Motifs of negative space as a constructive space in typography

Abstract

In 1923 Laszlo Moholy-Nagy stated that “typography is a tool of communication”. Decades after the golden age of Bauhaus, graphic design theorists and practitioners agreed on the naming of their field being outdated, and proposed the term ‘visual communication’ as an alternative. This research is aimed to understand the theoretical background of negative space in typography, as well as in related fields of design, for conscious and reasonable use in visual communication practice. By juxtaposing the negative space both as emptiness and a constructive unit, it was intended to provoke a rediscovery of negative space, considering it as equal to the positive elements. The following thesis researches the nature of negative space as a constructive tool in context of typography and focuses on its role in performing a visual dialogue, mediating the message of the artwork to its recipients. A comparative analysis of Asian (Japanese, in particular) and European spiritual, sociocultural, and historical discourses was conducted to find certain similarities and differences in views on negative space in typography. The thesis also refers to classic works on space in art and typography along with contemporary thoughts on negative space in typography, accentuating its use in digital media.