Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago · 2 min. reading time · 0 ·

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The "White space" that so infrequently gets used...

The "White space" that so infrequently gets used...

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Whitespace seems to be one of those terms that is blessed with a wide array of definitions* - Who knew?





  • White space is the empty space in a design. White space is used to separate disparate design elements and group similar ones. White space is the lack of graphics or text in the layout.
  • White space, in a communications context, refers to under utilized portions of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum.
  • White space, in computer science, is any character or series of characters that represent horizontal or vertical space in typography.
  • White space is a process management concept described by Geary A. Rummler and Alan P. Brache in 1991 as the area between the boxes in an organizational chart; where, very often, no one is in charge.
  • White space is an esoteric programming language developed by Edwin Brady and Chris Morris at the University of Durham (also developers of the Kaya and Idris programming languages).
  • The White Space (Italian: Lo spazio bianco) is a 2009 Italian drama film directed by Francesca Comencini.

And finally, the definition that came to mind first (although it seems to be used so infrequency, let alone recognized as an important practice):


  • White space is the time that provides the opportunity to think.

Or... ponder, reflect, deliberate, consider, meditate, contemplate,  muse, ruminate, be lost in thought, be in a brown study, rack one's brains, or put on one's thinking cap.Something, that in a culture where it can be said glorifies busy", we just don't seem to do enough of. I wonder if it is because "thinking" just doesn't seem "busy enough"... it is a rare thing indeed to hear someone say they spent their Friday night "thinking".

My humble aim here is to offer a thought or two regarding why it's worth considering "White space for thinking time" as an important practice, and not necessarily how to free up your time to find it. My experience is if you think something is important enough, you will find the time. I should also point out that at no level do I want to go down the bunny hole of "thinking as a philosophy", the "frameworks of thinking" or anything of that ilk but rather the recognition of how important it is to set time aside for thinking.

Thinking: the process of using one's mind to consider or reason about something.

As an important consideration, it should be pointed out that thinking, real thinking, is a solitary activity. So in the context of "White space", it specifically refers to the time alone to think... you, by yourself, left to ponder whatever needs pondering. Thinking feeds everything you will be involved with - 

  • Planning
  • Brainstorming
  • Conversation
  • Presentation
  • Action
  • Interpretation
  • Implementation

It goes without saying (and I am certain there is data to back this up), the more you have thought about something, the higher the quality or probability for success in whatever you are involved with.

It is probably also worth pointing out that planning sessions, braining storming sessions and meetings are not for thinking, but rather a place to bring thoughts together to drive tangible action forward (the more cynical may suggest that's more of a "stretch goal" at the best of times). These meetings do not become a default for real thinking. 

White space for thinking time is needed to drive better planning and execution, and needs to find its way onto your calendar for "you, yourself and I".Whether you agree with me or not, it is worth thinking about it. Have you freed up some White space?

iamgpe

www.gpestratagem.com 

* As always thank you Google and Wikipedia.


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Comments

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #18

#23
Thank you Luis Cort\u00e9s Tamez

Luis Cortés Tamez

7 years ago #17

#17
Super good Wow

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #16

#12
Thanks for the comment and the compliment Sara Jacobovici... I for one like to think in the car when I'm driving alone; I also love thinking with a "white board"... no pun intended : ) The question regarding boundaries is a great one... I think boundaries can be a great contradiction and many we create (both literally and figuratively) so that we can function and co-exist in groups greater than ten; the rub is we need to tear down or disregard boundaries to grow and become better. I haven't done justice to this so I am hoping people jump into this conversation as it speaks to how we co-exist, work together, stretch to be better and organize ourselves so we don't fall into anarchy.

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #15

#11
I "appreciate" you commenting and your thoughts CityVP \ud83d\udc1d Manjit

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #14

#10
Being in marketing, with some design and communications thrown in, I totally agree PAM BLOCH

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #13

#8
Thanks for the comment and the link Aurorasa Sima

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #12

#7
Thanks for the links Jared \ud83d\udc1d Wiese. I will check into them for sure!

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #11

Is that a "good WOW"or a "bad WOW" Luis Cort\u00e9s Tamez. Thanks for reading.

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #10

#4
hahaha.. sometimes people just aren't good with constructive feedback Phil Friedman. Thanks for the comment!

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #9

#3
Thank you for your comment Donnie Maynard Christianson

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #8

#2
Thx... "Ponder box"... I like that Kevin Pashuk

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #7

#1
Thanks for the note Ren\u00e9e \ud83d\udc1d Cormier

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #6

As always Graham\ud83d\udc1d Edwards, you produced a very thought provoking piece. You've left me with much "to think about". Three things that stand out for me right now is, 1. "where" we choose to think is crucial. You offer an option. An important one. Your readers touched upon other "places" to think. So not only do we want to make time to think, we need to prepare that "space"within which we can think. And 2. (sorry, I am paradox obsessed) the idea of white as an "empty" space when one of its definitions is, "White is produced when all colors of the visible spectrum are combined." Finally 3., "White space is a process management concept described by Geary A. Rummler and Alan P. Brache in 1991 as the area between the boxes in an organizational chart; where, very often, no one is in charge." This leads to questions like; where do the boundaries come from, how were they defined and marked, what does take place when "no one is in charge"? This takes me in so many directions....have to find the place and time to think this through! Thanks Graham.

CityVP Manjit

7 years ago #5

Whether it is the white space as design element or white space as for thinking, appreciation is central and over time it works on us, and even better when we are not trying to change but actually learning to appreciate (both in value and values meaning of the word - appreciation). I will certainly vouch for this. The ages between 17 and 37 and 37 and next year when I reach 57 are vastly different 20 year development periods (night and day in difference). The earlier involved absolutely not an iota of reading and daydreaming rather than thinking and ultimately time passing rather than appreciation. I would not be doing this today, if I did not see the difference it has made in my life - and continues to make as time flows forward.

Luis Cortés Tamez

7 years ago #4

Wow

Harvey Lloyd

7 years ago #3

White space is a good name for the time where we use silence to connect the lower brain with the more logical/creative upper brain. Great read thanks.

Phil Friedman

7 years ago #2

Graham, I've been told that the "space" between my ears is a brilliant blue-white — and substantially unbroken by anything worthwhile. Of course, I don't put much stock in that because I've also been told to perform some physical exercises that are clearly anatomically impossible. Good post here. Pinpoints something we all should be taking seriously. Cheers!

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #1

Great post Graham. What you call 'white space', I call my 'ponderbox'.

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