Principles

Principles

Design Notes

Design Notes

Design Notes

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Why spacing is more emotional than you think

Why spacing is more emotional than you think

Why spacing is more emotional than you think

Sasha Mozdir

Pineapple in the sky
Pineapple in the sky
Pineapple in the sky

Design isn’t just about how something looks — it’s about how it feels. And nothing affects feeling more quietly (and more dramatically) than spacing. You can show someone two layouts with identical typography and color — and they’ll tell you one “feels calmer” or “feels sharper.”

It’s not magic. It’s spacing.

Note 1: Padding creates tone

The more space you give a headline, the more important it feels. Tight layout says: “Here’s everything right now.” Wide layout says: “Pause. Look at this.” White space isn’t empty — it’s loaded with mood.

Two silver cherries

Note 2: Uneven beats feel human

Not everything has to be perfectly symmetrical.

In fact, small shifts — like slightly tighter spacing between a title and subtitle, or more margin under a paragraph than above — can make your design feel less robotic.

Balanced ≠ equal.

Note 3: Don’t trust rulers, trust your eye

Sometimes the numbers lie. You can have two perfectly measured objects that look misaligned. Train your eye — and trust it more than your layout grid when it comes to visual weight. It’s not cheating. It’s good design.

These aren’t rules. Just observations — from one layout to the next. Every project has its own rhythm, but spacing is always part of the music.

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Drop us a note and we’ll get back to you soon

Have a project in mind or just want to connect? We’d love to hear from you. We’re usually designing, refining, or rethinking what good design can do