Empty States Are Onboarding in Disguise

The most-seen screen in many apps is the empty one — the blank inbox, the zero-project dashboard. Most teams leave it blank. That's a wasted first impression.

A great empty state does three things: explains what belongs here, shows an example, and offers one clear action to fill it.

The bite: Design your empty states before your full states. They're the moment users decide whether your product is for them.