The next design principles we will cover are proximity and space. Other words to describe these principles are unity and cohesiveness. Proximity and design means that objects near each other are seen as a unit. Observe this group of people in a room. You can often learn a lot about who is listening intently to another person, which individuals are strangers, or who is ignoring whom by how close together they sit or stand. How close together or far apart elements are placed in a design suggests a relationship or lack of. In design, proximity creates a bond between elements on a page. Often when we are getting started with design, there's a temptation to throw everything on the page and fill up every square inch of space with type and images. However, it makes information difficult to digest and really doesn't look good. Using the principle of proximity, you'll find as you group these items that have something in common and separate those that don't, a clear visual hierarchy stands out on the page. Organizing information into appropriate groups is one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your design. When elements are related to each other, are placed close together, they become one visual unit, reducing clutter and giving clear structure. A specific use of proximity is allowing for space around objects, putting these items close together but not too close together. This brings us to the related concept of space, which is the area around or between elements in a design. If you're like me, when flying on a plane, I often wonder, "How many more people can they cram in here?" How many more inches can be taken off to fit another row of seats into these flying sardine cans? It's really uncomfortable to sit for that long and don't get me started on who owns the arm rest if you get stuck in the middle seat. Designs that try to cram too much text and graphics onto the page are uncomfortable and maybe impossible to read. Space gives your design breathing room. This design principle is often referred to as white space. Now, white space isn't white literally unless your paper or screen is white. White space can be any color. If the background is yellow, the white space is yellow. White space is simply empty space, that area devoid of text or graphics. White space is also called negative space. You might want to think of it as the quiet area surrounding the active area of a composition. White space allows for visual breaks where your eye can rest for a while, and it also allows for unifying items that are in proximity to each other. Negative space allows for a focal point and a visual perception. Using white space allows you to vary visual elements throughout your design. So when it comes to proximity and space, keep in mind that unity and cohesiveness are key factors in using these good design principles.
