Note 03 · Layout
Use space to show relationships
Empty space can explain which elements belong together.
Group related material
Keep a field close to its label and an illustration close to its caption. Give a larger gap to the next independent group. These differences in distance offer a visual clue about relationships without requiring an extra border around every item.
Leave room for the words
A text column needs enough width for comfortable reading while avoiding lines that stretch across a wide screen. Check a narrow window too: a useful gap on a desktop may become a large interruption when the same elements stack.
Inspect the whole rhythm
Look at several consecutive sections rather than one isolated component. Repeated spacing helps a reader recognise a pattern. Where the rhythm changes, check that it marks a meaningful change in subject or function.