White space, sometimes called negative space, is the deliberately empty area around and between elements — and despite the name, it isn't wasted space or a placeholder for content that hasn't arrived yet. Well-used white space actively separates unrelated content, gives important elements room to be noticed, and lets a page breathe rather than feel like every pixel had to earn its keep.
White Space
Treating empty space as an active design decision, not the leftover in between
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Designers Academy
26 July 2026 · 3 min read
Visual DesignPrinciples
In brief
White space, also known as negative space, is the deliberately empty area in a design that actively separates content, gives important elements room to be noticed, and improves overall clarity and user experience.
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