The white space

What is white space?

 

White space refers to the canvas space left in between different elements of your design. You may have also heard it referred to as negative space. It’s important because it keeps your design from being too cluttered or too confusing. There are two major types of white space in graphic design:

  • Active White Space – This is the space that you make a conscious effort to add to your design for emphasis and structure. Active white space is often asymmetrical, which makes the design look more dynamic and active.
  • Passive White Space – This is the white space that occurs naturally, such as the area between words on a line or the space surrounding a logo or graphic element.

"Manifesto dei Pittori futuristi"

"Manifesto dei Pittori futuristi" ("Manifesto of Futurist Artists"), published in 1910, is considered the official fundamental document on the creation of futuristic painting. Those who signed this manifesto adopted a program presented a year earlier in the work "Fondazione e manifesto del futurismo" ("Justification and manifesto of futurism"). Futurism was a short-lived art movement that was founded in 1909 by the Italian writer Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (1876-1944). The purpose of the Futurists was to abandon the art of the past and to start a new era in which traditions and changes will be rejected, originality and innovation in culture and society. The original manifesto of futurism, written by Marinetti in 1909, extolled the beauty of cars and the newly invented car with its speed, power and dynamism. Futurists glorified violence and conflicts, called for the destruction of cultural institutions such as museums and libraries. Among other things, Marinetti founded and published the magazine "Poesia" ("Poetry"). The initial manifesto of Marinetti was followed by manifestos written by other members of the futuristic movement and concerned sculpture, painting, literature, architecture and other fields. Among the outstanding futurists were the artist and sculptor Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916); artists Carlo Carra (1881-1966 gg.), Giacomo Balla (1871-1958 gg.) and Gino Severini (1883-1966 gg.); artist and composer Luigi Russolo (1885-1947); architect Antonio Sant'Elia (1888-1916). 

Since then, the manifesto has become an indispensable tool for the expression of new ideas.

Poem of Marinetti on a wall in Leiden

principles - speed, movement, energy

The main artistic principles - speed, movement, energy, which some futurists tried to convey with simple enough techniques. Their paintings are characterized by energetic compositions, where the figures are fragmented into fragments and intersected by sharp angles, where flashing shapes, zigzags, spirals, beveled cones dominate, where motion is transmitted by imposing successive phases on one image - the so-called principle of simultaneity.

Dynamics of movement should come to replace statics of posing sculptures, paintings and portraits.A camera and a movie camera will replace the imperfection of painting and eyes. 

In the modern world it can be said that the Internet is itself the manifesto, because this is the platform where people express their opinion all the time. Also we do not use much the printed manifestos, because it is too long for people to read the whole text, so the common thing is short motivation films as a part of manifesto.
 
 

First, the most important thing. Designer Manifesto

Today, in the 21st century, the problem of finding new stylistic paths is more acute than ever. The international style, imposed by Suprematism, has passed through all stages of development, and is looking for ways to enter a new stage of development.

In 1963, at a meeting of the British Council for Design, the editor-in-chief of the English magazine Design, Ken Garland, delivered a fiery speech, in which design was assigned the important role of the driving force of social progress. The speech was warmly received and all present joined the author's opinion. The speech was published in the form of a collective appeal and printed under the heading "First, the most important thing. Designer Manifesto. "

Numerous exhibitions, publications, discussions led the professional community to the idea that design can actively influence the environment. Design can eradicate social shortcomings, make reality more beautiful, more convenient and humane.
 
 

First, the most important thing. Designer Manifesto

In my understanding the white space is the space to highlight something. This way we can find it not only in GSD, but in fashion as well. I think, that even do not always think straight about it, we just use it.

The white space is not just “empty space.” It is the space to give viewers a better look at your design.

 

I feel that white space do not need to be 'white'. It could be even the reflection or vice versa the black space.

 

The white space by using light

Conclusion

Thus, starting from the turn of the century, the first avant-garde, militant appeals, the manifesto becomes an integral part of any artistic direction. He outstripped the process, revealing the meaning, indicating the goals of the movement of art. In the declarations of creative associations and designers, often brighter than in creativity, basic ideas and directions of work reflecting the essence of the project approach, the meaning of global shifts in cultural layers and design paradigms are expressed. In manifestos, as nowhere, the strategies of project thinking, the most valuable and constructive tools of design and art are precisely traced.

Negative space performs several vital duties in making the design attractive and effective. So, when you are working on white spaces, bear in mind that “nothing says a lot.”

the outcome

The digital revolution

The digital revolution has turned the design technologies of modern visual culture. Technical discoveries have changed surrounding objects and phenomena, behavioral, sensual mental interactions. Leading French designer Philippe Starck sees the change not only in changing the design of the project task, but rather in changing the mindset of the creator: "A quarter of a century ago, the ultimate goal of design was to create the design and appearance of an individual thing. Today, design goes forward, offering new values ​​(ecological, philosophical), vision of the strategy of civilization development, and not just fashion trends. "

KAZIMIR MALEVICH

Kazimir Malevich was a great person, who was at the turn of the style stages.
Malevich was the first who went further, went beyond the framework of a painterly experiment. The author established his creative discoveries in theoretical works: manifestos, treatises, articles.
He constantly used empty white spaces in his works to make geometric figures of his works sharp and clear, contrasted. In his works white space mostly goes around all the shapes, making composition clear to read.

This way I was inspired by him to make my composition simple and monochrome with red accents as his series of black square.

inspiration by Günther Förg "Ohne Titel"(Chrisrie's 2017)

Damiem Hirst (Christie's 2017)

Michelangelo Pistoletto "Mirror"(Christie's 2017)

We use white space to focus on smthing

 

oscar de la renta fashion movie

The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher