An algorithm that assesses the quality of Wikipedia articles could reassure visitors and help focus editors on entries that need improving, say the computer scientists who developed it.

The old saying is that the optimist sees the glass as half full, while the pessimist sees the glass as half empty. It is, however, the opportunist who drinks the water while the other two argue about the amount of liquid in the glass.

The term, “negative space” is akin to that old saying because there is always something in the space. It may not be type or color or an image, but the space has purpose and function. How can that be “negative”?

Most definitions of “negative space” are that it is the empty space around and between the subject(s) of an image. Negative space may be most evident when the space around a subject, and not the subject itself, forms an interesting or artistically relevant shape, and such space is occasionally used as an artistic effect to enhance or draw attention to the focal subject of an image.

The use of negative space is a key element of artistic composition. It is the glue that holds all of the elements together. It may be vast, or just a few pixels between an overload of elements, but it is always there.

“There is no such thing as negative space. Only shape and counter shape.” – Charles Goslin 

This has been a misnomer in design for generations. No one knows who started it, just like why so many prospective clients all know the line, “this is a great opportunity to have your work seen,” when they want free work from a designer. It just keeps popping up. The problem is, when explaining design decisions, using the term, “negative space” gives off negative and confusing connotations.

 It is a confusing term that should be replaced in our vocabulary as designers, along with other misnomers for design that only we understand. Communication with clients, and the masses.

Negative space examples 

Negative space, is, in fact, that illusion between the eye and the brain. You’ve seen the chalice that becomes two faces, and other such optical illusions? Does it have to be black and white? How do colors register on the brain?

The examples above are what most people think of with “negative space.” It’s the use of stark contrasts to reveal a complete or hidden image or message. As Goslin said, “only shape and counter shape.”

Even a mix of colors works when the shapes play upon the contrasting colors. It is not an easy thing and the simplicity demands brilliant thinking, and the ability to see quickly how shapes form an image. ©Noma Bar

The FedEx logo was a brilliant use of a negative shape… or was it just an accident that the type formed, and someone saw the arrow at the meeting of the E and X?

There is, however, more to the building of an optical illusion with those shapes. This is where most of the confusion of negative space arises. Is it so cut and dried? Does it have to be like the assortment of logos above? Does a straight line have to be straight or can it use shapes to give the illusion of it being a straight line?

Some samples from the website of Illustrator Tang Yau Hoong that are entitled, “The art of negative space. An attempt to tell a story through illustration.” Unfortunately, while they are all well-executed pieces of art, with fun, and creative twists, the shapes don’t interact with each other to the point where they can truly be called, “negative space“. What the empty or space shapes do, is draw attention to other shapes and elements. It is a clever use of minimalist design, rather than a use of negative space.

On the website, Photography Mad, the article, “Understanding and Using “Negative Space” in Photography,” the examples shown are NOT negative space. They are beautiful compositions, but it harkens back to the glass being full with water, and air. The space draws attention to the focal point. Negative space can be used effectively in photography, as it can be in illustration, design, and video. In this case, however, the backgrounds are not shapes that define, or work with the objects in the foreground. They are colors and blurs that emphasize another element to be more important and pop against it.

Minimalist design

Often minimalist design is confused with negative space, as with the photographs above and Hoong’s illustrations. Minimalist ads have been around for decades. Even some of the greatest painters in history have used minimalist approaches in their portraiture to emphasize the subject figure.

Volkswagen was known for their minimalist ads, showing just the product, and not their vehicles driving on the Pacific Coast Highway, or lonely roads. The focus was simply on the cars and the space in these print ads drew the eye of the viewer right to the product.

Other minimalist ads that use space and simplicity to spotlight their message. It’s easy to tell the difference between negative space, and minimal elements, which are shapes against blank space, as opposed to shapes working against, and in tandem with other shapes. 

Why drop the term, “negative space”?

Whenever you see the hilarious examples of odd client statements that dot sites across the web, it usually includes the client throwing out words they believe to be standard design terms that will communicate what they want for their design project.

So, what does “negative space” mean to different people? Obviously different things. The important thing to remember is that when a client sees space in a design, there will no doubt be a request to make a logo bigger, throw in ten pounds of type into the five pound bag, or fill the space because they feel they are not getting their money’s worth if all of the space isn’t used. Even using the term, “minimalist” has its dangers. In the end, every designer must know these rules of design, how and when to break them, and when to just tell the client, “here’s your design,” and smile, then hope it’s not changed.

What are your thoughts about the examples used in this article? Do you have a take on the terms and design executions? Let us know in the comments.

Featured image/thumbnail, negative space image via Noma Bar.

Vandelay Web & Responsive Design Kit: 400+ Elements – only $27!

Let me start by saying this, I will not be including any point-and-click design tools in this list (think Adobe Edge Reflow). The reason is simple enough, I believe that they’re bad for everyone; designers, clients, coders… everyone suffers.

It’s not a question of the quality of code output by these programs. It’s not because it makes design “too easy”. It’s because no matter how good these programs are, they will always limit the people who use them.

They will be limited, not even by what the program can accomplish, but by what they think it can accomplish. If they think about it, the average user will likely compare it to tools like PowerPoint and/or any number of print design programs, falling once again into old mindsets. Therein lies the problem. Visual web publishing tools will always try to apply old processes to new technologies.

A truly web-oriented workflow is one that embraces the underlying concepts and technologies upon which the web is built. Sure, you can use any number of visual tools to create websites that are technically responsive, but you’d be missing the point.

It’s not about an adaptable layout. It’s about making information accessible to as many people as possible. There are some things a program like Edge Reflow just can’t do. In short, you need to write code.

Therefore, the best tools to aid you in responsive design are those tools that help you to understand and make use of web technologies, plan your website thoroughly, write better code more efficiently, and test/present your responsive designs to clients in context.

Let’s start with the obvious:

1) Your browser

No. I’m not kidding. This is quite literally the most important tool you have, because it shows you exactly what your website looks like under your specific conditions.

There has been much debate about whether or not designing in the browser is better than designing in an image editor like Photoshop or GIMP. Allow me to resolve this for you…

Are your website’s users going to do their browsing in Photoshop? Image editors can make pretty pictures, not emulate actual experiences. Use image editors for editing images. Use your browser to design websites.

It’s time to wean our clients off the hyper-detailed mockups that they’ve gotten used to. As the web changes, and our processes become more fluid and iterative, we must move on.

Install at least one browser with every major rendering engine, and get some developer extensions. Get used to looking at your source code the way your browser sees it, because you’re going to be here a while.

2) Google Drive’s drawing app

Technically, just about any vector-based image editor could do the job when wire-framing your websites and apps. I tend to wire-frame the desktop version of my site first, create a copy of the file, resize the canvas, and go from there. Using vectors makes it easy to quickly resize and rearrange your elements while you’re still in the planning stage.

I prefer the drawing app on Google Drive for a couple of reasons:

Sharing and collaboration features: Google does information sharing better than just about everyone else. With in-context commenting, simultaneous editing, and Hangout integration, I’m in love.

Automatic guides: In each drawing document, guides are automatically created based on the dimensions of each object you put into the document. This makes it easy to depict consistently-sized elements in the document, which is great for grid-obsessed designers like me.

As I share these wireframes with clients, that professional-looking consistency is a big plus. And yet, I’m not constrained to those guides. I see it as a good alternative to mockup apps that try to constrain you to a grid.

Oh, and it’s free. Need I say more?

3) Style Prototypes

Based on Style Tiles, Style Prototypes are an in-browser deliverable designed to help you give your clients an idea of how their website’s typography, color, and UI elements will look. Since it is meant to be viewed in the browser, there will be fewer inconsistencies once the website is built.

Furthermore, I would posit that Style Prototypes could help our clients to mentally separate the concepts of UX and aesthetics.  And really, anything that helps our clients to better understand the web design process can only be a good thing.

4) Responsinator

Responsinator is a simple tool that shows your website at different sizes. It imitates, in a very basic way, several different device sizes and contexts. This tool is not for your benefit. You want to see what your website looks like at smaller sizes? Resize your browser window. Better yet, get some actual mobile devices and do some real testing.

This web app is best used to show your clients a quick approximation of what their website will look like in contexts other than a desktop or laptop monitor.

Again, there are many tools that could do the same job as Responsinator, and just as effectively, I suppose. I chose this one because it presents several device silhouettes one after the other, for easy perusal.

5) Adobe Edge Inspect

Now this one is for you. If you have a mobile testing lab (and the sooner you can make one, the better) Edge Inspect will synchronize all of your devices to view the same page at once. Refresh the page on one device, and you refresh them all.

Unlike the others on this list, this one’s not free. However, if you can afford enough mobile devices to need a solution like this, it’s probably worth the money.

Conclusion

As always, your most important asset is your brain. These tools, and others like them, can only help you on your way. I chose these because they perform very specific functions that aid me in designing responsive sites. They don’t limit what I can do.

The best tools are really the ones that stay out of the way.

Do you use these tools? What are your top 5 tools for responsive design? Let us know in the comments.

Featured image/thumbnail, tools image via Shutterstock.

Vandelay Web & Responsive Design Kit: 400+ Elements – only $27!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Alas, the cursed night is upon us! We thank you for coming and humbly offer you the 2013 Treehouse Halloween Special: HTM-HELL. All we ask in return is that you give us your undivided attention for the next 15 minutes. If you do not like it then too bad, opinion is relative. So turn off the lights, grab a flashlight and get under the covers; this is going to be one Hell of a show…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsycDWmv_a8

Unlock more badges with Treehouse to see where the story goes next!

The post Halloween Special 2013: HTM-HELL appeared first on Treehouse Blog.

Join us for the annual PROMISE Fall Harvest Dinner, 6:00 PM, Friday, November 22, 2013 at the Riggs Alumni Center on College Park’s Campus. This event is open to all graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff from any school within the University System of Maryland (http://www.usmd.edu/institutions/) who want to participate in, and support the mission of PROMISE AGEP: Maryland Transformation – “Diversity in STEM Education” - https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/new-nsf-promise-agep-grant-funded-until-2017-includes-university-system-of-maryland-ccbc-aacc-and-agmus/

PROMISE AGEP: Maryland Transformation will engage the University System of Maryland in a system-wide focus on diversity in STEM graduate education, and will share resources and facilities to provide professional development for participants that might otherwise be limited or non-existent at some of the institutions without the alliance. This state-wide alliance eliminates the “silo-effect” or independent STEM diversity efforts, and it promotes as a core mission the collaboration to expand and connect a community of scholars through the state.

Read about our AGEP: 

Tull, R. G.,  Rutledge, J.C.,  Warnick, J. W.,  and Carter, F. D. (2012). PROMISE: Maryland’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Enhances Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Minority Graduate Students. Academic Medicine, 87(11), p. 1562-1569.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

CLICK and REGISTER for the 2013 Fall Harvest Dinner,Friday, November 22, 2013:

This event is free, but you must have a ticket. A ticket will be sent to your email as an attachment to your registration confirmation. Please remember to print and bring your ticket. 

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

Location: The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center at the University of Maryland College Park:

Website: http://www.riggs.umd.edu/

Directions: http://riggs.umd.edu/map.html (Note that this link has a sidebar menu with detailed directions and parking. The Riggs Center is near the Stamp Student Union.)

Related articles

• New NSF PROMISE AGEP grant funded until 2017! Includes University System of Maryland, CCBC, AACC, and AGMUS (promiseagep.wordpress.com)
• Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Craig Mello – Mon. Nov. 4th UMB Campus (@UMBNews) (promiseagep.wordpress.com)
• Professional development seminars for graduate students: FALL 2013 (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

Join us for the annual PROMISE Fall Harvest Dinner, 6:00 PM, Friday, November 22, 2013 at the Riggs Alumni Center on College Park’s Campus. This event is open to all graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff from any school within the University System of Maryland (http://www.usmd.edu/institutions/) who want to participate in, and support the mission of PROMISE AGEP: Maryland Transformation – “Diversity in STEM Education” - https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/new-nsf-promise-agep-grant-funded-until-2017-includes-university-system-of-maryland-ccbc-aacc-and-agmus/

PROMISE AGEP: Maryland Transformation will engage the University System of Maryland in a system-wide focus on diversity in STEM graduate education, and will share resources and facilities to provide professional development for participants that might otherwise be limited or non-existent at some of the institutions without the alliance. This state-wide alliance eliminates the “silo-effect” or independent STEM diversity efforts, and it promotes as a core mission the collaboration to expand and connect a community of scholars through the state.

Read about our AGEP: 

Tull, R. G.,  Rutledge, J.C.,  Warnick, J. W.,  and Carter, F. D. (2012). PROMISE: Maryland’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Enhances Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Minority Graduate Students. Academic Medicine, 87(11), p. 1562-1569.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

CLICK and REGISTER for the 2013 Fall Harvest Dinner,Friday, November 22, 2013:

This event is free, but you must have a ticket. A ticket will be sent to your email as an attachment to your registration confirmation. Please remember to print and bring your ticket. 

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

Location: The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center at the University of Maryland College Park:

Website: http://www.riggs.umd.edu/

Directions: http://riggs.umd.edu/map.html (Note that this link has a sidebar menu with detailed directions and parking. The Riggs Center is near the Stamp Student Union.)

Related articles

• New NSF PROMISE AGEP grant funded until 2017! Includes University System of Maryland, CCBC, AACC, and AGMUS (promiseagep.wordpress.com)
• Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Craig Mello – Mon. Nov. 4th UMB Campus (@UMBNews) (promiseagep.wordpress.com)
• Professional development seminars for graduate students: FALL 2013 (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

ARM Extends Its Flagship DS-5 Development Studio for RTOS Development.