The Aesthetics of Information: White Space
“More matter is being printed and published today than ever before, and every publisher of an advertisement, pamphlet, or book expects his material to be read. Publishers and, even more so, readers want what is important to be clearly laid out. They will not read anything that is troublesome to read, but are pleased with what looks clear and well arranged, for it will make their task of understanding easier. For this reason, the important part must stand out and the unimportant must be subdued …” Jan Tischichold, 1935
That was true in 1935 when publishing books and pamphlets was on the rise, and it is even more true now that the number of mediums for information exchange have risen considerably. It does not matter if information is conveyed with applications running on mobile devices, ebook readers, web pages, iTunes podcasts, or good old print. “Clear and well arranged” information makes it easier to understand and more likely to be consumed. Every publisher (using this term broadly) and every information consumer wants this. We like to think of it as information aesthetics, because it has a lot to do with how the information looks, but there is more to it than just beauty. It is really about good design.
Good design is peculiar because you don’t really notice it (in contrast to bad design, which is usually obvious) . For information, things like organization, typography, contrast, alignment, clarity, repetition, flow, color, and sound all contribute to the overall experience of information consumption. When it is done well, you are more likely to read, listen, or watch the content. You are more likely to take something away from it, and you are also more likely to share and recommend it. Read more →
