Principles of Design
positive/negative space
• Negative Space is the name given to the leftover
space in your design, the part that is not taken up
by subject matter.
• This is also sometimes called the “ground”.
• Negative space should always be designed.
– If you look at your design as a silhouette, the space left
over should be well balanced and interesting in shape.
positive/negative space
• Negative space should
always be designed.
• If you look at your design
as a silhouette, the space
left over should be well
balanced and interesting in
shape.
positive/negative space
• Negative space should
always be designed.
• If you look at your design
as a silhouette, the space
left over should be well
balanced and interesting in
shape.
Frank Miller (master of negative space) –
Sin City comic book panel
Even if you remove the details to the point of not knowing what this is,
the distribution of black (positive) and white (negative) is even, balanced
and creates interesting shapes and forms.
Negative Space can
also become part of
the design.
In the following
examples,
instead of simply being
altered to create an
interesting form,
it has become an
additional design
element or shape.
Negative space in illustration…
Negative space in advertising…
Negative space
in fine art…
M.C. ESCHER