by Tyler Tate

The blank state is how an interface appears when there is no data to present, such as when someone is using an application for the first time. As designers, we spend most of our time trying to figure out how to best portray content, and too often we simply forget that there won't always be content.

But the blank state should not be an afterthought. Far from it: it's often the first impression someone has of a product and can be a deciding factor over whether or not they even get started using the application. A good blank state is one that helps the user take their first few steps — a wayfinding device if you will.

The people behind the application Versions, a subversion client for the mac, obviously put a lot of thought into the blank state of the application. It prominently highlights the top two actions a user might want to take when using the application for the first time.

It's worth saying again: don't forget the blank state!