White space, also called negative space, is the intentionally unoccupied area around and within a design. It is not wasted room: it gives text, marks, and groups room to breathe, making a composition easier to scan instead of turning it into an overcrowded dance floor. section 5.2.1 section 5.4.4
Use spacing to signal relationships. Elements placed close together appear related; extra space separates a callout, title, or other important item from nearby detail. When every area is equally packed, nothing has enough contrast to stand out. section 5.4.4 section 5.6
Figure 5.27 The extra space around the callout dissociates it from the rest of the viz, while the close proximity of the donut chart labels makes it clear that those elements are associated.
Extra space around the callout separates it from the visualization, while tightly placed labels read as belonging to their charts. section 5.4.4
Apply white space at several scales:
- Within type: choose readable regular-weight small text; extremely thin or heavy weights can leave too much or too little open space around letterforms. section 5.2.1
- Across text blocks: use manageable line lengths plus space between lines and paragraphs so readers can track their place. section 5.5.1
- Around information: reserve empty area to emphasize foreground content, separate groups, and make hierarchy visible. section 5.4.4 section 8.4.3
- At mobile edges: leave left and right margins outside a visualization as safe space for scrolling and tapping. section 7.3.2
A restrained typographic layout
A clean chart can use one font, one size, and judicious spacing to set elements apart. Add heavier weight or another subtle style only where emphasis is needed, rather than filling the layout with competing treatments. section 5.2.3
White space works with color, size, weight, and proximity rather than replacing them. A light background can make foreground information more prominent, and high-contrast headers can help establish structure; spacing then keeps that structure legible. section 8.4.3 section 5.4.1
