Empty screens are easy to forget because designers usually work with sample data. In the real product, every new user meets them first, so they shape the first impression more than almost any other screen.
There are four common types. First-use empty states appear before the person has created anything. User-cleared states appear after they finished or deleted everything, such as an empty to-do list. No-result states appear after a search or filter. And error or no-access states appear when data cannot be shown at all.
Each type needs different words. A first-use state should explain what the screen is for and invite the first action: "No projects yet. Create your first project." A no-result state should help people recover: show what they searched for and offer to clear filters. A cleared state can be a small moment of reward.
Visuals are optional. A small illustration or a gentle animation can make the screen feel friendly, and an animated character can guide a first-time user. Keep it light, make sure the action is the most visible thing, and do not rely on the image to explain the state.
If you want a friendly animated character for an empty state, ExodeUI, which we make, has a free library of interactive mascots that run as ExodeUI files and react to input.