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 signal low-priced products.
See Also Inattentional Blindness • Left-Digit Effect Ockham’s Razor • Signal-to-Noise Ratio
