Negative space: Brilliant examples and tips
                     Negative 
space: Brilliant 
examples and 
tips
Negative space is the space between, within 
and surrounding an object in an image, 
often to form another image or symbol. The 
positive space is the focus of the image, the 
object itself, but the negative space is just 
as important. It shares edges with the 
positive space, defining the outline of the 
object and creating proportion.
Artists often create positive spaces and shapes that, in turn, cleverly carve out shapes in 
negative space, interlocking just like a jigsaw puzzle. The results can be stunning. Here, we’ve 
found some brilliant examples, and click straight to page two to get some top tips from artist 
Timothy Von Rueden on how to harness negative space in your own work.
 
Be literal
This design used the number one to create a letter in the word one. They could have simply 
used only the word or only the number, but the combination of both adds a unique twist. The 
’N’ isn’t incredibly apparent at first, but once you realize it’s there, it makes it all the more 
great. Free PSD Mockup
Negative Space in Type
Negative space isn’t just used for full composition; it can enhance type as well. If you know 
about typography, negative space between each line of text is called leading. Leading makes 
type much more legible. When reading two paragraphs of text, one with hardly any leading, and 
one without, it is easy to see why leading is so important.
 
Balance
Use too much negative space, and it overwhelms and distracts from your positive 
space. Use too little, and the same thing happens — your focus isn’t clear, your 
audience is distracted, and your design is ineffective. Best PSD Mockup
Some may view white space as wasted space, which could have been filled up with 
message-bearing information and graphics. But filling things up too much can stress 
us out; bombarding your viewer with information won’t allow them to process enough 
to retain what they’ve seen.
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