Negative space in web design is a design tool that can have a big impact on the overall visual effect of your website, as well as impacting the functionality and practicality of your website. But what is negative space? And how can this be used effectively? Well, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design specialists. And we work with companies and business around the North West and across the region, from Southport to Wigan, to deliver effective web design solutions. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about negative space in web design.
What is negative space?
Negative space is the name given to the space between your elements on your website. So it is known as the negative space that isn’t specifically in use. The size and the spacing of this negative space can alter the appearance of your website, and change the way that key pieces of content are displayed. And there are advantages to using this as a design technique
So, how important is negative space in web design?
There are a range of reasons why using negative space in web design is so important, and these include:
- Making key features stand out- the negative space around an element tends to focus user attention on the element itself, by directing the eye instead of diverting it. And this means that if you have a call to action button that you really want people to see, you should use negative space around the button to set it apart and make it stand out.
- A positive user experience- In addition, negative space in web design can help your website provide a positive user experience for people browsing your website. This is because the elements will be spaced out and separated. Which gives your website a more organised and defined appearance. And this has the added bonus of making it easier for users to find the information they need, simply by skimming and scanning the content and sections. The easier your website is for users to find the content they need, the better their experience will be.
- Readable content- Similarly, negative space can also help your written content be easier to distinguish and read, on all devices. Even if you use a simple font, when the words are too close together, it can be a struggle to read. But by using negative space around the text, and even between the lines, you can massively improve the readability of your content.
- Design balance- offsetting text with visual content is a good way to help create a balanced website that blends the visual elements and the content elements to create a stunning design. But your design also has to be practical. And this means using negative space to keep the distance between elements equal, and sensible. As too much space can be just as bad as not enough space.
For more information or advice, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.