I'm working on an interface that allows users to create and edit playlists. As first time users will have no playlists, they will come across a fairly empty page that consists of a 'create playlist' button at the top of the screen (as well as the top nav, etc)
Just wondering if anyone has had to deal with a similar situation, and what are some ways in which you've taken advantage of this white space?
One method that has become more popular is to actually put the call-to-action in the whitespace itself. That way once the action has been completed the space will be filled and you won't need the call-to-action there anymore.
Other ways of dealing with whitespace is to provide instructions or messages that encourages the user to perform the action that you want, or even just an entertaining/informative piece of information. I suggest nothing too complicated or involved depending on how long you expect the space to be vacant.
For ideas and suggestions, try the key word 'empty states' in Google (thanks to suggestion in comment) and you'll find Google images, Pinterest and Tumblr inspirations.
Also, there are some websites that list patterns for mobile devices under 'empty data sets'.
I'd suggest putting in some default sample playlists. That way they know exactly what can be placed there.
UPDATE:
Given the downvotes, I assume there's skepticism here. This is not an uncommon pattern.
For example, for those of UX folks that have used InVision, you will notice that when you first log into the application, there are sample projects already waiting for you.
There's little to be confused about here. As I've just logged in, I obviously didn't create my own projects yet. These are clearly labeled as 'demo' projects.
And there's a big advantage here. I have instant context as to what this tool I just signed up for is capable of. I can immediately start playing with it without having to be overwhelmed with having to start from scratch with a blank canvas. It invites the user to play, and that's a big part of winning the user over, IMHO.
In addition to moving the "call to action" into the white space, you can add some more possibilities there to construct playlists. Examples are:
I kind of agree with the downvote for the "default playlist" since there is no useful default, I guess. But a single song/playlist will not fill the entire whitespace, so I was thinking about filling the space with more than just a single song in one step.
I've seen something like (don't remember the exact website) where there's a big ":(" saying something on the lines of "i don't have any favorites yet" followed by a CTA to browse more. i think it adds a human touch
