Negative space isn’t quite the same thing as minimalist design. Instead, as this printing company explains, it’s better to think of negative space as the place between design elements. Its opposite is positive space, or areas you’re actively using for art, logos, and other content.

Some degree of negative space is essential for product design. It’s nearly impossible to have a coherent product label without some space between the elements. Having things large and far apart makes them easy to understand from a distance while also implying specific ideas.

The box from Fredi above is for a supplement pill that promotes focus, stress reduction, and overall mental clarity. You can see this in their box design, where they have the subtle indication of hills and their brand name, but nothing else.

Rather than packing the box with advertising, the layout is calming and friendly. The color choice for the background is also essential here, with yellow representing optimism. Green might work as an alternative, but yellow is a little more active and appeals to people likely to use supplements in their daily life.

This company takes one step further away from minimalist design and amplifies its use of negative space by having three total colors on its packaging instead of two. The black hills are the eye-catching bit, drawing attention to low, smooth curves. 

From there, the eye rises through the optimistic negative space before coming to the logo.

Designs like this don’t work if a package is too busy. The shapes and patterns evoke a nearly unconscious feeling, which ties into the product for a holistic experience.