White space is typically a term used in graphic design that means the space between elements in a composition. It’s often the mark of simple, clean, and clear design.

The past month we’ve looked at white space in new ways.

In “White Space (Part 1)” we note, as did Da Vinci, that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Often complex ideas can be best explained by using metaphors or examples. By utilizing these techniques, we can all bring a greater understanding to what we do.

“White Space (Part 2)” looks at how the internet is creating another sort of white space. By having multitudes of information always available when we search for it, we can relax, clear our brains, and be ok with decentralized knowledge.

All of these approaches to white space lead to a hopeful reality for our emerging world:

Great ideas will win.

This is largely due to the technological changes happening right now, in real time. The internet is redefining “authority”.

Culturally, the playing field is leveling. It’s less about how much influence you can buy and more about how much influence you can earn. It’s about how good your ideas are and, of course, how well you communicate them.

Here’s why:

1. We’re in an opt-in world. Increasingly, we only consume the information and media that we want to. We self-select the influences we want to have and so we care more about what those people and brands say. Time-shifiting products like TiVo, DVRs, podcasts, other on-demand services, and even Google itself, mean that we get what we want when we want it. The role of interruption-based messages (like traditional advertising) is changing drastically.
2. Communities are evolving, and they’re going online. Instead of turning to big media outlets to tell us what’s happening and what’s cool, we are looking more and more to our hand-picked communities (or, as Seth Godin calls them, “tribes”). These tribes are developing online where we can create and digest tons of content, stay in touch with more people than ever, and essentially leverage our time, our expertise, and the value bring to the table.
3. All media is becoming “social media”. This means that we can engage with and/or contribute to the messages we consume like never before. Walls are down. Gatekeepers are dead. Ideas can spread with the click of a mouse or cell phone button. For example, if one of your Twitter messages is “retweeted” by a few folks and again retweeted by some of their friends, you’ve reached an audience of thousands within seconds. We have more potential for influence and power than ever before.

The real question is, what are we going to do with it?
Brody

P.S. A great example of this whole concept is that in a matter of days, over 1,000 people signed to participate 40 Days of Water, a Blood:Water Mission campaign to bring clean water to our neighbors in Africa. In the 2 days after launch, about 10,000 people had visited the special website dedicated to the campaign. All of this happened almost exclusively through social media and word of mouth. It’s incredible.

Wordswell had the privilege of building the website and software application that is supporting this campaign. You can sign up to participate by making water your only beverage for 40 days. Otherwise, if you’d like to donate to the cause, visit my profile page at http://40Days.bloodwatermission.com/brodybond.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” according to Leonardo da Vinci.

He’s right.

The best teachers, consultants, pastors, artists, and leaders all do the same thing: they make the complex simple. Does what you do fall into any of those categories?

What should you do when you have to explain something complex? How do you make it simple? Find a metaphor.

If someone doesn’t understand something, figure out a way to say, “Well, it’s just like…”.

Is he still not getting it? Use careful examples. Starting a phrase with “For example…” is one of the most powerful ways to bring meaning to what you are saying.

In graphic design and web design, simplicity is achieved through the use of white space.

What’s white space? Well, it’s just like what you would have when you clear away all the hay to find the needle.

For example, look at how simple it was to donate to Haiti relief efforts through the way this iTunes store page was designed and written:

Adding by subtracting,

brody

P.S. You know that needle that your audience found so easily because there wasn’t any hay? They’re now using it to stitch with.

#1
I found an unexpected metaphor recently.

After lunging out of my still-moving car, sprinting to my apartment, fumbling to find the right key, throwing open the door, and shuffling across the floor, I made it to the place of release – the restroom.

I had too many refills at the restaurant. It was an increasingly painful drive home. You’ve been there, right?

Whenever something is built up in us, it becomes a burden – not a pleasure – to hold on to it.

The Pain of Accumulation
The pain of accumulation plagues our minds and emotions, also. Do you have something building inside of you? An idea, a story, some knowledge, some love, a business, a project, a dream, something that can help those around you? Are you holding it in as the pressure rises?

Release it already! What are you waiting for? The pressure is going to kill you. And if you’ve been sitting on it this long, it’s gotta be good.

We know what to do when our bladder is too full; it’s instinctual. But often, after cultivating our ideas for so long, it’s hard to figure out what to do when our brains are too full and there’s an impending explosion in our heads.

Wordswell does message creation, creative consulting, and brand development. But, really, we just try to help you not explode.

Release,
Brody

The Nature of Light
Imagine two adjacent rooms sealed off from each other except for a perfectly tight door. One of those rooms is completely dark. The other room is completely light and bright, and it has no shadows.

You’re in the dark room. The door opens. What happens?

Immediately, light invades the darkness. Now, you can see! All that’s in the dark room is revealed. The darkness, completely unable to encroach on the light, is powerless.

Furthermore, the amount of light in the bright room has not been compromised. That room is still just as bright as before, yet it lends its brightness to the other room. What happened was not like pouring water from one glass to another; it was like sticking your glass under a fountain – of light.

Message Creation
At Wordswell, we’re always trying to find metaphors to explain things. It’s sursprisingly hard work, but it leads our clients and us to beautiful clarity.

In our new comments section of the Wordswell Blog, let us know what you think about this metaphor for what Wordswell does:

Message Creation is standing in one of two adjacent dark rooms, figuring out how to turn on the lights, and then kicking open the door to share your light with the world.

What’s it like where you’re standing?
Brody