I’m reading Victor Papanek’s “Design for the Real World”.
The book includes a poetic passage that eloquently captures the usefulness of whitespace, despite its focus on physical product design (written in 1960s).
When I read it, the poem provided an insightful perspective on the enduring value of negative space in effective design.
Thirty spokes join at one hub;
emptiness makes the cart useful.
Cast clay into a pot;
the emptiness inside makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows to make a room;
emptiness makes the room useful.
Thus being is beneficial,
but usefulness comes from the void.
— Lao Tzu verse 11
Laozi captures the importance of negative space or emptiness in design. The utility of objects like carts, pots, and rooms arises from the void within them.
Similarly, the strategic use of whitespace often determines the effectiveness of digital interfaces. Smart use of empty space and placement of elements helps users focus by creating a sense of clarity.
Good design uses emptiness effectively.