Design “No” I Stand By: No Empty Boxes

You’ve seen them. Layouts filled with empty boxes, placeholders, and meaningless filler. It looks “clean” on the surface - but it’s lazy design.

Here’s why I stopped doing it:

1. Design isn’t about boxes - it’s about content

Empty shapes say nothing. Real design starts with real content, or at least real structure. Otherwise, you’re decorating wireframes.

2. Placeholders kill the vibe

They’re not neutral - they’re lifeless. A grey box isn’t “waiting for content.” It’s sucking the soul out of your layout.

3. You’re not fooling anyone

Clients know when it’s filler. Users don’t care. The only person pretending it works is the designer.

What I do instead:

• Use real headlines early

• Replace blocks with one big statement

• Design a vibe, not a skeleton

No more empty boxes.

Give your layout a pulse from day one.