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The Pocket Universal Principles of Design
book

The Pocket Universal Principles of Design

by William Lidwell
April 2015
Beginner
320 pages
3h 36m
English
Rockport Publishers
Content preview from The Pocket Universal Principles of Design

070 Horror Vacui

A tendency to fill blank spaces with things rather than leaving spaces empty.

• A Latin expression meaning “fear of emptiness”.

• Though the term has varied meanings dating back to Aristotle, today it is principally used to describe a style of art and design that leaves no empty space.

• The style is commonly employed in commercial media such as newspapers, comic books, and websites.

• As horror vacui increases, perceived value decreases.

• For example, the number of products in retail windows tends to be inversely related to the average price of products and store brand prestige.

• Consider horror vacui in the design of commercial displays and advertising. Favor minimalism to signal high-priced products. Favor horror vacui to ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781627883665