positive/negative space vs. shapes?

[kat.hayes]

I'm trying to understand the difference between positive/negative space and positive/negative shapes. Aren't these essentially the same thing? Something in the positive space makes negative space and a positive shape makes a negative shape?

Thanks.

 

[fig]

More or less, yes. It's really not an important distinction.

Not to be rude, but does your instructor not answer your questions very well? Because pretty much everything you ask sounds like you're taking a graphic design 101 course and are very concerned with the theory and nomenclature behind everything.

I certainly can see how those questions are relevant at times, but at the end of the day it's a whole lot more important to be actually designing than trying to understand what to call everything.

 

[kat.hayes]

Yeah, I agree that being able to actually design is most important, however, my brain requires that I understand the underlying theory and concepts and I obsess over it until I understand it all. Unfortunately, I can't turn off that part of my brain.

Thanks.