Empty State Design

Empty states appear when content areas have no items to display. This includes first-use scenarios before users have created content, search results yielding no matches, cleared lists, and filtered views with no qualifying items. Effective empty states guide users toward actions rather than presenting blank voids.

What Are Empty States

Empty states communicate why content is absent and what users can do about it. Rather than showing blank screens, empty states use illustrations, messages, and calls to action to guide users productively.

Empty state categories include first-use (no content yet exists), no results (search or filter found nothing), user-cleared (all items deleted), and error-related (content could not load). Each category may warrant different messaging and actions.

Good empty states feel intentional rather than broken. They turn potentially confusing blank areas into opportunities to guide, educate, or delight users.

How Empty State Design Works

First-use empty states welcome new users and guide content creation. The message explains what will appear here and how to add first items.

Empty State Components:

Visual Elements:
- Illustration: Custom graphic related to content type
- Icon: Simpler alternative to illustration
- Size: Prominent but not overwhelming
- Style: Consistent with design system aesthetics

Messaging:
- Title: Brief statement of empty condition
- Description: Explanation and guidance
- Tone: Encouraging, not discouraging

Actions:
- Primary: Main action to populate content
- Secondary: Alternative action if applicable
- Link: Navigation to related content

Empty State Categories:

First-Use:
"No projects yet"
"Create your first project to get started"
[Create Project button]

No Results:
"No results for 'query'"
"Try adjusting your search or filters"
[Clear Filters button]

User-Cleared:
"All caught up!"
"You've completed all your tasks"
[No action needed or browse options]

Error-Related:
"Couldn't load content"
"Check your connection and try again"
[Retry button]

No results states help users understand why searches or filters returned nothing and how to modify their approach. Suggestions for alternative searches or filter adjustments guide users productively.

Action-oriented empty states provide clear next steps. Buttons create content, clear filters, retry failed loads, or navigate to related areas. Empty states should not leave users with no path forward.

Illustrations or icons add visual interest. Empty areas can feel sterile with text alone. Appropriate illustrations related to the content type soften empty states and maintain visual engagement.

Key Considerations

• Match empty state to the cause (first-use vs no results vs error)
• Provide clear action to resolve empty condition
• Visual elements consistent with design system
• Messaging should be helpful not discouraging
• Consider empty states for all list/grid components
• Accessibility requires proper labeling and action reachability

Common Questions

How should design systems standardize empty states?

Template structure provides consistency. All empty states should have illustration, title, description, and action in consistent arrangement.

Content guidelines help teams write appropriate messages. Tone guidance, message length limits, and example copy maintain consistency.

Illustration library provides visual assets. Rather than creating one-off graphics, a library of empty state illustrations ensures consistent style.

Component specification shows implementation. Whether empty states are component props, separate components, or conditional rendering should be clear.

What illustrations work for empty states?

Relevant imagery connects to content type. A messaging empty state might show speech bubbles. A photo gallery might show a camera. Relevance helps users understand context.

Consistent style matches design system aesthetic. Whether illustrations are line art, filled shapes, or detailed graphics, consistency across empty states matters.

Appropriate complexity avoids overwhelming. Empty state illustrations support content, not replace it. Simple, clear imagery works better than elaborate scenes.

Optional illustration allows flexibility. Some empty states may not need illustration if context is clear. Making illustration optional prevents forced visual elements.

How should empty states handle accessibility?

Image accessibility requires appropriate alt text or decorative treatment. Informative illustrations need alt text; purely decorative images can be hidden from screen readers.

Action accessibility ensures buttons are labeled and reachable. Empty state actions are often the most important elements; they must be fully accessible.

Announcement may be appropriate when empty states appear. Screen reader users should understand that an expected content area is empty.

Focus management helps users find actions. When empty states appear, focus should land at a useful position for keyboard and screen reader users.

Summary

Empty state design turns blank content areas into opportunities for guidance. Matching empty states to their causes (first-use, no results, cleared, error) enables appropriate messaging. Visual elements, clear actions, and helpful copy guide users productively. Design systems should standardize empty state structure while allowing content-appropriate customization.