The empty state is often the first screen a new user sees, and it is usually the last screen anyone designs. By the time it gets attention the deadline has arrived, so it ships as a grey illustration and the words “Nothing here yet.”
Three kinds of empty
- First run. The user has done nothing wrong. This screen should teach and invite.
- Cleared. The user finished everything. This screen should acknowledge that.
- No results. Something was searched and nothing matched. This screen should offer a way out.
Treating all three the same is why empty states feel generic. A cleared inbox and a failed search are opposite emotional moments.
What to put in them
One sentence explaining what belongs here. One action that fills it. If the action needs setup elsewhere, link there directly rather than describing the path in prose.
Skip the illustration if it does not clarify anything. A well written line of text does more work than a shrugging character.
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