The Role of White Space in Merch Design
Published by: Siobhan Ingram
Date: 06-01-2025
In design, what you don't use is just as important as what you do.
And when it comes to custom merch, white space—the areas you leave intentionally blank—can be a secret weapon.
White space isn’t wasted space. It’s breathing room.
It’s what makes a bold logo pop on a tee. It’s why a clean hoodie design feels fresh, not frantic. It’s the difference between a shirt people wear with pride—and one that feels cluttered and forgettable.
At FCE, we see it all the time. When clients try to fill every inch of a design with text, graphics, and colors, it almost always backfires.
The message gets lost. The brand feels heavy.
And most importantly? The apparel doesn't feel like something you'd reach for every day.
Great merch designs let the art, typography, or logo breathe. A centered logo on a blank field. A simple sleeve print on a clean hoodie. A back-of-the-shoulder graphic with nothing else fighting for attention.
One of the best examples? A local artist we worked with launched a shirt with nothing but a small, handwritten word in the center of the chest. No clutter, no distractions. It became their best-seller.
White space makes your design feel intentional.
It makes your brand feel confident.
And it reminds your audience that sometimes, less really is more.