Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Form
United Kingdom
EMBOSSING ADDS
subtle visual activity and tactile quality to this cover while colored stickers,
applied to the surface, introduce random variation to the layout of each copy, at the same time
alluding to the subject matter.
Mutabor
Germany
Breaking Space
Space—the ground or field of a composition—is neutral and inactive
until it is broken by form. But how does the designer break the space, and what happens
as a result? Thoughtfully considering these fundamental questions gives the designer
a powerful opportunity not only to engage a viewer but also to begin transmitting im-
portant messages, both literal and conceptual, before the viewer even gets the chance
to assimilate the content. Space is defined and given meaning the instant a form ap-
pears within it, no matter how simple. The resulting breach of emptiness creates new
space—the areas surrounding the form. Each element brought into the space adds com-
plexity but also decreases the literal amount of space—even as it creates new kinds of
space, forcing it into distinct shapes that fit around the forms like the pieces of a puzzle.
These spaces shouldn't be considered “empty” or “leftover;” they are integral to achiev-
ing flow around the form elements, as well as a sense of order and unity throughout
the composition. When the shapes, sizes, proportions, and directional thrusts of these
spaces exhibit clear relationships with the form elements they surround, they become
