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Product note · September 28, 2026 · 1 min read

The empty screen is part of the product

An empty screen is often someone’s first real encounter with a product.

“No items found” may describe the state without helping the person move forward. A useful first-use message can explain what belongs here, why it matters, and how to create the first item.

The same applies after a search returns nothing, although the next step will be different. Design for the actual situation.

What is the most helpful empty state you have seen?

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