The Space In Between - Seeing Beyond
I was working live with a client, Sue - check out her website and her wonderful work - about all things art. We were going over some content she wanted and checking over fonts, images and placement of these.
We realised how bothered we were by the space in between. What does that mean? Sue, it turns out, like me, can see the pattern of the space in-between letter spacing and images. What a delight to discover someone can see this as well.
We all see this world, whether we are conscious of it is another matter. But I know I am. This “in-between” exists everywhere in art and content: the margins of a photograph, the white space around words, the pause between sentences, the silence between beats of a music video.
It’s not the content itself that speaks, it is in fact the space that frames it, the subtle breathing room that allows meaning to settle in. A social media post isn’t just an image or a line of text; it’s also the tension, contrast and the rhythm surrounding it that shapes how we feel and interpret it. Even this blog post has a silent space to look out for.
Take a look yourself
Consider this example of content. The space around the text is full rather than empty.
The design is deliberate and many little subtle changes to get it where it works.
It itself tells a story. It’s an invitation, suggestion, context, emotion. It’s where the viewer becomes a participant, not just a passive observer.
The same applies to words. A short caption, a clever line, a tweet that seems fleeting, the impact comes not just from the text itself but from the space it occupies, the thoughts it allows to arise in the reader’s mind, the pause that lets meaning resonate.
When content creators recognise and respect this space, their work gains depth, subtlety and a kind of quiet intimacy. In fact at times it is the space that becomes the juicy part of the work.
Everything we experience in forms of content both visual, textural, audible, etc all have an invisible story which is the invisible architecture of communication, shaping how messages are received and felt.
Art, in all its forms, thrives in this liminal zone. The “in-between” is where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, where the seen and unseen interact, and where audiences find space to reflect, imagine, and connect. It’s the subtle tension, the unspoken suggestion, the empty margins that allow meaning to grow.
What do you see?
Next time you scroll, pause. Don’t just look at the image or read the words.
See the space around them. Notice what lingers in the gaps. In that in-between, there’s room for curiosity, connection, and surprise. And as a creator, embracing that space gives your work more than form or function.
Why?
It gives it life.
When you fancy finding out how I see both spaces and the difference I make to your content, contact me below.
Comments