Elements of Design

Space

Space refers to the area in which art is organized. It may have two dimensions (length and width), such as a TV screen. Or it may have three dimensions (length, width, and height), such as a TV studio. Space refers to the distances or areas around, between, or within components of a piece. Space includes the background, the foreground, and the middle ground. Space and perspective often are discussed together. Perspective is the representation of a volume of space on a flat surface.

In fundamental terms, space is an area activated by other elements. Space does not exist unless other design elements are present. For example, in the visual compositions below, the space is activated by the postcard shapes in the first image and by the fruit shapes in the second.