Black and White Negative Space
The Zen concept that a bowl's essence is the part that is missing corresponds to the graphic concept of negative space. Draw a shape on a page. By doing so you have created negative space. The object, square, circle etc, is the figure or positive image and the remaining space is the negative area or the ground.

In a successful design, the blank space is not dead space.
Dead space refers to areas which are not working in a design.

In a successful design, positive and negative space is interactive and interdependent. It all works together. The designer must always be aware of the blank spaces and make them work in the design.

Blank space is good!

All space whether positive or negative should be considered active.
Gestalt theory, concept of visual unity and wholeness applies to positive and negative space. Negative shapes can be so powerful that they become positive.

Each shape or object should be considered in relation to the format and edges of the format and to one another. Space around and between each shape or object must be carefully considered.

Becoming conscious of the negative space forces you to consider your whole design...to organize the space as a total unit.

The examples below show how color is used in creating "negative space".