for us in the design and publishing world, we know better – whitespace holds great importance when it comes to design.

What is whitespace?

While it is certainly true that whitespace is the empty space between visual elements, like text, images, and lines – there is much more to it than that. This blank space can significantly improve the overall aesthetic and readability of a design, improving the user experience and guiding the reader’s focus to essential elements.

Whitespace is everywhere in the design world. It is the space between the sentences in your morning newspaper, it is the padding on online blog posts, and it is the margins between the images in your educational material. You will have even noticed it on food labels when you visit your local supermarket.

Whitespace is all around you. It is so ubiquitous that most of the time, we hardly even notice. This invisibility is intentional, as whitespace, unlike other visual design components, serves to separate and accentuate other design elements.

Interestingly, there are different types of whitespace:

• Micro whitespace: As the name suggests, micro whitespace refers to small instances of empty space. Think of it as the small white gaps between letters, lines of text, and grid images. It is quite subtle, ensuring the legibility of text elements and preventing visual elements in a grid or pattern from appearing cluttered.
• Macro whitespace: On the flip side, macro whitespace refers to more expansive empty areas within a design. This is the aspect that typically comes to mind when thinking about the use of whitespace in design.
• Passive whitespace: Passive space is the space between small objects that often go unnoticed. The designers use it to create texts or arrange paragraphs or icons. Despite its inconspicuous nature, this white space is intentionally added there in a very subtle way, to allow the eye to easily read the text.
• Active whitespace: Active space is strategically used to capture the reader’s attention and to emphasise certain elements like a headline, logo or graphic. Macro space is always used intentionally to create more focus on a particular area, making it an active element in design.

Why is whitespace important in design?

Now, why does whitespace matter in design? There are several crucial reasons, each offering benefits for both readers and publishers:

• Legibility: When letters are tightly crammed together or too widely spaced, reading becomes challenging, especially for visually impaired readers. Micro whitespace helps in such cases. While there are not any strict rules for letter and line spacing, if reading requires considerable effort, adjustments to spacing are absolutely necessary.
• Clarity: A design can become cluttered and confusing without whitespace to separate elements. If it's unclear which elements belong together, users may have a frustrating experience, leading them to put the book down or visit a different website. Adding whitespace ensures a more enjoyable user experience by helping users focus on one element at a time, making content easier to read and grasp the intended information effortlessly.
• Harmony: Designs with poor use of whitespace or a lack thereof can appear disharmonious. What do we mean by this? Harmony is crucial in design, creating a sense of unity and completeness. Without it, designs may seem disjointed. Whitespace is vital among the factors contributing to harmony, improving the reading experience by creating a cohesive and visually pleasing design.

In short, using whitespace effectively improves the overall aesthetic appeal of the content, attracting and retaining the audience's attention.

It also contributes to a positive user experience, reducing cognitive load and improving information digestibility. In a visually cluttered environment, well-applied whitespace acts as a visual guide, directing attention to key elements and preventing information overload.

Ultimately, incorporating whitespace in design is not just about aesthetics; it significantly influences the communication and comprehension of content, benefiting both users and content creators alike.

The growing importance of whitespaces

Despite its significance and advantages for both readers and publishers, white space often goes unappreciated. There is a tendency to prioritise cramming extensive content and visuals onto a page, especially in educational materials. Teachers and educational publishers, in particular, feel compelled to extract value from every inch of space on the page to benefit their readers and learners.

However, we anticipate a shift in this trend, with the significance of incorporating white space into design set to increase in the upcoming years, particularly due to the implementation of EU Accessibility laws.

The forthcoming EU Accessibility laws will likely prompt a shift in design practices, especially within the educational sector. Publishers will acknowledge that strategic use of white space is integral to preventing information overload and maintaining a clear focus on key learning objectives. In a learning environment where visual clutter can be a significant obstacle for some individuals, such as those with cognitive impairments, the judicious application of white space emerges as a practical solution to improve comprehension and accessibility for all learners.

Beyond its role in compliance, embracing white space in educational materials holds implications for both the environment and cost considerations. The reduction in ink usage associated with incorporating white space is not only economically beneficial for educators printing their own resource materials but also aligns with sustainability goals – which are only becoming more and more important. While the impact on large-scale commercial printing costs may be marginal, the cumulative effect of reduced ink consumption can contribute to a more eco-friendly approach to resource production.

As we head into 2024, it is important to start thinking about this evolving landscape and consider how incorporating whitespace into design practices can improve accessibility and comprehension as well as align with emerging regulatory requirements like the forthcoming EU Accessibility laws. This forward-thinking approach addresses the immediate needs of readers and learners while preparing us for the evolving expectations of a more environmentally conscious and cost-effective educational environment.

Conclusion?

In conclusion, whitespace is not just empty space; it's a powerful design element that significantly influences aesthetics, readability, and user experience. From micro to macro whitespace, passive to active, deliberately using these spaces can improve legibility, clarity, and harmony, guiding the viewer's attention strategically.

At emc design, we stand out as a prominent print and digital design agency dedicated to the publishing industry. Our expertise lies in Book Design, Graphic Design, and ELT Publications. With a focus on educational course concepts, we start with straightforward visual approaches. This involves strategically utilising whitespace to create a clean and uncluttered design, aiming to improve students' learning experience.

Our approach recognises the power of simplicity in design, especially in educational materials. By incorporating whitespace thoughtfully, we hope to provide learners with a visually accessible and organised layout. This not only improves comprehension but also ensures that the essential elements of educational content stand out without unnecessary distractions.